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Preseason Checklist

By Aaron Paitich, Touchpoint Media, 09/09/14, 10:00AM CDT

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State Fair? Check. Labor Day weekend festivities? Check. Savor every moment of summer? Check! Lists keep us on task. With hockey season in our sights, Minnesota Hockey has compiled a preseason checklist for parents.

Get registered. If you haven’t already, register quickly and easily online with USA Hockey. Then, register with your local association. If you can’t remember what level your child will be playing this season, reference our age charts for 2014-15.

Equipment check. Having proper fitting equipment is not just a comfort thing. It’s a safety thing. It might have been a while since your child has skated regularly, so they might have gone through a growth spurt. Check out our equipment guide for kids new to hockey.

Goals. Goal setting is a valuable tool for all of us. Why not get your child started early? Dr. Aynsley M. Smith of the Mayo Clinic stresses the importance of goal setting. Encourage them to identify certain short- and long-term benchmarks for the year.

Continue to encourage multiple sports. It’s September still, so keep encouraging the kids to play other sports and spend plenty of time outside. Our U.S. Olympians grew up playing multiple sports, and it’s worked out pretty well for them. The best hockey players are the best athletes.  

Dryland training. If your child isn’t interested in fall sports, encourage him or her to start dryland training to ensure they stay active. Use age-appropriate exercises and games to maximize development and fun.

What’s age-appropriate? From drills and training volume to playing surface and practice-to-game ratios, everything should be age-appropriate. The American Development Model has it all covered for you.  Educating yourself on what it means to be a 10, 11 or 12 year old hockey player can help broaden your perspective throughout the season.

All set for tryouts? If not, many association host fall clinics to help kids get used to being on the ice again.  Then, follow our 10 Tips for Tryouts to maximize fun and results while minimizing stress as tryouts approach.

Attend the preseason team meeting.  Whether it is covering fees, volunteering, the team’s schedule or the coach’s philosophy, this meeting is one of the most important events of the season.  Use it as an opportunity to start developing a positive relationship with the coach.

Let the coaches coach. Trust the coaches. You might not agree with everything they say or do, but let them do their job. Here in Minnesota, we’re lucky to have the best and most dedicated coaches volunteer their time for our kids. It’s a big reason why Minnesota has consistently produced the most college and pro players in the nation.

Maintain a healthy balance. Hockey, school, other sports, family time – it can be tough to fit it all in once the season gets going. Make an effort to keep these activities – along with some rest and relaxation – in your lives.

Find a solid sleep schedule – and hold them to it. Proper sleep provides significant benefits for children. Set bed times and stick to your schedules to maximize energy, performance and overall (not just athletic) development for your child. Here are five tips to better sleeping habits.

Consider playing adult hockey! If you don’t already, start playing hockey yourself. It’s fun, it’s healthy and it can help parents appreciate and experience the sport in a different light.

Volunteer. Even if it’s just a couple times during the season, consider lending a hand to the team or association. Every little bit helps. It’s the volunteers that drive youth hockey in Minnesota and it’s why Minnesota Hockey is able to keep costs low.

Encourage unstructured play. There is so much structure in kids’ lives today. Let them play on their own. When it comes to hockey, let them play in the park or on the pond with their friends. Free play fosters creativity. We want to avoid creating robot hockey players who stand in lines and skate up and down the ice while rarely touching the puck. The best players honed their skills outdoors.

Stay connected with your local association, Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye out for our email newsletters, which provide valuable content and updates throughout the season to help educate ensure a positive experience.

Convince a friend! Does your child have neighborhood friends who might be interested in playing hockey? Have them come out and give it a shot.

Enjoy the ride. Take time to enjoy all the moments. Soak in the smiles, laughs, goals, good shifts, tournaments, learning experiences and celebrations. It goes by fast.

What else is on your preseason checklist? Tweet us at @MinnHockey.

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