Over the past few years, the use of the phrase “next level” has become as common in hockey as the word synergy is in the business world.

Many times this phrase is used to describe increases in actual performance. For instance, Minnesota Wild fans are hoping players like Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle take their game to the next level this season and become even bigger parts of the Wild’s offense.

It is also used to market and promote training programs that promise to help improve players’ skills so he or she can take their game to the “next level”.  This can mean anything from making the A team to potentially scoring more goals this season.

The most accurate use of the expression though is when players are actually moving up to a new level of play.  There are numerous examples of this throughout hockey as players move from youth to high school to college and sometimes the professional ranks.  With each transition, players must learn how to play against opponents who are typically bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than who they played in previous seasons.

Every player, especially at the youth levels, handles these transitions differently, and it’s important they are allowed to do so in their own way. Nonetheless, all players want to adapt to the new level as quickly as possible.  

Whether you’re young player will be playing their first year of 10U or Bantam hockey this season, here are five tips that will help them get up to speed quickly.

Learn Through Failure – One of the most important things for kids to be prepared for is that they will likely make more mistakes than they’re used to in the beginning of the season. Playing at a higher level for the first time often leads to turnovers and missed opportunities. The kids who are able to embrace these moments as a chance to learn and grow without taking it as a sign of their personal ability are the most likely to succeed as the season progresses.

If you’re looking for an area to help as a parent, this is it. Most areas of your child’s game are difficult for you to influence from the car or stands, but every parent can create an environment that maintains or even builds their kids’ confidence when adversity strikes.

Practice with Pace – The biggest challenge for players of any age participating at a new level is typically adjusting to the speed of the game. Players are forced to make quicker decisions and perform skills at higher speeds. The increased use of cross-ice and small area games by coaches at all levels can definitely help with this component, but there is no replacement for kids who consistently push themselves outside their comfort zone in practice. Doing every drill (except when instructed otherwise) at full speed can pay big dividends when game time rolls around.

Be Detail Oriented – Every day at the rink is an opportunity to get better, and one of the best ways to improve is by watching what others do. Watch what the older players are doing to improve their skating or shot and try to emulate it. Or even better, ask the coach which players you can look up to for a good example at practice and games.

Keep it Simple – In many other sports, coaches provide kids with ways to make the game a little easier when facing certain challenges. Baseball players can choke up on the bat and shorten their swing when facing a pitcher that throws extremely fast, and football coaches teach kids to focus on certain “keys” when defending a particularly deceptive offense.

With the amount of variability involved in hockey games, keeping it simple can seem like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Focusing on completing specific tasks such as making tape-to-tape passes, putting pressure on the other team and taking advantage of opportunities to shoot the puck can help players find a rhythm on the ice.

Compete and Have Fun – Development, in any part of life, involves being put in uncomfortable situations that may initially seem beyond our abilities. The people who are able to stay focused on working as hard as they can while taking satisfaction in the process often have the most success in the long run. And the best part about hockey is the kids competing the hardest are usually the ones having the most fun too.