Welcome to this wild world, where parents are amazing, and then they become crazy,
and then they turn back to fairly awesome when they realize that little Timmy isn't actually going to be drafted in the 1st round. It's a wild world. You will meet your best friends here, you will hear words you've never heard before, you'll be bewildered by some parents, and ultimately - you'll be thankful that you gave your kiddo the opportunity to be a part of such an awesome sport, that he/she will probably play all through their life. Let's cut to the chase. It can be intimidating to dive in - both socially and financially, so let me give you a few pointers that will make your life WAY easier.
Buy second hand equipment. Here's the thing. When kids are little, and even little-ish, they barely get any use out of their gear before they outgrow it. And then the parents of those kiddos who have outgrown it either list it on marketplace, or bring it to the local Replay Sports. And then you swoop in there with your little player, get him or her all suited up, and pay a FRACTION of the price for their gear. Seriously, friends, don't waste your money. There is SO much life left in that gear, and there will be SO much money left in your bank account.
Approach evaluations with peace. Little Timmy or Suzy Lou will land EXACTLY where he or she is meant to land. Maybe it's just the right caliber of hockey. Maybe it's not, but it's the perfect place to make a new best friend. Or maybe it's because he/she needs to learn from that specific coach. Trust that they will land where they're meant to, so you can drop your stress and just encourage them to get out there and do their best. Afterall, sports are supposed to be fun, aren't they?
Get the parents together ASAP. In Alberta, we do something called a "Parent Party" as soon as the team is chosen. One family hosts it, all the parents get together, we have drinks and laughs and get to know one another. It's the BEST way to get off on the right foot and start to create a team culture on the ASAP.
Plan an out of town tournament as early in the season as possible. This is the real clincher - it's where the kids have the most fun, off the ice, and get to know one another. This is where they become a team. And it's where the parents book a conference room in the hotel and chat, drink, play poker, and where the ice melts. The sooner the better.
Comentarii