There is nothing quite like ice hockey. It isn’t just one of the most beloved sports to watch or play but is a great activity for the kids. The sport continues to grow and become more global and with more people playing the Vegas odds to win the NHL only proves it is becoming more popular.
California itself has a widespread hockey culture. Great NHL players like Auston Matthews and Thatcher Demko are Californians. There are a few youth hockey leagues around Mammoth Lakes.
Hockey is fun and accessible. It is best to know what some of the benefits are for the kids and to dispel some myths that may worry parents looking into it.
It is Safe and not as Violent as It Seems
When you think of hockey, images of bone-jarring hits and vicious fighting come to mind. Fortunately, that usually only occurs in the NHL or other leagues played between grown adult men.
Hitting and fighting are especially banned in most youth hockey leagues. Parents need not worry about their children being put in physical harm as the game is determined mostly by skill not size or strength.
As a matter of fact, hockey has evolved to a point that hitting and fighting are not as significant as it was. Plenty of the NHL’s most talented players are more skilled and fast than they are physical and most teams do not even employ “goons” (players whose sole purpose is to fight) anymore.
It is an Amazing and Fun Workout
Even the best NHL players only play about 15 to 20 minutes in 45-second increments (goaltenders excepted). Hockey is an energetic activity that will whip the kids into shape.
Hockey is the coolest interval training on ice and improves cardiovascular efficiency. And it burns a lot of calories. You probably have never met an obese hockey player and there’s a reason for that.
Last but not least, skating could be easier on the joints than other higher impact sports like basketball or football. Since it’s also similar to interval training, injuries from repetitive movements are reduced.
Makes New Friends and Builds Community
Hockey is a popular sport, but it also has a tighter knit community than others because it can be more niche than football or basketball. Not as many children play hockey hence both the parents and kids can become familiar with their hockey-playing community.
Kids will bond and make new friends. They will learn values like teamwork, discipline, and respecting others. Out of the four major pro sports, hockey players are generally the most respectful and courteous.
But like most other team sports, hockey players learn to depend and support each other through hard times and good times. Children will carry these memories with them for life.
It Builds Character and Mental Strength
Like many sports, hockey is not just physical but also mental. Hockey players must maintain mental sharpness throughout the season. The fast-paced nature of the game requires players to think on their feet and make smart decisions.
Maintaining this mental discipline will be a boon for the children who could use these transferable skills throughout their life. Getting used to waking up early, showing up for practice, and working with others are all traits any employer or entrepreneur would love to have.
But also unique to hockey is how it develops humility. Some sports not only glorify but reward showboating, but that is usually frowned upon in hockey. The sport venerates respect and courtesy and even the young NHL players today still carry these values.
It is Fun, Unique, and Constantly Getting Better
There is no sport like hockey out there. As the most popular team sport on ice, hockey employs several traits you can find in many other sports but also is its own creation.
From its fast pace to its team-centric play to the many cultural traditions it employs, kids will enjoy being part of a hockey team.
Most importantly, hockey is constantly evolving to become more inclusive. The sport has gotten a black eye from a few scandals that involved toxic locker room behaviors. But overall, more players and figures are speaking out against it.
Hockey is a sport for everyone and is one of the best things to enroll kids into.