Parents Introduction To Youth Hockey

This page is being prepared in association with USA Hockey and CCYHA to assist parents in becoming more familiar with the sport of hockey and its organization and structure at the grassroots level. Keep in mind that, above all, the motivating factor for most children who enter an organized youth sports program is their desire to have fun. This is particularly true with young children, many of whom are newcomers to the sports scene.

In The Stands
Parents can take the fun out of hockey by continually yelling or screaming from the stands. Parents should enjoy the game and applaud good plays. The stands are not for coaching, kids often mirror the actions of their parents, if they see mom or dad losing their cool, they will probably do the same thing.

Car And Home
Some parents may not only spoil the fun at the ice rink, but also in the car. The car is not the perfect place for instruction. Trying to keep things in perspective is key in this situation. There is more to life than hockey, and the car and home are not places to coach. Parents are responsible for supporting and respecting the coach's decisions and abilities. It is unfair to put children in a position of having to decide who to listen to - their parents or their coach.

At Practice
Parents should remember that if a child wants to improve, he/she has to practice - not just play. Even if a child is not the "star" player for a team, practice stresses the importance of teamwork, establishing goals, discipline and learning to control your emotions, all of which are important lessons children can use both in and away from sports.

At The Rink
Hockey parents can help create a fun environment by making certain their children are wearing properly fitted equipment. Parents also need to stress fair play and risk management to help eliminate injuries.

Support Your Child
There are many benefits that are derived from playing youth hockey. Boys and girls learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. They learn to work together, how to sacrifice for the good of the team, how to enjoy winning and how to handle defeat. In the process, they also learn important lessons about physical fitness and personal health.

The degree to which your child benefits from his or her youth hockey experience is as much your responsibility as it is theirs. In order for your child to get the most out of a youth hockey program, it is important for you to show support and offer encouragement while maintaining a genuine interest in the team.

Always Be Positive
Parents serve as role models for their children, who often look to adults for advise, direction, and approval. Never lose sight of the fact that you are a role model and strive to be positive. As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is show good sportsmanship and all times to coaches, referees, opponents, and teammates. Be careful not to impose your own standards or objectives.

Let The Coach Coach
Avoid placing an exaggerated emphasis on winning. The most important aspect of your child's youth hockey experience is for them to have fun while developing physical and emotional skills that will serve them in life. A healthy, risk-free environment that emphasizes the importance of fair play, sportsmanship, teamwork and, most importantly, fun will be invaluable for your child as ha or she continues to develop a positive self image.

Positive Reinforcement
The best way to help children achieve goals and reduce their natural fear of failure if through positive reinforcement. After all, no one feels good about making mistakes. If your child does make a mistake - and they will (remember, they're just kids) - keep in mind that mistakes are an important part of the overall learning process. Strive to be supportive and point out the things they do well. Make sure your child knows that, regardless of the outcome, he or she is a winner.

Glossary of Ice Hockey Terms

Assist – A player receives this credit if they are the last player to handle the puck prior to a goal being scored by another player.

Back Check – This is when a forward skates back quickly to their defense zone to prevent an opponent from scoring.

Blocker – A goaltenders glove worn on the hand that holds the stick.

Body Check – A player uses their body against an opponent. The only legal form of body checking is done only with the hips and shoulder above the opponents knees and below their neck.

Breakaway – Occurs when a player skates towards the net with the puck having no opponents but the goaltender in front of beside of the player.

Changing on the fly – Players from the bench replaces players on the ice while play is in action.

Concussion – Jarring of the brain resulting in dysfunction. A concussion can have three types of grades: mild, moderate or severe.

Crease – A semi-circular area colored in blue in front of the goal.

Empty Net Goal – A goal scored on the opponent that has pulled its goaltender to gain an extra player.

Face – Off – A referee drops the puck between the hockey sticks of two opposing players to begin play.

Flat Pass – A pass where the puck remains on the ice.

Flip Pass – The puck is lifted so that it goes over an opponent or his stick to complete a pass.

Freezing the Puck – When a youth hockey player holds the puck against the boards with his stick or skates or when a goaltender holds the puck in his catcher or traps it on the ice to prevent the opponent from taking possession.

Game Played – A hockey player gets this credit for playing in a game if he has playtime or serves any penalty.

Game Tying Goal – A final goal that ties a game.

Game Winning Goal – The goal that is scored to win the game. Particularly this may not be the last goal scored, just the goal that won the game.

Goal – A goal is given to the last hockey player to touch the puck before it enters the net.

Goals against Average – This is the process of multiplying goals allowed by 60 and divide by minutes played.

Goaltenders win/loss/tie – A win, tie, or loss is given to the goaltender on the ice when the game winning or tying goal is scored.

Head Coach – The leader of the coaching staff, makes decisions affecting the team.

Linesman – An on-ice official who is responsible for calling offside and icings.

 Youth Hockey – Hockey for players ages four to eighteen.

Off-Ice Officials – Are people who officiate off the ice, official scorer, game timekeeper, penalty timekeeper, and goal judges.

Off- Side – When a player from the team in possession of the puck crosses their opponents blue line before the puck.

On-Ice Officials – Are those who officiate on the ice, linesman, and referee.

Penalty – An infraction of the rules by a player or coaching staff.

Penalty Killing – This occurs when the team who is shorthanded because of a penalty tries to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

Plus Minus – A plus is received when a youth hockey player is on the ice when his team scores goal. A minus is received when a player is on the ice when the opposing team scores a goal.

Power Play Goal – A goal scored by any team while the opposing team is shorthanded due to a penalty.

Referee – An on-ice official who is the supervisor of the game, calls penalties, determines if actual goals were scored, and handles face-offs at center ice.

Save – A shot that is blocked by the goaltender that otherwise would have gone into the net.

Shooting Percentage – Divide the number of goals scored by the number of shots taken.

Shorthanded – When a team has less players on the ice than the opposing team due to penalties.

Shorthanded goal – when a goal is scored by a team who is shorthanded due to a penalty.

Shot on goal – This is when a hockey player shoots the puck when the intention of scoring.

Shutout – When a goaltender has successfully blocked all incoming shots on goal, thus not allowing any goals to be scored by the opponent.

Skills – A physical ability to skate, stickhandle, shoot, and pass.

Slot - An area of the ice in the middle between the face-off circles.

Trapper – The goaltenders catching glove.

Tryout – the process of players competing against other players in order to obtain a position on the team.

While there are many different terms used in youth hockey, these are just a few of the most common used terms.

Delayed calling of penalty or other violation.  Arm extended fully above head (hand without whistle).

A forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands open and facing away from the body, fully extended from the chest at shoulder level.

Flat part of hand patted on head.

Holdings both fists clenched, one immediately above the other at the height of the shoulders.

Referee points into the net.

Pass out of defensive zone.

Arms crossed above head, giving signal of stoppage in play.

Open part of hand displayed in a pushing motion.

Clasping either wrist with the other hand in front of the chest.

The back referee of linesman signals a possible icing by fully extending his arm without the whistle over his head.  The front referee or linesman indicates the icing is completed by extending his arm over his head.  The back referee or linesman will then blow his whistle and skate to the face the spot.  When he is standing on the face-off spot, he extends his arms to indicate the icing.

A chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.

A tugging motion with both arms, as if pulling something from in front of the stomach.

Fist clenched and arm extended out of the side of the body.

A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other.

A forward motion with both fists clenched extending from the chest.

A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other.

Rotating clenched fists around one another in front of the chest.

With both skates on the ice striking right leg with the right hand below the knee.

A jabbing motion with both hands thrust out directly in front of the body.

Slapping either knee with the palm of the hand whilst keeping both skates on the ice.

Crossed arms with closed fists stationary in front of the chest.

Tapping either elbow with the other hand.

No goal or no icing.