How to Join a Hockey Team and Prepare for Your First Season

Joining a hockey team can be an exciting and rewarding experience for children and parents alike. It provides a unique environment for kids to develop life skills such as confidence, pride, focus and responsibility. The sport also fosters friendships that will last a lifetime, making it the perfect choice for families with young children.

Getting Ready for Your First Season
To get the most out of your first season as a hockey player, you must prepare yourself mentally and physically. By taking the time to prepare for each game, you can be confident and perform at your best every shift.

Pregame Warm-Ups
As the puck drops to start your first game, its important to get yourself prepared for success on the ice. This is especially true for the first few games, where players are often nervous and unprepared. A good pregame warm-up can help you to be in the zone and play your best hockey.

Wake Up Early
Getting up early will help you to get the most out of your first season as an ice hockey player. This will allow you to get to the rink for the proper time, as well as giving you enough time to make sure your gear is all put away and your shoes are in the locker room before you head out to the ice.

Plan Your Schedule
Each ice hockey association has their own set of rules regarding scheduling and playing dates, but generally teams play a mix of home and away games. Typically, house league teams have one home and two away games on a regular basis, while varsity and high school teams typically play three to four away games per season.

Check with your local rink to find out the dates and times of your first few games, as well as their location. Then, plan your schedule to be able to attend as many games as possible.

Organize Your Equipment
When your child starts a new hockey season, they will be getting all of their equipment for the first time. This can be a daunting task, but it is important to get organized and ensure that everything will make it through the season.

Take the time to organize your players gear and figure out which pieces are going to be the most important for them during the season. This will help them avoid being left with any leftovers that they wont be able to use.

Ask Other Players for Help
The best way to help you with this task is to ask other veteran players for advice and tips on what you should be doing to improve your performance on the ice. By asking other players for their thoughts, you can be more sure that you are doing the right things to help your team win.

Its a lot to learn in a short amount of time, so its important to take the time to listen to other people and be open to their advice. This will help you become a better, more prepared player on the ice and in the off-ice training process.