How To Get My Kids Into Hockey
25 July 2023
If you’re a hockey fan, it’s only natural that you’d want to share this passion with your children. It’s a great way for them to get active and improve their coordination, fitness and reaction times. They’ll also have fun, make new friends and learn about teamwork and fair play. Here’s five tips if you’re not sure how to get them into the sport.
Start early
Get them started young, while they’re full of energy and excited about learning new things. Hockey is a sport that requires a lot of coordination and discipline, so it’s best to start working on those skills from a young age. Then, if they get to play at school, they will already have a head start. You don’t have to worry too much about the rules when they’re young but get them passing a ball back and forth and learning how to control it with their stick.
Sign them up to Hockey Heroes
Hockey Heroes is an 8-week programme, run by England Hockey, designed to teach 5-8-year-olds the basics of the sport. The sessions are well structured and provide an excellent opportunity for kids to learn new skills while having fun. It’s an affordable way to introduce your kids to hockey and see if they enjoy it, and they will get two hockey sticks and a ball to keep when they sign up.
Join the school hockey club
School hockey clubs allow kids to play competitively with kids of a similar age and skill level. This competitive environment helps foster a love of the game and develop skills that kids can use later in life. They’ll also get access to proper coaching and opportunities to play matches. If your child’s school doesn’t offer hockey as an option, there are hockey clubs in the community which welcome children and offer the same benefits, although this may be more costly.
Take them to watch a professional game
Hockey is a popular sport in the UK, and taking your kids to watch a professional game is a great way to get them interested in the sport. Not only will they get to see some of the best players in action, but they'll also get a taste of the competitive atmosphere surrounding the sport. Watching a game can also help children to learn about hockey's rules and strategies. If there aren’t any games near you, you can also stream them online.
Encourage them to practise
Like any skill, children need to practise in order to improve at hockey. But they may need encouragement, as there are so many other activities and distractions around them. You can practise with them, or take them somewhere they can practise with friends or siblings.
Hockey is an excellent sport for kids of all ages - it's fun, exciting, and teaches important values like teamwork and fair play. If you're looking for ways to get your kids involved in hockey, use these five tips to get started.