Hockey is one of the most expensive youth sports, with parents spending an average of $2,583 annually on their child’s participation. But the sport also teaches life lessons that extend well beyond the ice, developing confidence and pride, promoting teamwork and focus, and teaching children to be responsible.
Kids who are interested in playing hockey can get started at a local rink, where they will learn the basics of skating. Once they are able to skate on their own, most local rinks offer co-ed recreational teams that start at age five or six. Most rinks also offer a range of classes that can help kids build skills for playing hockey, such as shooting, passing and defense.
For kids who are ready to take their game to the next level, there are travel hockey programs that can provide them with a more competitive opportunity. Most travel hockey programs offer a minimum of eight games per season. For some kids, this will be enough to help them develop the necessary skills for a higher level of play.
A number of online resources exist for helping young players find the right hockey leagues near them. NBC’s Hockey Community, for example, provides a nice platform that connects players to leagues and tournaments. The platform is free to join, and is available on iOS and Android.
Some youth hockey leagues will also have their own websites, which can be helpful for connecting kids to different teams. Many of these websites feature articles and videos that can help kids develop their hockey skills.
Whether they are a goalie, forward or defenceman, every hockey player needs to be equipped with the right gear. This includes a helmet, stick, chest and arm pads, gloves, neck protector, padded shorts and shin guards. Some of these pieces of equipment are available in second-hand shops, where they can be purchased for a fraction of the retail price.
There are a number of hockey leagues and tournaments for adults as well, including the Major Indoor Hockey League, which features a number of professional players. There is also a number of women’s ice hockey leagues, such as the National Women’s Hockey League and the Elite Girl’s Hockey Association.
There are also 64 NCAA men’s club hockey programs, which offer a variety of athletic scholarships for student-athletes. Most college coaches reserve full-ride scholarships for top tier junior players who compete in the USHL, but there are opportunities for some Division 2 recruits to receive partial athletic scholarships. Depending on their skill level, a good number of NCAA hockey players will eventually compete in the NAHL or NCDC. In addition, the American Collegiate Hockey Association governs four women’s leagues. This includes the EHL, USPHL Premiere, NA3HL and WSHL. These leagues produce a large percentage of Division 3 recruits. The majority of these programs are located in the Northeast region. However, some are located in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. There are also a number of non-affiliated schools in the West that run women’s club hockey programs.