Is Your Child Ready for Street Hockey?

We’ve all been there—sometimes signing up your child for a new activity or sport causes an internal battle. You ask questions like: Am I picking the right activity? Will they have fun? Are they ready? Will they even listen to the coach?

Here’s a quick run down about street hockey and a few indications your child is ready to play.

Street hockey for kids

The most important thing to know is that street hockey is not ice hockey. Kids don’t need to know how to ice skate or wear heavy equipment. They don’t get thrown into the boards. Instead, players run around on foot and the only equipment required is their hockey stick, which is provided, and a mouthguard (minus the goalie who decks out in a little bit more padding). Because of this, we find that many kids are less intimidated by the idea of playing street hockey. And as an added bonus, they still get to learn all the key skills they need to know to play the game.

Secondly, like many sports, street hockey evolves as kids get older. In the beginning, especially for the younger elementary school kids, coaches focus on general concepts and (most importantly) having fun. Then, as kids learn basic skills, they begin to build upon them.

Even more, all NFL FLAG leagues are recreational, meaning no prior experience is necessary. Boys and girls of all skill levels and abilities can join a team.

What’s the best age to start street hockey?

The short answer is—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to being ready to play. Some kids want to compete right away starting at Pre-K, while other families like to wait. Either way, here are a few signs that may indicate your child is ready to join NHL STREET Hockey.

• They’re active. Street hockey takes a certain level of coordination and gross motor skills. In other words, players run up and down the court. A lot. If your child loves to be active, they’ll definitely get some energy out playing street hockey. The amount of running is pretty comparable to soccer, for example.

• They like working in a team or playing with other kids. NHL STREET teams mostly play 4v4 or 5v5, so you can expect your child to get in on the action. And with so many moving parts at once, they’ll really begin to understand teamwork and sportsmanship. They might not pick up game concepts right away—and that’s okay. As long as they’re excited to work together, they’re ready to play street hockey.

• You can make the commitment. Kids are—well, kids. They might not always listen or follow directions. That’s sort of what we sign up for as parents, right? But as long as you’re ready to help them commit to their team by showing up every week and respecting the coaches and referees, the minor distractions here and there won’t be a big deal. Even more, they’ll begin to learn a sense of discipline in a structured team environment. What a win!

It goes without saying that when it comes to playing NHL STREET, you should never worry about your kid being good enough. Kids develop and grow at various rates. They grasp game concepts at different points. That’s not what matters to us. What matters is that your kid is experiencing the best of what youth sports can be—staying active, having fun, making friends, and being a part of a team.

If you’re interested in joining NHL STREET, connect with us!