Sports

What to do when your child’s hockey team can’t win

December 22, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Not every hockey team is going to have a winning season.

Check the standings in any league, and you will always have a team right at the bottom that just can’t seem to win a game.

While this may be disheartening for some, there are positives that can come from being on a losing team.

For starters, a lot of kids aren’t overly bothered by losing. They just enjoy getting out there and playing.

Kids can learn from losing through camaraderie, sportsmanship, and the idea of athletics as a series of incremental victories.

Here are five things you can do to help your child through a losing season.

Put it into perspective – Are the kids having fun? In sports, enjoyment often comes from just playing the game. When kids are engaged in a sporting event, they are making new friends, gaining self-confidence, and having fun.

Learn from the kids – Watch your child’s team. Do they show up at every game with smiles on their faces? Do they work hard on the ice?

If they are having fun playing the game, just leave the fact that they are losing alone.

Focus on the things they are achieving – Even if you’re not winning, many good things can come out of each practice or game. Kids are developing their skills and getting better at playing. As they get better, the game becomes easier and even more fun for them.

Discuss the loss with your child – Don’t make your child feel like a failure by not talking about a loss. Let them know they did a good job on the ice and point out all the positives that were done during the game and build on that.

Be a parent, not a coach – Each team already has a coach. There’s no need to dwell on what went wrong on the ice. Instead, let them know how proud you are of them for working hard and turning out their best effort.

Just because your child’s team is having a less than stellar season, you can turn that season into a valuable learning experience and ensure your child is enjoying themselves on the ice.

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