Being a Hockey Parent

[Eleven]

I don't think any of Cam's coaches yelled more than you'd expect them to when he was younger, but he didn't play high level hockey until his Peewee years (10 years old I think?)

Since then, what I've heard hasn't been over the top except one time in particular, and I addressed that with the coach immediately after the game. For the last 2 years I've worked the game clock and music for our home games, so I was right there, next to the boys.

When I say over the top, I mean yelling in a personal manner, degrading the kid. Not necessarily just yelling. Our coaches yell a lot, but it's mainly on the fly line and strategy stuff. Last year my kid got hurt on a shift and when he came back he asked the coach to sit one shift and the coach kind of went nuts with "Are you kidding me?" type of comments.

After that game I let the coach have it, and made sure we were on the same page when it came to something like that happening again. My kid doesn't cry wolf, if he gets hurt and has to mention it during the game, then he is really hurt.

I'm not the greatest when it comes to dealing with confrontation with the coaches, I'm usually more passionate about the situations than my kid would be. I think maybe at your kids age, it certainly isn't out of bounds for you to talk to the coach, at least to make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to how your kid reacts and responds to his coaching style.