Take a deep breath parents: the hockey season is coming to an end. We know that many of you enjoy the grind of the youth hockey season, but there has to be some excitement about a break from early morning practices and weekend tournaments. For many kids, the end of the hockey season triggers a change in gear to other sports like baseball for the summer. Instead of wearing a jacket and holding a coffee inside a cold rink, you can sport a t-shirt and shorts on a nice summer evening.
But sooner than you know it, preparing for the next hockey season will be upon you. The warm weather will fade and the summer nights will get shorter and shorter. Every year, as September rolls around, parents scramble to grab new gear and register their kids for the next season. How can you avoid this next year? Check out our post-season checklist for hockey parents that will make next year’s registration a breeze!
Air Out That Gear!
In all seriousness, at the end of the season, take advantage of the summer weather and air out that gear. We all know about the smell of hockey gear after a long season. Trust us, we can tell when someone’s hockey bag hasn’t been opened since last year. Not only is this easier on your nose, but it is also hygienic. Hockey gear can have all types of bacterial growth on it because often during the season, it never truly dries out. It does not take much to invest in a hockey gear rack where you can hang all of the paddings to properly air it out.
If you really want to get it clean, we recommend taking it to get professionally done. There are plenty of rinks that have professional cleaners now that can power steam clean your gear or use proper chemicals. If you want to try it yourself you can toss everything in a bathtub of vinegar or another non-toxic cleaner, and try to scrub the smell out. Either way, airing it out is the least you can do to avoid bacteria or even mould growth during the off-season.
Know Which Gear Needs to be Replaced
While we are on the subject of hockey gear, every off-season you should be looking at which gear your child has outgrown. As hockey parents, we know how often you need to buy new equipment because our kids keep having growth spurts. Buying the gear too big can be uncomfortable and even dangerous on the ice. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a way around it at these ages.
So while you are taking our advice and airing out or cleaning that gear, take a second to take stock of which items need to be replaced next season. You can also take stock of which pieces of equipment are on the cusp of being outgrown. If there is another unexpected growth spurt this summer, you will already know what might have to be added to the shopping list.
Look for Off-Season Skill Development
Your kids might want a break from hockey and that is totally fine. The summer is a great way to get different types of exercise like bike riding or swimming. But for those who want to continue to play hockey and improve their skills, there are a number of ways you can help them as a parent. The first is to look for summer leagues or even roller hockey as a way to stay in the game during the off-season. Summer leagues might be few and far between depending on where you live, but in many cities, there is usually at least one ice rink that will stay frozen year-round.
Other things you can consider are additional skating lessons like power skating, working on their shot, or even dry land training. These can help continue to strengthen the right muscle regions for hockey, without breaking the bank for summer registration. You can also ask your child’s coach for some off-season drills they can do at home to improve their skills. Other resources include sites like YouTube which provide valuable videos of hockey training that can be done away from the rink.
Check Sticks and Skates
As you can tell, we are very high on equipment management. While we already told you to clean and check the sizing of your child’s gear, it is also imperative to look at their sticks and skates. These are two of the most important pieces of equipment alongside the helmet. Skates can take a beating during the season, and it is worth taking them to a skate shop in the offseason to get repaired.
Likewise with hockey sticks. We all know how much a season of hockey can take a toll on the blades of our sticks. And let’s be honest: these sticks aren’t cheap anymore. At the end of the year, take all of the tape off and make sure the stick is still usable next season. This is a good time to check to make sure the stick is still the right size as well. If the blade is beaten up and the stick is on the short side, it might be time to check out some new sticks for next year.
Finally, Relax and Enjoy the Summer
Most importantly, enjoy sleeping in on the weekends and taking in the warm weather. The hockey season can be just as tiring for parents as it is for kids. Give yourself a nice pat on the back for all of your work this year driving the kids around and cleaning their jerseys and gear. Without parents, youth hockey would never run as smoothly as it does. Thank you for all your hard effort and devotion to your kids! While we recommend making your off-season checklist, don’t be afraid to take a couple of weeks off first to recharge your batteries and get the smell of hockey gear out of your mind!
