WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?
February 2002

Is more better than less?

There has been much debate over the years regarding high school hockey vs. travel hockey.

The fact that many travel players are playing year round is alarming. “Burnout” is becoming an increasing problem in minor hockey. It seems the theory that more is better than less has had a negative effect over the past decade.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of high school teams statewide. The idea that a child will get a jump on the competition by playing an extra month or two is unfounded. After a certain point, the law of diminishing marginal return takes effect and the athlete actually regresses due to over exposure. In actual fact, the player may be doing more harm than good by playing year-round.

The problem is: Where do you draw the line?

Every athlete – every person for that matter – is different both mentally and physically. Some people seem to have a never ending resource of energy while others need more time to recuperate. Just as bodybuilders learn to “listen to their bodies” to avoid over- training, parents must also learn to listen to their children to avoid burnout.

In terms of on-ice practice, it is quality, not quantity, that should be the determining factor. This is not to say that unstructured “pond hockey” should be eliminated, because many players have developed through games of shinny. What players must realize is that, in order to improve, they must have the mental inspiration to drive the body. Quality ice time, both structured and unstructured, is mentally inspiring!

How many times have you heard a proud parent exclaim, “Johnny would play 365 days a year if he had the chance.”

A closer look would reveal that this might not be entirely true. Quite often a parent will confuse a child's happiness with the fact that the child is happy because he is pleasing his/her parents. Our society has placed a high standard on the education of our youth, so much so that it is the law. Yet children are not required to attend school year-round.

The most serious danger of a child playing any sport year-round is the shifting of priorities that takes place. When this happens the athlete will soon mark their self worth and self esteem by how well they perform or progress throughout their athletic career. With such a small percentage of athletes ever achieving professional status, you may be setting your child up for a tremendous feeling of failure that will permeate their entire life and not just in the sport.

Given that the average season lasts approximately five to seven months, there are a few guidelines that may help in avoiding this serious problem of burnout. Both the elite level and house league player should look to take a minimum of eight to 20 weeks off, completely away from the sport.

Crosstraining activities such as weightlifting, baseball, golf, tennis, swimming or other sports will not only keep the athlete in good physical condition, but also mentally inspired as well. You might ask why someone in the hockey school business would recommend this course of action. Isn't it bad for business?

Actually, the opposite is true in that by keeping the players away from hockey for an extended period of time, we are assured of a healthy crop of students every year.

It is in all of our best interest to keep this game as enjoyable as possible.

The best way to do that is to have a solid, enthusiastic youth base.

—Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood HS Hockey CoachAndy Weidenbach