People, Participation, Progression, Performance in Hockey
Three Big Ideas For Every Parent:
Youth sports today are obsessed with spotting “talent.” But that question—“What is my child naturally good at?”—misses the point entirely.
Parent Trap…:
The result? A generation of kids under pressure to “be great” instead of growing strong, resilient, and fulfilled.
There are plenty of kids who dominated at age 8 and disappeared by age 14. Why? Because talent without character doesn’t last.
Real success—on and off the field—comes from:
And the best news? These traits aren’t genetic. They’re teachable.
Let’s reframe the question:
What values will help my child thrive in anything they do—sports or otherwise?
Here’s a real example from a parent conversation:
Parent: “My son’s tall for his age. People say he should play basketball. Should we go all in?”
Me: “Does he love it?”
Parent: “He likes it sometimes. He gets frustrated.”
Me: “What does he love doing?”
Parent: “He’ll spend hours building with Legos or fixing stuff in the garage.”
Me: “Then he’s already developing patience, focus, and problem-solving—skills that transfer to every sport and life challenge. Those are his true strengths.”
That conversation changed the way they looked at their child—and that’s the shift more parents need to make.
Forget height, speed, or hand-eye coordination. These are the traits that actually matter:
These can be built by any child. And they unlock not just athletic success—but confidence, self-worth, and lifelong capability.
Talent isn’t a fixed trait you uncover.
It’s a dynamic process shaped by environment, effort, and values.
👉 Start building the kind of character that makes them thrive anywhere, because in the long run, who they are matters more than how well they play.
