By Ontario Minor Hockey Association, 09/03/24,
How the classroom and dressing room tie together
The start of September is a bundle of excitement and nerves mixed together. Another hockey season is here and another school year is just beginning. Calendars will be busy for the next seven months as these student-athletes get accustomed to new teams, new schedules and everything that comes along with it. As kids get back to school, there are lessons they will be learning in the classroom that they’ll be able to take with them to the rink and apply to hockey. Let’s dig in.
Listening
Whether it’s a teacher breaking down a math problem or a coach explaining a drill, kids will have to be paying attention to their lessons. The ability to follow instructions can help those to understand solutions easier and be able to take in feedback and apply it in different ways. As leaders in their communities, teachers and coaches are there to help create solutions and education in their subjects.
Teamwork
In class students will often be assigned group projects. This will require communication and teamwork skills. Just like on a hockey team, there will be a need to know how to work together to achieve a common goal. This is also an opportunity for leadership skills to be put to use to make sure everyone is on the right path as a unit.
Being Welcoming
Our classes and teammates change every year, and with that we are introduced to new faces along the way. It is up to us to make sure everyone feels welcome and included in these spaces. Perhaps they are new to the school or to hockey. You never know when a new best friend may be around the corner just by starting a conversation.
Organization
With each day now busier than in the summer, families will need to stay organized in a number of ways. Balancing time management with homework, hockey, nutrition and possibly even a part time job or other activities will take a while to adjust to. This is also a chance for players to take on the responsibility of managing their own schedules and being in charge of things like cleaning their hockey equipment or assisting with meal prep.
