When getting their youngsters into hockey, most parents throw them right into the fire.
They register them for whichever age group they fall under, head to Canadian Tire to grab them a set of equipment, and bring them to the rink to hope they can figure it all out.
They have limited knowledge of the rules, how the game works, how to put on shoulder pads probably, and most importantly, how to even skate.
Hockey is a unique sport because it’s played on ice and skates, instantly separating it from almost all other sports.
This provides kids with another layer of the game to learn. Not only do they have to learn how to pass, shoot, and handle a puck, but they also have to do it all while learning to skate.
This is why we recommend enrolling your child in a skating program first. Allow them to learn the fundamentals and become comfortable on skates so that by the time they get into hockey, they can focus on everything involved with their hockey stick.
They’ll also have a major advantage over their teammates and their opponents. The kids who learned to skate first are always the ones zooming around all over the ice, seemingly on breakaways every shift, impossible to catch.
It’s a totally feasible option too. So if your child can wait a bit longer to start hockey, maybe have them try skating first!