By Minnesota Hockey - Being a youth hockey parent is far from easy. Simply the day-to-day logistics of getting kids to practice, often at different times and sometimes at different rinks, while trying to feed them and keep up with tasks at home can be a challenge.

Add in the numerous volunteer roles parents hold, their own work responsibilities and possibly juggling a second sport as the fall season winds down, and it’s no wonder why parents rely heavily on communication, organization and routines during the season.

Unfortunately, those responsibilities can also occupy all of our attention and may limit the amount of focus put on intentionally aiding kids’ development.

As we kick off the 2019-20 season, it’s important for parents to set goals for themselves in an effort to help their kids gain more out of the upcoming season. Here are six ideas that could be one of your points of emphasis this year.

Illinois, let's help introduce new kids to the great sport of ice hockey! USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free Days are designed to provide youth hockey associations with a national platform to introduce new kids to the sport. The upcoming national events for the 2019-20 season are: Saturday, November 9, 2019, and Saturday, February 22, 2020. 

Last season, nearly 25,000 kids experienced youth hockey for the first time. This opportunity targets kids between the ages of 4 and 9. For November, the goal is to have over 450 locations host a Try Hockey For Free clinic. With fall youth sports wrapping up, this event provides local associations with the perfect opportunity to introduce new families to youth hockey.

By Stephen Kerr - Before the Vegas Golden Knights began their first NHL season, youth hockey in southern Nevada was geared toward short-term gain and consistent with the mood of a non-traditional hockey market. It didn’t take long, though, for the club to discover the community was hungry for not only a professional team, but a grassroots effort that would encourage long-term development and foster enthusiasm for kids of all ages to learn the sport and enjoy participating.

By Mike Doyle - Picking a single sport at an early age does not guarantee athletic greatness. In fact, it could potentially be a hindrance. A study by the Penn State College of Medicine polled professional, NCAA Division I and Division III hockey players about their athletic upbringing and found only 12 percent of the athletes specialized in the sport before they were 12. Youngsters specializing in a single sport at a young age can be more susceptible to overuse injury and don’t get the developmental athletic benefits of using different movements and muscle groups. 

Purpose: This small-area game develops numerous offensive and defensive skills in a fun, fast-paced and competitive playing environment. It can incorporate as many as 10 players simultaneously, though eight is ideal. The primary offensive skills trained in the game include saucer passing, stickhandling, quick skating changes of direction and deception to get open for a return pass, puck protection, shooting accuracy and a quick release. 

Purpose: This off-ice drill works on stride technique and stride development. It focuses on knee bend extension as well as all the components of a player's stride that will make them a better skater while also incorporating the upper body.