What Parents Say Before a Game (And How Hockey Players Can Handle It)

🚗 The Car Ride Matters More Than You Think

That short ride to the rink?
It can shape everything.

For many young hockey players, the final moments before stepping into the locker room are filled with emotions—excitement, nerves, anticipation. And often, those moments include input from parents trying to help.

But here’s the challenge:
Even well-meaning advice can sometimes create pressure instead of confidence.

In this episode of The Ride To The Rink, we break down how players can take control of their mindset—no matter what they hear before the game.

🎯 The 3 Common Pre-Game Messages (And What They Really Mean)

1. “Don’t mess up” / “Don’t turn the puck over”

What happens:

• Your brain locks onto the mistake

• You play cautious instead of confident

Reframe it:
👉 Focus on what you want to do
👉 “Move the puck well”
👉 “Make smart plays”

2. “You need to score” / “You need to play great”

What happens:

• Pressure shifts entirely onto you

• You forget hockey is a team game

Reframe it:
👉 “I’m going to contribute to my team”
👉 “I’ll make a positive impact every shift”

3. “The coach is watching you today”

What happens:

• You treat one moment like it defines everything

• Anxiety spikes

Reality check:

• Coaches are always watching

• One game does not define your future

Reframe it:
👉 “I’ll give my best effort—like always”

🧠 The Skill That Changes Everything: Reframing

Here’s the superpower every player can develop:

You control the message.

No matter what’s said to you, you can translate it into something positive:

• “Don’t mess up” → “Play confident”

• “You need to score” → “Help my team succeed”

• “Big game today” → “I get to compete today”

This is how great athletes think.

💬 Talking to Your Parents (Yes, You Can)

It’s okay to say:

• “That makes me nervous before games”

• “Can we keep it simple before I play?”

• “I play better when I feel relaxed”

Most parents don’t realize the impact of their words—they just want to help.

Opening that conversation can change everything.

🏒 Play for the Right Reasons

Scoring for money.
Playing for rewards.
Chasing stats.

These can all pull you away from what really matters:

• Competing

• Improving

• Being a great teammate

The best motivation?

👉 Love of the game
👉 Love of competing
👉 Pride in your effort

✅ The Only Question That Matters

After the game, forget stats.

Ask yourself:

“Did I do my best today?”

If the answer is yes—you’re on the right path.

🔥 Final Takeaway: Compete and Enjoy It

Hockey is hard.
Pressure is real.
But competition?

It’s a privilege.

The more you embrace it, the more fun the game becomes.

🎧 Keep Riding With Us

If this episode helped you, share it with a teammate—or even better, a parent.

And remember:

You can’t always control what’s said to you…
but you can always control how you respond.

We’ll see you on the next ride. 🚗💨