Local hockey players say parents take game too serious

While the purpose of sports is supposed to be to have fun, many local youth hockey players are saying parents put too much pressure on them.

Whether it is the next Roberto Luongo or the next Sidney Crosby, many Canadians share the same goal of making it to the NHL. With a young athlete’s dream of making it big, many parents want their child to attain their dreams as well. However, some athletes are saying the parents take it too far.

Youth sports have long been seen as a ticket to a college scholarship. As college costs increase, parents may be putting more pressure on their children for the financial opportunity.

However, as the stakes grow, the children are the ones losing. According to a study published by Michigan State University, 70 per cent of children drop out of sports by age 13, and a big reason is that their parents are putting too much pressure on them.

Cole Zelle is a youth hockey player for the Amherstburg Stars. Despite his love for both the game and his parents, he said it would be best if all he had to do was focus on the game itself.

“They do look ridiculous, I’ll tell you that,” said Zelle. “When they’re screaming and yelling and you see them in the stands and everyone else is just looking at them, it does look ridiculous.”

Derek Taylor is the head coach for the Amherstburg Stars. He said if the kids were just given the chance to play without the pressure, they would flourish and make their parents proud.

You’ll have other parents attack other kids, verbally and mentally, which just isn’t fair at all,” said Taylor. “When you come inside these doors, you’re supposed to respect everything, stay up in the stands keep your mouth shut, cheer for the kids and that’s all you need to do. We get a lot of parent’s that relive their glory days of playing a sport and I think they just get a little over competitive.”

According to the study done by MSU, winning was just one of 81 determinants that makes playing sports enjoyable for children. It was rated 48th, which meant there were 47 more important things children, coaches, parents and league administrators should be focusing on.

When it came down to it, however, Zelle said his dream scenario would be for his parents to show up and cheer but not say anything to him until after the game was over.

Zelle and Taylor agreed the game is supposed to be fun. According to Taylor, the best way for the parents to help their children have fun is to let them play the game.

“What I tell my parents is, realistically, they’re spending all this money for their kids to play – to be the best beer league hockey player they can be,” said Taylor “So let them enjoy the time they have. If they go further then they go further and that’s great.”