Tryout Time.

Deep breath…..here we go again….the two words we dread the most…TRYOUT TIME. Did you cringe yet? Did you gulp?

Tryout season, while no fun for anyone is especially hard on our young’uns. Our children work hard, train hard, and live and breathe the game of hockey. I am not going to sugar coat anything, tryouts are agonizing, they are painful, they are stressful and will have you and your family feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster.

After many years of tryouts, we have had some of which caught us by surprise, some of which ended in collapsing in tears, some of which were celebrated with joy, some of which brought heartache, some of which brought new excitement and all of which brought pure PRIDE.

My two children make me proud every day of their lives. They are smart, they are loyal, they are kind hearted human beings and their work ethic is bar none. However, I think I am most proud of them during the tryout season. I am proud of the poise they demonstrate. I am proud of the hustle they show on the ice (like, a crazy amount of hustle). I am proud of the determination they show. I am proud that they push us out the door to be there with enough time to prep. I am proud of the workouts they do to become faster and stronger (without coaxing). Most of all I am proud of how they conduct themselves both on & off the ice.

So, what is my advice for this time of year?

Conduct yourself properly. Parent cuts are a real thing. You do not want to be the reason your child who works hard is cut from a team they are deserving of being a part of.

Arrive early. With very high numbers of kids trying out (our center is in the 100’s) dressing room space is very limited (especially for our goalies).

Hustle! One thing my ’05 has been amazing at is showing how bad he wants it. In all his tryout years, he is always first to every station. My ’09 has followed suit in this also.

Teamwork. Even though your child is competing with others for the same spot, show respect. Hockey is a game of respect. Give props, tap gloves etc. It shows you will make a great teammate.

Don’t talk about the kids with your player. Believe me they are going to put enough pressure on themselves without hearing how amazing Johnny was tonight.

Nutrition. Make sure bellies are fed with proteins – but not too much, you want to avoid belly aches, and feeling weighted. I also recommend some fruit or protein bar also as a top up before hitting the ice.

Hydration. I feel like this is often lost. Hydration is so, so important. Don’t forget to bring your water bottle! The last thing anyone wants is to become lightheaded.

Sleep. Even though our players are anxious, nervous, excited etc they need to sleep. If the helmet numbers are not posted by your child’s regular bedtime, don’t wait up. They can always check the next morning; after all if your number is there you are going to need to perform again the next day.

Coaches. A good coach has already done their homework. A good coach knows what kind of team he / she wants to build. If your child has rocked a tryout and was not chosen, they just may not be what the coach is looking for, and that is ok. Life will still go on, and what is meant to be will be.

Coachability. This one speaks for itself. If your child isn’t coachable, its probably not worth the risk for a coach. Believe it or not, your child doesn’t already know everything there is to know about the game.

Understand that your player is going through a lot during this process. What you are going through, they are going through 10 times more. Give encouragement, give them strength, and give them unconditional love. Your child has ZERO control on who a coach chooses / does not choose. If for some reason your child is a victim of circumstance or politics, reassure them how great they really are, the kids are too young to understand / see the politics of hockey (and there certainly is a lot).

Let your child be. By this I mean if your child has just opened a letter indicating they have been cut, they are going to deal with it in their own way. I remember one year my son just wanted to be alone for an hour, and I didn’t understand it at the time, but realized that is what he needed. He needed to process things his way, he needed to cry in his own space, he needed to find that silver lining on his own. When he came out of his room, we were right there for him and he was completely fine.

Chatter. This is a HUGE one. Block out all the chatter. People love to talk, and talk loosely, and to be quite honest sometimes very stupidly. Don’t get caught up in it. Chatter is just that, chatter. The conspiracy theories, and the “did you hear, did you know” don’t mean a damn thing. The competitive sports world is ruthless!

And, to all my fellow goalie moms out there who watch our children battle for a position in which only 2 are chosen; cheers to you! Don’t worry your wine glass will be waiting when you get home from the rink!

I also want to give a special shout-out to goalies! These are the brave individuals donning the mask for every tryout. These are the individuals that are fighting for only 1 of 2 spots…think about that, let that sink in…1 of 2 spots. This is the epitome of stress for them. But this is what will build their character, this is where we see their miraculous strength. These things are why I am PROUD to be a GOALIE MOM!

Remember that our role as a supportive parent is to keep the dream alive. It is such a wonderful thing watching your child do what they love. Let them dream big! I think it is so important to remember that good things come to those who wait, everything happens for a reason, and when it is the right time, it will be the right time!

To all our hockey stars, good luck! We are proud of you! Remember to play and work hard for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back!

“Some may have more talent, but there is no excuse for anyone working harder than you” – John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leaf