Ask Dan Question & Answer

(An index of subjects covered on the Q & A page of the web site,

 the Newsletters, and Dan and Jay's books  can be found on the

 Index of Subjects page)

Question #126:
Dear Dan: 1) How much hockey should I play over the summer? 2)How many hockey camps/clinics should I do over the summer? and 3)How many hours a week of ice hockey is enough? T.B.

Dan Replies:
Dear T.B.: How much hockey should should you play over the summer? None. Play baseball, soccer, golf, but don't play hockey. You get to be a better hockey player by increasing your athleticism and you do that by playing other sports. Besides, if you love hockey, you don't want to get burned out. I didn't play hockey from May to October and then I was so excited for the season to start, I couldn't sleep the night before. My father always noticed that I was better at the beginning of a new season than he remembered at the end of the last season. He concluded that I had increased my athleticism and that translated into being a better athlete, and consequently a better hockey player. Add to that your doctor will tell you it isn't good for your physical development to play just one sport. And if you want to play in the NHL, you better be as physically developed as possible

How many hockey camps/clinics should you attend over the summer? Do you deserve to go to any? Are your grades good? Do you do your chores when you are told? Have you earned part of the money yourself? If you do deserve to go, you should only go to one week. If you want to go to camp for two weeks, make the second camp an Odyssey of the Mind Camp, a Band Camp, a Boy Scout camp, or a just plain fun camp. Hockey is not that important to go to a camp for two weeks. I only went for one week - ever - and I had to earn part of the money and I couldn't have gone if my grades were not up to my best. I'd have been in summer school or Math Camp.

Then, how many hours a week of ice hockey is enough? Enough to do what? You are a child. Playing games is part of your childhood. Asking me how many hours a week of ice hockey is enough is like asking me how many hours of Monopoly or Kick the Can is enough (those are some of the other games of childhood). Hockey is a pastime - you do it because it's fun. When it isn't fun anymore, stop doing it. If you told me you wanted to be a doctor when you grew up, would you be asking me what part of your childhood should you sacrifice now by practicing to be a doctor? I don't think so. Play hockey if (and only if) and when (and only when) it's fun. When you're tired of it or you're not having fun, quit and do something that is fun.

And see Q&A #62.

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