How can mindfulness transform the way young athletes experience hockey? In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, retired NHLer Riley Cote explores the profound impact of teaching mindfulness and mental fitness to young players. He highlights how these practices can enhance focus, emotional regulation, and overall enjoyment of the game.

The discussion also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the joy and fun of hockey, rather than pushing for elite development too early. Riley shares his personal experiences, shedding light on the critical need to address mental health and emotional intelligence in a sport that often suppresses emotions.

He introduces creative methods, like rhythmic drumming, to teach mindfulness and presence.

The conversation also touches on the vital role parents play in supporting their children's emotional development, encouraging them to practice mindfulness themselves.

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- Riley Cote shares his journey from youth hockey to the NHL, highlighting parental support and joy in the game.

•Discussion on the pressure for young players to pursue elite paths, comparing it to gymnastics, and its impact on enjoying hockey.

•Emphasis on playing for fun and the negative effects of parental pressure.

•Lee shares a personal story about his son’s excitement, stressing the importance of joy in sports.

•Riley discusses his work at Philadelphia Hockey Academy, focusing on mindfulness and separating the human from the athlete.

•Mental fitness in hockey is explored, with Riley emphasizing mindfulness and self-regulation for players and parents.

•Mindfulness is explained as being present, with simple practices for kids.

•The role of parents in modeling mindfulness and its impact on children is highlighted.

•Mike questions the lack of mental fitness focus in hockey, and Riley shares challenges in integrating it into programs.

•Riley provides examples of improved focus and self-regulation in young players through mindfulness, including rhythmic drumming.

•The importance of teaching kids to manage emotions constructively is emphasized.

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Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

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How do you build a strong connection with your coach? In this week's episode of The Ride To The Rink, we explore the art of eye contact and active listening to show respect and eagerness to learn.

Mike shares how player maturity plays a crucial role in understanding the time and effort coaches invest in your growth. Hear how the dynamics of coach-player interactions during games, practices, and locker room talks, emphasizing the importance of positive relationships.

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00:00:00 Intro

00:00:08 Engaging with Coaches

00:01:11 Receiving Feedback

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Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

We're powered by NHL Sense Arena!

NHL Sense Arena, is a virtual reality training game designed specifically to improve hockey sense and IQ for both players and goalies. Experience the next generation of off-ice training in VR with over 100+ drills and training plans curated from top coaches and players.

Use Code "HockeyNeverStops" at Hockey.SenseArena.com to score $50 off an annual plan!

Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!

Follow Us On Social Media:

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We're Giving Away 5 Coach Subscriptions To CoachThem!!

In this episode of the Wraparound Roundtable, host Lee MJ Elias welcomes retired NHL defenseman Mike Weaver, the creator of CoachThem, a tool designed to streamline coaching with custom drills and practice organization.

Mike shares his journey from NHL player to innovator, highlighting how CoachThem addresses the repetitive nature of drill creation and enhances coaching efficiency. With over 40,000 accounts and partnerships with major hockey organizations, CoachThem is revolutionizing how coaches prepare and execute practice plans.

Mike emphasizes the importance of development-driven coaching and the value of organized practice plans in fostering player growth. The conversation touches on the broader impact of sports on life skills, urging parents to allow their children to learn from their experiences on the ice.

Head to https://hockeywraparound.com/blogs/the-wraparound-roundtable/coachthem to enter to win!

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0:00 CoachThem's Impact on NHL Teams

2:14 Academic Pursuits Beyond Hockey

5:47 Cost Efficiency and Time-Saving Benefits for Coaches

9:06 Development Driven Coaching

12:13 The Necessity of Coaching Tools

14:35 CoachThem's Team Dynamics and Innovation

19:14 The Impact of Overbearing Sports Parents

21:45 Life Lessons from Hockey

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Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!

Have A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!

Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!

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