Parent Expectations — Your Role in Your Child’s Experience

The research on youth sport development is clear: the biggest predictor of a child’s long-term enjoyment and growth in sport is the behavior of their parents.

That is a powerful and humbling fact.

What we ask of every parent:

• Be a source of encouragement, not pressure

• Celebrate effort, not just outcomes

• Trust the process — development takes time and is not always linear

• Trust the coaches — if you have a concern, bring it through the right channels (more on that in later sides)

• Model the values we teach our players: respect, accountability, sportsmanship

• Be present

What we ask you to avoid:

• Coaching from the sideline during games or practices — it creates confusion for the player and undermines the coaching staff

• Negative comments about opponents, referees, or other players — your child hears everything

• Comparing your child to other players — this damages confidence and breeds resentment

• Bringing frustration or stress from outside the rink into the rink experience

• Discussing playing time, positioning, or team decisions in a charged emotional moment

Be the kind of parent whose child wants you in the stands.