With so many players and families new to hockey, I'm sure there are countless questions and fortunately, or unfortunately in some cases, opinions abound.  There are no shortages of opinions on everything from what gear to buy, what organizations to join, what level to play, etc.  As the year goes on, perhaps I will attempt to answer a few of the questions, but as the DCYHA Coaching Director, allow me a few words on one of my favorite subjects:

When should my player tie his/her own skates?

At various parent meetings, I've been known to turn heads when I proudly announce that I will happily tie the skates of any kid, at any age, at any time.  Heck, I'll tie adult player's skates when they are new to hockey, and I have.  But let's go back a minute.

After 8u, parents aren't in the locker rooms.  So what is to be done?  Players can tie their own, they can ask the coaches, or they can walk to the lobby for their parents.  And what parent hasn't thought to themselves at one time or another, "When will they do it themselves???!"  Don't worry, there are plenty of opinions out there.

USA Hockey has something out there I recall that says it's around the 10u age level.  This seems to be a common view.  But what if they can't?  These are not the leather skates of my youth, skates that were wrapped and wrapped and wrapped in tape to strengthen the ankles.  I read another opinion that said that they should tie their own skates from as young as possible and if they are loose it will serve to strengthen their ankles.  Ok, that's just plain dumb.

The vast majority of today's skates are much stiffer, especially before being worn for some time, than skates from a few decades ago.  And this is true even more so as you go up the line in price and quality.  As I mentioned, I have had to show adults how tight their skates should be and they are often shocked at the force required.  Adult league locker rooms go quiet, with the exception of some quiet grunts indicating the force being exerted, as players tie their skates.  Today's skates are stiff.

And there is the emotional support.  There is something comforting to a child of any age, new to the game or seasoned, in having their parent or coach tie their skates.  Even at my age, I remember my dad tying my skates as a child.  Those are the moments I remember, in some cases more than being on the ice.  There's something different about hockey.  The ice, the equipment, as our President Mark Turner likes to say....the locker room, and the family.  The emotional support provided to these young players by both their immediate family and their hockey family is absolutely vital.

Are we still talking about skates?  Or is the subject a bit more complicated?  Okay, okay..... back to the skates.

So what is the answer.  When should a player tie their own skates?  When they can.

So let me reiterate.  I am happy to tie the skates of any player, at any age, at any time.  Having skates at the proper amount of tightness is crucial to skating properly.  They may, at some point, decide that they want certain parts of the skate more loose or more tight.  There are skating coaches who might tell them to leave out some eyelets or use some other technique.  That is fine...with more playing time comes experience and preference.  But for nearly every child, they need to be tight.  Not "cut off the blood" tight, but not too far off from that.  And until they can do that, someone else should do it for them.  And I don't care if it's at 10, 12, 14, or 40 years old.

See you at the rink.