Because there are so many different sports in the world, it comes as no surprise that some of them are incredibly similar.
For example, tennis and badminton have their comparable features that make them desirable to a lot of different people.
But, we’re not here to talk about tennis and badminton, we’re here to look at the pros and cons of spring hockey.
Because spring hockey is quickly becoming more and more popular, there are lots of reasons that many people want to understand all of the different features of the sport.
But, why do people like spring hockey? What are the pros and cons of the sport? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Follow the rest of our guide to find out all of the different areas that need highlighting.
What Is Spring Hockey?
Have you ever heard of try-outs when it comes to the sport of ice hockey? If you’re a fan of the sport, then it’s highly likely that you have.
That’s basically what spring hockey is! Spring hockey is a form of minor hockey that has been non-sanctioned and try-out based.
This is good for those who want to try and improve their game in the off-season.
Obviously, a lot of ice hockey takes place in the winter and there is often a part of the year where many people sit around waiting in anticipation for the season to start again.
However, that’s what spring hockey is for. Taking place in the months between April and the end of June, this gives younger hockey players a period to improve their game and keep practicing outside of the walls of the usual season.
Pros Of Spring Hockey
There are a lot of positives to spring hockey, with lots of people taking part in these off-season periods to keep practicing their love for the sport.
At the end of the day, the only way you’re going to get better is by putting in the time and effort to improve the areas of your game that need attention.
One good thing about spring hockey is that you get to mix and play with a lot of different people.
For example, if you go into this section of the sport and expect to play with just people around your level, then you’re going to be surprised very quickly.
Playing with people below your ability level can boost your confidence, whereas playing with those better than you can give you something to learn.
No two days are the same! One thing you don’t want is to fall into a routine where you’re practicing the same thing over and over again.
With a winter team, comes budgets, tactics, and statistics that will go on for months at a time.
However, with a summer period, you can play with the freedom of knowing you can make mistakes and learn from them.
On top of this, there is a lot less pressure on the children taking part, with a lot of younger hockey fans and players being put off the sport because of growing pressure.
With spring hockey, these kids can focus on improving their game and having fun at the same time. It’s not all about the results!
Although there is less pressure on these kids, this is also a chance for them to play against and for some teams with real quality to their game.
These tournaments have seen some great sides involved, with some of them being formed specifically to take part in these competitions.
Because of this, you can expect to see some good bonds being formed!
Cons Of Spring Hockey
However, we would be lying if we didn’t say that there aren’t negatives to spring hockey to counter the positives.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking to enroll your child in spring hockey for a few months, then you need to know both sides to make the best decision possible.
One of the first negatives about spring hockey is that it can be quite costly.
Of course, when there is a demand as high as there is for this sport, you’re going to see running costs and maintenance costs rising to keep up with the volume of kids involved.
Registration and travel fees can also add up, which isn’t ideal for those on a budget.
Because a lot of the sessions and tournaments take place when school is still going for the year, you can expect some of these young athletes to miss training sessions and matches if they fall on a school day.
A lot of spring hockey will start on a Friday and run through the weekend, which can cause a lot of young hockey players to attend school over their practice.
A lot of players will also be coming off the back of a busy winter of playing hockey and trying their best to improve over the course of a season.
Because of this, they might be tired and won’t get the most out of their spring hockey sessions.
At the end of the day, if your child is feeling mentally or physically tired, then they won’t enjoy it as much as you might think.
One last thing we should highlight is that there can be a lack of specialized development because of how many people are taking part and need their own attention.
Sometimes, these tournaments and training sessions can consist of quantity over quality. It isn’t always the case, but sometimes they will focus on the overall training, rather than specific areas.
Conclusion
That spells the end of our guide. At the end of the day, spring hockey is there for continued development and a bit of fun.
However, you can expect there to be a few hiccups along the way that might end up with a different experience than you were expecting.
Every player is different and will need to focus on different areas of their game.
Meeting new players and experiencing new teams can be really beneficial, with a lot of players benefiting from their time at spring hockey camps and training sessions.