Good starting age for kids in hockey?

[benny27]

Trying to decide whether or not to get my kid going into hockey next yr or wait another yr. He will be four by next winter. He has taken skating lessons. I don't want to get him started too early and turn him off from the sport at all....

So did anyone here start their kid at 4 (or younger) and what was the experience like? Or was it better to wait till 5?

[Deleted]

It all depends what the child wants.

[benny27]

Ya thanks for the input...the kid wants to play otherwise i wouldn't be asking. I am asking to see what kind of experience someones kid had if they started playing too early...i don't want to turn him off the sport if he has to play against older and possibly better kids.

[TheDeuce]

I'll share my approaches:

Kid #1

• Age four stated with Little Polar Bears learn to skate via City of Winnipeg (fall and spring)
• Age five - we moved so no formal classes in the fall just skating with dad at free skates.  Followed that up with 'Learn to Skate' at MTS Iceplex.
• Age six - local hockey team.  Having fun and getting exercise.  He's looking forward to his first goal
  

Kid #2

• Age two (almost three) started shuffling around on nearby pond and some free skate.  Not a great start.
  
• Age three (almost four) "Learn to Skate" at MTS (Jan - March session)
  
• Will probably do a full year of Learn to Skate before hockey.  Might look at "Learn to Play Hockey" at the Iceplex first.

We're going to follow a similar plan for the two year old twins.  In all cases hockey's only being added to the picture once there's solid, confident skating in place.

Others have different paths but this is what we're going with.  It's gotten good enthusiasm and minimal 'I don't wanna go', save for those 7:20 AM ice times.  Oy.

m.

[benny27]

Thanks. He's been in skating over the winter but only thru the leisure guide. The lessons are ok but not great. How is the learn to skate at the MTS centre?

[TheDeuce]

Learn to Skate (at MTS Iceplex not MTS Centre) is very solid for my little guy who had some skating under his belt. My second boy started Learn to Skate from near-zero and it's still good but really requires a parent on the ice.

I thought the Leisure Guide courses were good too FWIW.



m.

[Tim]

My sons are two years apart, they both were on skates by two, oldest started hockey at 4, my youngest practised with his older bothers team when he was 3. We always had a back yard rink so walking and skating just went hand in hand, but it comes down to maturity level at that age.

[benny27]

Thanks

[65c10]

My son is 10 and in his 1st year of hockey he and I both wish he could have started sooner. Sadly until 3 years ago we didn't live with in 4 hours of a ice rink. I want my 5 year old daughter to start hockey but she wants to play soccer a sport I hate but if she doesn't want to do hockey i'm not going to force her. I'll sign her up for soccer this weekend.

My 12 year old has a kidney disease and can't play sports. I think he would love to play hockey he sure likes watching it and playing it on X box. Heck of a cook and artist so I guess it works out