Hi Everyone! Here’s our hot take on the problems with the current hockey culture, and what needs to happen to continue changing it for the better!
Although hockey is an amazing game known for its camaraderie and competition, it often conceals troubling issues, especially in junior leagues. Beneath the excitement lies a concerning reality: player mistreatment, negatively affecting their mental health and long-term well-being.
Performance pressure due to the desire to win, financial gain, fear of being replaced, and other motives end up hurting the player in the long run, causing emotional distress and burnout.
To counteract these issues, organizations must put their players’ best interest first. They cannot play mind games with their players; honesty and transparency are key to building strong relationships with their players. Coaches also need to listen to healthcare professionals if their players aren’t ready to return to play due to health related reasons. Lastly, they also need to prioritize mental health resources, such as sports psychologists, to support players.
That being said, players must also take action. If a coach, billet, or other hockey professional is mistreating or coercing you, you must speak up with people you trust. If you’re not doing well with your mental health, you must find what it takes to talk about with professionals and with people you trust. If you’re worried about getting cut, scratched, or about your financial situation, again, you must speak up. Only by taking action will you drive change for yourself and the hockey culture altogether.
Hopefully this helps give you some perspective about the current issues with hockey’s culture, and provided you tools you can use moving forward!
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