How adults shape junior hockey environments for kids to learn, belong, and grow, and have some serious fun!

Children play sports, first and foremost, to have fun, be with their friends, make new friends, develop, and learn new skills

A Seriously Fun junior hockey environment is one where:

• Confidence grows because kids feel safe to try
• Friendships flourish because everyone feels they belong
• Learning thrives because effort matters more than outcomes

When hockey feels positive and engaging, kids are more open, more focused, and more willing to learn. Fun isn’t something we add at the end — it’s what unlocks everything else.

Why friendships matter

Strong friendships help children:

• Feel like they belong
• Feel brave enough to try new things
• Enjoy sport more and stay involved longer
• Work together and show positive behaviour

When kids feel included and supported by their peers, everything else becomes easier — learning, confidence, and enjoyment.

How adults can support friendships - Practical Tips

Start every session with a simple partner or group activity - Kids connect fastest when they talk, laugh, and move together.

• Use quick partner games (e.g., “find a partner and mirror their movements”).
• Ask players to share something small (“what was the best part of your day?”).
• Rotate partners so kids meet new teammates without pressure.

Use small groups that change often - Small groups make it easier for kids to talk and feel included.

• Create groups using fun prompts: “stand with people who like the same fruit”, “find someone wearing the same colour”.
• Keep groups small (2–4 players) so everyone gets a chance to talk and be involved.
• Switch groups every few minutes during warm‑ups or activities.

Show the behaviour you want to see - Kids copy the tone adults set.

• Greet every child by name when they arrive.
• Show interest in them as people, not just players.
• Use calm, friendly language that makes everyone feel welcome.

Create moments for kids to talk and laugh - Not everything needs to be structured

• Allow time between activities for kids to chat or reset.
• Use playful games where laughter is expected, not controlled.
• Keep the environment relaxed so kids feel comfortable being themselves.

Notice and name positive interactions  - When coaches highlight connection, kids repeat it.

• “I love how you invited them into your group.”
• “Great job helping each other out.”
• “That was awesome teamwork — you all stayed connected.”

When kids feel connected, they feel confident. And when they feel confident, they learn more, try more, and enjoy hockey even more. Friendships make junior hockey Seriously Fun.

Support for Coaches and Parents

Creating Seriously Fun junior hockey doesn’t rely on having all the answers.

CoachMate is a free phone and tablet app designed to help coaches and parents run engaging, inclusive sessions where kids move, learn, and work together. It includes training session plans for the season, activities built from best practice for foundation players, and simple tips to adjust each activity to suit your team and environment.

CoachMate helps adults create the kind of environment where friendships grow naturally — and where kids feel excited to come back each week.

When kids feel connected, they feel confident.

And when they feel confident, they learn more, try more, and enjoy hockey even more.

Friendships make junior hockey Seriously Fun.