Summary
What happens when a young player still loves hockeybut the schedule is starting to wear her down?In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra respond to a powerful parent email about a 12U player facing three practices a week, dryland, video sessions, and roughly two hours of driving for every practice.The player still loves the game.But she and her parent are exhausted.So the question becomes: Is more hockey always better?Hayley reflects on her own youth and high school experience, including long drives, missed practices, school commitments, and the importance of doing what was best for her overall development and well-being. Mike and Lee add the coaching perspective, discussing commitment, communication, age, team expectations, multi-sport participation, and the difference between occasionally needing space and consistently avoiding responsibility. In this episode: When missing a youth hockey practice can actually be healthy Why travel time should count as part of a players workload The difference between schedule fatigue and true hockey burnout Why protecting a players love of the game matters more than squeezing in one more practice Why honest communication with the coach is essential How young female athletes can learn to advocate for themselves Why age and competitive level should change expectations Why playing multiple sports can support hockey development How families can experiment with a lighter schedule without locking into a full-season decision Whether doing less means another player will pass you Why accountability still matters when a player misses practice How coaches can create environments players actually want to show up forOne of the strongest messages in this conversation is that a 12-year-old should not feel like an entire hockey season is something she has to grind out.Competing hard in a difficult game is one thing.Grinding through an exhausting schedule for months at a time is another.If a player still loves hockey, protect that love.That might mean taking a night off.It might mean choosing another activity.It might mean changing teams.It might mean having an uncomfortable but necessary conversation with a coach.And it might simply mean giving a young athlete enough space to miss the rinkand want to come back.There is no single perfect answer for every family. But communication, health, accountability, and joy should always be part of the decision. Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: When Youth Hockey Becomes Too Much: Burnout, Travel, and Protecting the Love of the Game#OurGirlsPlayHockey #GirlsHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyBurnout #TravelHockey #HayleyScamurra #WomensHockey #HockeyParents #YouthSports #MultiSportAthlete #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyBalance Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.