Quick Shot: Hockey affords many opportunities for its participants to learn far more than technical skills related to Sport. Early on in an Individual's life, the Game introduces Building Blocks that serve as foundation to bigger Life Lessons that are naturally learned through Play.

Long Version: As I look back to my own experience playing the Game so many around the world love to play and watch, I now see it has given so much to me and to so many of us who are Alumni of Hockey Programs, including Hockey Players, Parents; and Fans.

In my own experience, I believe I now have a better understanding of why hockey is so special, and why it affected me so much. I wonder about other people around the world and if the Game was more than just a Game for them, and how or if it helped to shape their lives, like it did my own.

In my own case, I know I possessed poor natural skating skill early on and was genetically programmed with what is considered a smaller stature, compared to the average hockey player. Thankfully however, I had a poor interpretation of my (self) image and I didn’t realize I was weak out of the gate; and my Coaches and Parents never discouraged me and instead encouraged me to be creative and resourceful.  This proved to be important early on and throughout my Hockey "career" and well beyond, as Life Building Blocks (of Confidence; Belief in myself; Self-Esteem and of being Resourceful)

Hockey taught me early in life, that I "played with heart”, and how to be resourceful and creative. How to work hard and how to work through adversity. (A figure skating Coach helped me get off my ankles and positive-focused Coaches provided everything else I needed to find my groove).  That's what hockey can do for its participants, when the natural process of Sport, and Play are given opportunity to wrap themselves around developing players.

Truth told I didn’t know I was small in size growing up, and I enjoyed outwitting any-sized opponent and getting up, when knocked down. “Never give up” and “believe in myself” became “my” Game, and it is these Building Blocks, I realize now, that have carried me through difficult times in my life, and far away from the rink.

“Never give up” and “believe in myself” became “my” Game

In my own case, I think in part I played the type of Game I played, for my mother who was afflicted with a terminal illness in my Youth. I know I always played hockey with an inner fight/grit and I eventually possessed a small amount of natural skating talent; and watching her die over a period of years was heart breaking and it changed me, as it would change anyone. The adversity she faced through tough times was real and it was huge; in some small way I think I learned how to be stronger in Life and to play Hockey with a bigger inner fight, as a result.  Hockey has far reaching capability!

I guess what I am trying to say is, that when dealing with life’s challenges, even death, we hockey players possess a special kind of “get-back-up” skill that we nurture in, and gain from playing Hockey.

As a young person, with limited resources I found my own inner strength and many great life memories, in the “bag” hockey helped build, which, those who play the Game are fortunate to carry away from the rink. If we play Hockey long enough, and we give enough of ourselves to the Game, Hockey is the type of Sport that will keep giving back, and long after we hang up our competitive skates.

I proclaimed once during a speech at a Hockey function, that "Hockey isn't about Hockey", which was followed by a room full of confused looks.  I do believe, that hockey is so much more than hockey, and as I set out to write a book about The Lessons I learned from Hockey, I started to think about the many things I learned through The Game.  As time passes, (and we age), we all slowly lose our technical skills; our speed and our "hands" and so I realized its none of those things that I really learned from The Game, and instead it was the intangible things that have stuck with me.

I sincerely wonder/wondered if other (hockey) people experienced what I feel about Hockey, which is why I am researching and writing. It is fair to say the Game of Hockey has changed as has the Sport itself, and not entirely for the better.  Enrollment of hockey participants around the world, is down considerably and many Organizers predict further decline.  I began to wonder how this could happen to such a great game and if we (Organizers, Coaches, Parents) have changed the essence of the Game or if Society had changed so much, that The Game was no longer appealing or providing the same Value it provided my (past) generation.

I hope my writing about the many benefits we realize through Play, including examination of the many Building Blocks that hockey can provide, could help (YOU) the Youth better understand why Generations, and so many Hockey players before YOU, loved and played the Game with so much passion.  I hope my writing may also serve as a reminder to parents, Coaches and Organizers that our Youth want us to feed the invisible hand of Hockey, that naturally can help guide and positively mold the lives of its participants.

It is impossible to know what essence of Hockey has been lost over time, and as a Hockey parent now I am committed to exploring my own experience and that of other hockey people, from around the world.  For the young readers, you have already been exposed to ideas at school and in life that help you understand the concepts of right and wrong; and of good and bad. You will already be aware that choices we make in life have consequence. Good choices lead to good consequence and similarly, bad choices lead to bad consequences.

Many historical figures, thinkers and important people who you will study at school, have they themselves learned from Individuals and societies; you will also learn theories, and methods and disciplines around human behaviour. You will learn through school and higher education, which is awesome as it is important to pursue education when it is available to you.

Education, like Hockey is another privilege of developed societies. Like Hockey, School is a place where we learn important Life Building Blocks and it can be a blast if you let it be fun, and approach it like you do Hockey.  The interesting thing I reflect on about Hockey “Building Blocks”, is that many of them are taught without formal lesson and rarely by Professional Teachers and most of the lessons I learned in school and in Sport, happened when I was having fun because I enjoyed what I was doing.

Hockey, for the most part is delivered through Volunteer Organizations run by volunteer Coaches. Having invested 20-years in the classroom as a student, concluding in a doctorate level degree, I have met and sat in many lecture halls and classrooms of some great and some, not so great teachers and professors. Same goes for Hockey Coaches - as they are not all great and they are not all focused on the right things, are they?

Some of the biggest lessons I learned as a player, happened on the edge of a hockey bench; in a Coach’s car on the way back from a Game; or when I took a foolish penalty, and nobody said a thing. I realize now, most of the lessons I learned weren't about Hockey at all, and they were about Life and how to live with Virtues, Principles and Character.

Hockey really is a great teacher

Stepping back into hockey now, as a parent has been a huge eye-opener for me and it wasn’t until now, I realized how much our Coaches give, and how important they are to us and to our development as Individuals. I realize now the high level of Social Intelligence and variety of Life skills our Coaches must possess to be effective.

Effective Coaches have a natural ability, and Gift, to positively influence and light up our Youth. I marvel now at the mastery Coaches of Minor Sports Teams possess, and freely deliver as Volunteers, mostly because they believe in the Youth and love the Sport so much.

I think back at my own Coaches and have come to understand how important they still are to me 30-years later; and how it was their ability to pass on life lessons and to present building blocks of character, through the Game of Hockey that matter most to me now.  I wonder, what is more important in life than possessing high Social Intelligence? I suspect a high Social Intelligence coupled with a good work ethic; respect for others; winning and losing with poise; possessing character and a belief in oneself probably just about does it.

Sounds a lot like a Hockey Player!

Message to Teachers: look for the Students who have learned and earned these Building Blocks

Employers: look for that worker

Parents: look for that child

Players: be that person who brings a higher Game to Life

See ya' at the rink,
Jody Anderson

#Hockey Matters
@DoctorJody