Do Kids Really Need Spring and Summer Hockey?

Towards the end of every season, without fail, I start hearing the same questions:

as a parent I will be asked:

“So… what team is your kid playing on this spring/summer?”

and as a coach I will also be asked:

"what spring team do you recommend for spring/summer?"

When I answer “none,” there’s usually an awkward pause.

Let me be clear right up front: this isn’t an anti–spring organized hockey rant. Plenty of families choose it, and that’s okay if the kids are the one that chose to do it. After years of coaching and watching kids grow, stall, burn out, or thrive. I’m a big believer that not playing full on organized hockey in the spring and summer is the best choice.

Year-Round Hockey Sounds Good… Until It Doesn’t

Hockey is demanding on the mind and body, especially on on kids bodies that are still developing. Over the course of a season, hips, groins, knees, ankles, and backs take a real beating, and when players jump straight into spring leagues and summer tournaments, nothing ever fully recovers. That’s when small aches turn into lingering injuries that start to feel “normal.”

Most kids quit hockey because they get tired of it, usually starting in the age range of 13-16 (14U/16U), this is why typically starting at 16U there are less teams run by organizations and no B level hockey. By late summer, players that played in the spring and summer are usually burned out before the real season even begins. Taking a break allows the kids to stay more interested and even excited when it full restarts.

There is a common misconception that more games mean better development, unfortunately this is simply not true as games mostly reinforce whatever habits a player already has, good or bad. Without time to rest, train skills, get stronger, and reset mentally, players often plateau instead of improve.

If playing year around hockey was recommended, the Pro's would do it.... they don't so why should kids?

So What Should They Be Doing Instead?

Skipping spring and summer hockey doesn’t mean sitting on the couch. It just means shifting the focus. Remember, It really depends on what the kid wants to do not what we want them to do. 

For example my two kids are very different from each other, my oldest loves hockey and ultimate frisbee, so he does ultimate frisbee as his primary spring/summer sport and does skill clinics, training and self training for hockey. My youngest could care less and just does Lacrosse and some hockey clinics with friends, because his friends are going to the clinics.

Play Other Sports (Seriously, This Matters)

One of the best things a hockey player can do is play a different sport. Kids who bounce between sports tend to stay healthier, move more naturally, and stick with sports longer overall. While some sports connect more obviously to hockey than others, nearly every sport develops skills that translate back to the ice in some way whether that’s balance, coordination, spatial awareness, timing, or decision‑making. Those connections might not be obvious in the moment, but they show up later in skating efficiency, confidence with the puck, and overall athleticism. Challenging the body and brain in different ways builds a more complete athlete.

Get Stronger and Faster (In the Right Way)

Spring and summer are an ideal time to build strength and stamina without the constant fatigue of games and practices. For younger players, that strength often comes naturally through movement such as running, jumping, climbing, playing, and learning how to control their bodies. As players get older, this can gradually turn into more structured, well-coached strength training that focuses on core stability, hips, glutes, mobility, and overall durability. The goal isn’t bulking up or maxing out weights; it’s building a body that can handle a long hockey season. When players are stronger and have better stamina, everything in hockey gets easier from skating mechanics to shooting power to staying healthy over the course of the year.

A Little Hockey Is Fine (If They Want It)

Taking time away from full teams doesn’t mean cutting hockey out completely. In fact, spring and summer can be a great time for targeted, low-pressure skill work. Short skill clinics, private or semi‑private lessons, and maybe a camp or two spread across the off‑season can give players focused instruction without the grind of a full schedule. A light local house league with one practice a week or every other week and a few games (spring only, skip summer) can help them do something fun with friends.

This is also the perfect window for simple, self‑driven hockey habits such as rollerblading around the neighborhood, shooting pucks in the driveway, or stickhandling at home. The key is keeping hockey intentional and occasional, not turning the off‑season into just another season.

DMV Hockey People: Recommended Hockey Clinics and Camps in the DMV

“But Won’t My Kid Fall Behind?”

This is the most common concern I hear, and it’s completely understandable. No one wants their kid to be the one who shows up in the fall a step behind everyone else. But (and there is always a but) is this what your kid is worried about or what YOU are worried about? In reality, this falling behind only ever occurs when the kid just lays around and does nothing.

In my experience, the players who take a break from full-time hockey and play other sports, then come back rested and recharged often look better when the season starts again. While kids who never stopped can return tired, banged up, or mentally unengaged.

The Big Picture

Spring and summer don’t have to be about grinding through more hockey. They’re an opportunity to recover physically, reset mentally, and grow as an athlete and a person. When players use this time to explore other sports, build strength, and reconnect with why they enjoy competing in the first place, they come back in the fall refreshed instead of exhausted. And that’s when real progress happens.

 

Citation:

Gregory D Myer, Neeru Jayanthi, John P Difiori, Avery D Faigenbaum, Adam W Kiefer, David Logerstedt, Lyle J Micheli. (2015). Sport Specialization, Part I: Does Early Sports Specialization Increase Negative Outcomes and Reduce the Opportunity for Success in Young Athletes? PubMed

Stephen Strosser. (2023). Youth Sport Specialization and Risk of Injury: A General Review PubMed