At U7–U10, girls’ hockey teamwork includes learning that another player’s success does not take anything away from you.
A teammate may score her first goal, make a terrific pass, learn a difficult skill, stop a big shot, or simply have one of those games where everything seems to go right.
A Positive Player™ learns to enjoy that moment with her.
That lesson is important because young players are beginning to understand both individual achievement and what it means to be part of a Team.
The larger PLAYER POSITIVE™ collection is built around exactly that idea: Hockey develops more than Hockey skills. It also develops confidence, character, resilience, leadership and Teamwork.
Girls Hockey teamwork means celebrating together
Young players should absolutely be proud of their own accomplishments.
Scoring feels good.
Making a save feels good.
Learning to skate faster, completing a difficult pass or finally mastering something that has been frustrating can create enormous confidence.
None of that needs to disappear because we are teaching Teamwork.
Instead, the lesson is that your teammate gets to feel proud too.
Hockey Canada identifies positive Team dynamics, trying hard and positive coaching among the factors that help make sport fun for girls. It also emphasizes acceptance, belonging and personal improvement rather than constantly comparing players with one another.
At U7–U10, that can be translated into something children understand:
When your teammate does something well, cheer for her.
Her success does not reduce your opportunity
Young players naturally compare themselves.
Who
scored?
skates fastest?
received praise?
made the big save?
Those observations are normal. The problem begins when another player’s accomplishment starts feeling like evidence that you somehow failed.
A Positive Player™ begins learning a healthier response.
Perhaps your teammate scores today while you do not. Tomorrow may be your turn.
Maybe she learns a skill first. You can keep practicing until you learn it too.
Another girl becoming better does not prevent you from becoming better.
That is why Her success isn’t your Loss™ is such an important early lesson.
The Hockey Resource™ makes the same broader point in Teamwork Turns Talent Into Success: individual ability matters, but Hockey Teams become stronger when players trust one another and work toward shared goals.
Girls Hockey teamwork is not about who gets the attention
At younger ages, adults sometimes accidentally teach children what matters by what they praise.
If every conversation is about goals, wins and who played best, children notice.
Coaches and parents can broaden the definition of a successful Hockey day.
Maybe one player made a beautiful pass.
Another worked hard defensively.
The Goalie stayed focused after allowing a goal.
Someone helped a teammate understand a drill.
A player who had been struggling finally completed a skill correctly.
Those moments deserve recognition too.
USA Hockey notes that a Team environment can help children develop respect, selflessness, goal-setting and lasting friendships when Coaches intentionally create a Team-first culture.
That is particularly useful at U7–U10 because young players are still deciding what being a “good Hockey player” actually means.
Coaches can strengthen girls Hockey teamwork
A Coach has a wonderful opportunity after one player succeeds.
Celebrate the accomplishment, then connect it back to the Team.
Instead of allowing all attention to stay on who scored, recognize the pass that created the opportunity.
After a big save, acknowledge the defenders who helped clear the rebound.
When a player improves a skill, recognize both her work and the teammates who practiced alongside her.
That teaches young girls that Hockey success is often connected.
The Hockey Resource’s Coach Leadership™ philosophy emphasizes developing confidence, resilience, respect and great teammates, not simply measuring Coaches by wins and losses.
At U7–U10, Coaches can reinforce that philosophy with something as simple as:
“Great job. Now celebrate your teammate.”
Parents can reinforce girls Hockey teamwork
Parents can help enormously without turning the drive home into a performance review conducted by people who apparently just discovered video analysis.
Try changing one question.
Instead of asking only:
“Did you score?”
ask:
“What did one of your teammates do really well today?”
That small change encourages a child to notice other people.
Her answer might be about a goal, save, pass, hard backcheck, improvement or act of kindness.
Then ask:
“Did you tell her?”
Now the lesson has moved beyond noticing success.
It has become celebrating it.
Families looking for broader guidance can also visit Hockey Parent Intelligence™, which is designed to help parents make better-informed decisions about their child’s Hockey experience.
Girls Hockey teamwork can make the game more fun
At this age, fun matters enormously.
Hockey Canada’s girls and women’s development materials emphasize opportunities to learn skills, make friends, experience teamwork, and enjoy Hockey in a positive environment.
Imagine two different Teams.
On one bench, players become quiet when somebody else scores because they wish it had been them.
On the other, teammates celebrate together.
One environment creates comparison.
The other creates connection.
Young players can still compete hard, want the puck, chase goals and dream about becoming excellent Hockey players.
Supporting a teammate does not weaken ambition.
In healthy Teams, it can strengthen it.
A player can think:
“That was awesome. I want to work hard enough to do that too.”
That is a far more productive response than wishing her teammate had not succeeded.
The PLAYER POSITIVE™ challenge
At your next practice or game, notice one thing a teammate does well.
Maybe she scores.
Perhaps she makes a great pass.
The Goalie might make an important save.
Someone could finally learn a skill she has been practicing for weeks.
When it happens, tell her.
“Great job.”
Then mean it.
A Positive Player™ understands that encouraging someone else does not make her smaller.
It helps make the Team bigger.
The Hockey Resource™ answer
At U7–U10, girls Hockey teamwork should teach young players that personal improvement and Team support can exist together.
Want To:
score.
improve.
become faster, stronger and more skilled.
Those ambitions are healthy.
But when another girl has her moment, let her enjoy it.
Celebrate with her.
Then keep working toward your own.
Her success isn’t your Loss™
Because another player becoming better does not take anything away from you.
It gives your Team one more reason to celebrate.
PLAYER POSITIVE™
The Hockey Resource™
We Make Better Hockey People.™
FAQ
Why should U7–U10 players celebrate a teammate’s success?
Celebrating teammates helps young players develop Teamwork, confidence and a healthier understanding of competition.
Does supporting teammates make children less competitive?
No. Players can want to improve and succeed while genuinely supporting other players. Healthy competition and good Teamwork can exist together.
How can Coaches encourage girls Hockey teamwork?
Recognize different contributions, connect individual accomplishments to Team effort and encourage players to congratulate one another.
What can parents ask after a game?
Ask, “What did one of your teammates do really well today?” This encourages children to notice more than their own performance.
What does “Her success isn’t your Loss™” mean?
Another player’s accomplishment does not reduce your ability to improve, succeed or enjoy your own achievements.
As always, thank you for being part of The Hockey Resource Community.
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