Goal Celebrations: Please make it stop

November 13, 2012 Coaches, Hockey Blogs, Players No Comments

I’ve been coaching and watching a lot of youth hockey lately and it’s
killing me to watch these kids celebrate. It’s a TEAM game. For the
love of all things that are right in this world, please celebrate with
your team and don’t make a spectacle of yourself. It’s not cute, it’s
not cool. Congratulate the guy who sent you the puck and move on. It’s
not about you. This weekend I watched a kid after scoring his umpteenth goal, try to flip his stick over and and shoot it while on one foot and face plant directly into the ice. My first thought was, well, never mind on that. I was stunned at the amount of people watching that thought it was great.

Please don’t teach your kids to be show-offs or promote this stuff. I understand the game is supposed to be fun but to me it’s an attitude thing. I know I’m talking about youth hockey but it drives me nuts. Teach your kids to show respect. Respect for their opponents, their teammates, coaches and the most importantly the game.

Look, I know there is a time and place for a celebrations. Still they should be TEAM celebrations. Be part of the team, not an individual. Below is my visual guide to Good and Bad goal celebrations.

Good…