Our Girls Play Hockey: Should Your 9-Year-Old Play Up? (A Hayley Scamurra Mailbag)

🏒 Should your 9-year-old play up… or just play?This week on Our Girls Play Hockey, we tackle a question every hockey parent faces sooner or later—and it’s not as simple as it seems.A parent writes in with a tough decision: ➡️ Stay at 10U close to home ➡️ Play co-ed locally ➡️ Or accept a 12U opportunity that comes with a 2-hour commute multiple nights a weekSounds like a great opportunity… but is it really?Olympian Haley Scamurra joins Lee and Mike to break down what actually matters at this age—and why chasing “better competition” might not be the answer.🔑 What We Cover:Why fun and love of the game should come first at 9U/10UThe real impact of long travel on kids (and families)When (and if) playing up actually makes senseWhy more ice time doesn’t always mean better developmentThe truth about “elite” teams at young agesHow different coaches shape players (even the bad ones 👀)What Haley’s journey really looked like—and when travel actually mattered💡 Key Takeaway: You’re not choosing your child’s future—you’re choosing their experience.📣 If you’ve ever felt pressure to “do more,” “go further,” or “keep up”… this episode is your reset.🎯 Have a question for the show? Send us a message—we might feature it in a future episode!📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Should Your Child Play Up in Hockey? A Real Guide for Parents of 9–10 Year Olds#OurGirlsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #GirlsHockey #HockeyDevelopment #PlayHockey #YouthSports #ParentingInSports #HockeyLifeClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Keep your player sharp this summer with NHL Sense Arena. Save $25 on an annual plan with code OKPH at hockey.SenseArena.com/okphHave A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!Follow Us On Social Media:Facebook GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube