Our Girls Play Hockey: Why Rest Can Make You a Better Hockey Player

🏒 What if one of the best things a young hockey player can do for her game is… step away from it?In a sport where players constantly hear messages about working harder, training more, and never taking a day off, knowing when to rest, reset, and simply be a kid can feel almost counterintuitive.In this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Olympic gold medalist and Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra explore the best things they’ve done away from the rink—and why those experiences may have helped them just as much as another practice ever could.Hayley shares memories of summers at the lake, playing soccer and tennis, spending time with family, puzzling, hiking, and learning throughout her career that it really is okay to rest. She also explains how she now balances elite-level offseason training with travel, relationships, recovery, and the flexibility required when life changes the plan.And yes… there’s also a middle-school dance story involving hockey practice and hands that still smelled like hockey gloves. 😅✨ In this episode, we discuss:🧠 Why mentally disconnecting from hockey can actually help athletes come back more motivated🏒 The difference between taking a random day off and intentionally planning recovery🌊 How some of Hayley’s favorite childhood memories had nothing to do with hockey⚽ Why other sports, hobbies, friendships, and free play matter for young athletes📅 How elite athletes build routines without becoming prisoners of their schedules🔄 Why adaptability is a critical skill when training plans change💪 How strong habits allow athletes to take a break without fearing they’ll “lose everything”👨‍👩‍👧 Why parents should think carefully before turning every free moment into another development opportunity🌳 The importance of letting kids play outside simply because it’s fun❤️ Why who you are away from hockey matters more than any trophy, title, or statOne of the biggest messages from Hayley is one every young player should hear:Not everything you do has to make you better at your sport. Sometimes you should do something simply because you enjoy it.For hockey parents, this episode is an important reminder that development isn’t just about accumulating ice time. Your daughter is developing when she makes friends, learns another sport, spends time outside, reads a book, explores a hobby, rests her body, or discovers something she loves that has absolutely nothing to do with hockey.And sometimes stepping away is exactly what allows a player to realize just how much she misses the game.📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Why Time Away From Hockey Can Help Girls Become Better Athletes—and Happier People🎧 Listen together with your player and ask this question afterward: What’s something you love doing that has nothing to do with hockey?Because great hockey players need recovery—but great people also need room to discover who they are beyond the rink.#OurGirlsPlayHockey #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyDevelopment #AthleteRecovery #YouthSports #HockeyMindset #HayleyScamurraClick 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