How hockey parents accidentally make the mental game harder.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Dr. Alicia Naser, behavioral scientist, board certified behavior analyst, and founder of The Naser Institute for Behavioral Sports Psychology, for a parent-first conversation about pressure, confidence, mistakes, and the ride home from the rink.

Dr. Naser explains why kids need space to make mistakes, why parents should be careful about watching every practice, and how constant feedback can quietly damage the parent-child dynamic. She breaks down what to say after a bad game, how to handle comparison, why “just forget about it” doesn’t work, and how players can build confidence by learning to recover emotionally after mistakes.

In this episode:

• Why the car ride home matters more than parents think
• What to say when your kid is frustrated after a game
• Why comparison can crush confidence
• Why confidence is learned, not something kids are just born with

If your kid is already hard on themselves, this episode might change what you say next.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this content does not establish a professional or therapeutic relationship. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare or mental health professional with any questions you may have.

The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Naser are her own and do not represent those of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Dr. Alicia Naser - https://www.instagram.com/doctoralicianaser

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
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Why most youth hockey development is completely backwards.

Scott and Jamie sit down with RJ Burns, Co-Owner of TopLine Hockey, and this one hits a nerve for every hockey parent.

RJ breaks down why “just skating around cones” isn’t development, why kids need to think the game instead of memorize drills, and how the obsession with reps, travel, and “more ice” is actually hurting players long-term.

He shares blunt truths about parent pressure, over-scheduling, and kids who clearly don’t even want to be at the rink, plus why sometimes the best thing you can do is… take a break.

The guys also get into:

• Why jumping teams chasing “better situations” can backfire
• The problem with coaches who only care about winning at U10
• Why kids need freedom (and parents need to get off the glass)
• How real development comes from decision-making, not drills

RJ also shares his own journey from bouncing teams and chasing the path, to realizing hockey became a job instead of something he loved, and how coaching brought that passion back.

TopLine Hockey - https://tlhockey.com/

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

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Why youth hockey development is getting misunderstood.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Heather Mannix, Manager of Education & Player Development at USA Hockey, for a deep dive into what development actually means and where parents and coaches get it wrong.

Heather explains how parent pressure impacts even the most informed families, why so many are rushing kids toward the wrong goals, and why the most important thing at young ages is simple: kids have to love the game.

She also breaks down the evolution of USA Hockey’s coaching education, shifting from what to teach to how to coach, and why creating fun, competitive, game-like environments leads to better development than traditional drills.

The conversation also dives into burnout, over-scheduling, girls hockey growth, and the reality that fun isn’t goofing off...it’s competing, learning, and being engaged.

In this episode:

• Why parents are “racing to the wrong finish line”
• The biggest misconception about development
• Why fun is the #1 driver of long-term success
• How coaching is shifting from drills to decision-making
• The real risk of burnout (even if kids don’t quit)

If you think more ice time, more teams, and more pressure = better development…this episode will make you rethink everything.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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Scott and Jamie sit down with USHL Commissioner Glenn Hefferan for a blunt, parent-first conversation on what actually matters in youth hockey.

Glenn explains why kids play better when the pressure is off, why parents need to focus on “love and fun”, and how over-involvement can quietly hurt development.

He also breaks down the realities of junior hockey and why the jump from youth to juniors is the hardest step, what the USHL actually demands, and why chasing exposure and spending more doesn’t guarantee anything.

In this episode:

• Why kids performed better without parents in the rink
• The “love + fun” reminder every parent needs
• Why youth to junior is the hardest leap in hockey
• The truth about cost, exposure, and development

If your kid isn’t having fun...nothing else matters.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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When the game starts to feel like a job.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Pat Shea (IG @pshea25) former University of Maine Black Bear, pro hockey player, and creator behind Hockey House and Full Ride for a raw conversation about identity, pressure, and walking away from the game.

Pat opens up about a turning point many players don’t talk about: realizing that what was once fun started to feel like work. He explains how losing passion at the college level, combined with a growing interest in creating, forced him to ask a tough question…was hockey actually his dream, or something he grew up in?

He also shares his path through youth hockey, prep school, and Maine including being a late bloomer, dealing with early rejection, and how confidence and obsession (not camps or shortcuts) drove his development.

In this episode:

• When hockey starts feeling like a job and what that does to players
• The question most players never ask: is this actually my dream?
• Late bloomer reality vs early recruiting pressure
• How Pat turned hockey life into one of the most relatable content brands in the game

This one hits different, especially if your kid loves the game… but the pressure is starting to creep in.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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What really matters in recruiting… and what quietly kills it.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Jason Tapp, Dartmouth College's assistant Men's Ice Hockey coach, live from Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC semis, for a candid look at how college recruiting actually works (and what families get wrong).

Tapp breaks down the three non-negotiables they look for in players - character, compete, and hockey IQ - and why talent alone isn’t enough to make it at the college level. He also shares a blunt reality: he’s crossed players off recruiting lists because of parent behavior and why that’s an immediate red flag for programs.

The conversation goes deeper into youth hockey decisions, why chasing the “best team” is often a mistake, why tier doesn’t really matter at younger ages, and how development is a long runway, not a sprint. Tapp also opens up as a hockey parent himself, admitting he feels the same pressure as everyone else and why he’s shifted to letting his kids drive their own development.

In this episode:

• The 3 traits Dartmouth won’t compromise on in recruiting
• Why parent behavior can eliminate a player instantly
• The truth about Tier 1 vs Tier 2 (and when it actually matters)
• The biggest misconception in youth hockey: “you have to be on the best team”

Recorded live from Lake Placid, but the message applies everywhere. it’s not about where you play… it’s about how you develop.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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Scott and Jamie are on location in Lake Placid ahead of the ECAC Finals, soaking in the atmosphere and breaking down what makes this moment different for players, parents, and everyone around the rink.

From the energy in the building to what it actually takes to perform on a stage like this, this quick-hit episode captures the feel of big-game hockey in real time.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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Why most kids don’t actually know what a “good game” is.

Scott and Jamie sit down with Sandy Cohan (Mental Edge Hockey) for a deep dive into the mental side of youth hockey and why so many players struggle with confidence, focus, and pressure.

Sandy explains that most young athletes can’t even define what success is, yet their confidence rises and falls based on it. He breaks down why results (goals, points) are the wrong scoreboard, and why real development comes from actions, behaviors, and controllables, not outcomes.

The conversation also hits what’s changed in today’s athletes (less focus, less grit) and how social media and comparison culture are making it worse. Sandy shares practical ways to help players reset, refocus, and build confidence, including why confidence is a skill that can be built, not something you either have or don’t.

In this episode:

• Why most players can’t define “success” and why that matters
• Confidence as a skill (not a feeling)
• The difference between awareness vs. focus
• Why kids focus on “don’ts” and how to fix it
• How parents can reshape post-game conversations

This episode isn’t about hockey systems. It’s about how players think and why that changes everything.

Partners:

• https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/
• https://hockeytraining.com/
• https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads
• https://howieshockeytape.com/
• https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/

Socials:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazy.hockey.dads
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