The Bench Player

Know Your Role Before the Season Starts

As you all start your new season, keep a few things in mind. You may be a Starter, a Sub, or a Bench Player. All players have a role on the team and are an important part of the ride. Coaches want to win, and they give more playing time to those who they believe merit it. That is not personal. That is competition, and learning to respond to it the right way is one of the most important things hockey will ever teach you.

What It Means to Be a Bench Player

If you are a Bench Player, you have a difficult role. But remember that you are skilled enough to have made your roster. That alone means something. Not every kid who tried out is sitting where you are sitting, so start from that place instead of feeling sorry for yourself.

There are ways you can move up the depth chart if you dig deep, stay patient, and work really hard. Many times harder than the Starters and Subs. That extra work is not punishment. It is the fastest path to proving yourself, and the improvement that comes from it is real.

Your Attitude on the Bench Matters More Than You Think

Your attitude on the bench and the morale you bring to your team is a significant cog in the wheel to becoming a championship team. A close-knit, formidable team is built by everyone in that locker room, not just the guys logging the most minutes. Coaches notice who is locked in and who has checked out. It shows in your body language, your effort in warmups, and how you treat your teammates when the game is not going your way.

Bench Players must push themselves harder to prove themselves and push starters to be better during practice, keeping starters on their toes. The best teams in hockey at every level are built on internal competition. If the starters know the guy behind them is working, they sharpen up. You are doing your team a real service even when you are not on the ice.

How to Get Your Coach's Attention

You must catch your coach's eyes in practice with speed, attitude, body language, consistency, punctuality, and one hundred percent effort. Every single practice is an audition. Show up late once and you have already told your coach something about who you are. Show up early, ready to work, and do that every single day, and that sends a different message entirely.

Do not wait for a game to make your case. Games are where opportunities get taken. Practice is where they get created. If you are not flying around in practice, there is no reason for a coach to change what he is doing with the lineup.

The Long Game: Why the Bench Player Wins

The grit and determination of a Bench Player who does not give up will move them up to Sub or Starter. Nothing is forever. Hockey growth spurts in youth players are erratic, and some players reach their ceiling quicker than others. The kid who looks like a finished product at thirteen is sometimes passed by the late bloomer who kept grinding when it was hard to find a reason to.

Never count out the Bench Player. The lessons learned from the bench are lifelong and will reveal themselves on and off the ice for years to come. Handling adversity, keeping your head right when things are not going your way, and continuing to compete when the results are not there yet are skills that carry over into everything you do after hockey.

Get to Work Right Out of the Gate

Dust the cobwebs off from the summer and get to work right away. First impressions are lasting. The first week of a new season tells your coach a lot, and it can set the tone for months. Do not let someone else outwork you in that window because you were still in summer mode.

It is a good idea to train privately away from your team with professional coaches who have unbiased eyes. A coach who has no stake in your team's politics will tell you the truth about your game. That honest feedback, applied consistently, is what actually moves the needle.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can a Bench Player earn more ice time during the season?

The fastest way is to dominate practice. Your coach cannot justify giving you more ice time in games if you are not standing out when the opportunity is right in front of you every day at practice. Work on your skating, compete hard in every drill, and carry the right attitude. Coaches are always watching, even when it does not feel like it.

Is it worth staying on a team if my child is not getting much playing time?

That depends on the player and the situation. If the player is still developing, competing in practice, and maintaining a good attitude, there is real value in seeing it through. The experience of being in that environment, fighting for a spot, and learning to handle a tough role builds character that carries over. If the situation has become toxic or the player has completely shut down, that is a different conversation worth having honestly.

How do I know if my son or daughter has reached their ceiling in hockey?

Honestly, it is very hard to know, especially in youth hockey. Development is not linear. Some players make big jumps late that nobody saw coming. The better question is whether the player is still putting in real effort and improving. If they are working hard and continuing to grow their game, stay patient. Pulling the plug too early is one of the most common mistakes families make.

Should my child work with a private hockey coach on top of team practices?

Yes, and the key word is unbiased. A private coach outside your team structure will evaluate your child based purely on what they see, without any team politics involved. That honest, objective feedback is hard to get inside a team setting, and acting on it is one of the most effective ways to accelerate development for a player at any level.