After our podcast about ADHD in hockey, I was flooded with emails and messages from parents who felt seen. It certainly hit home with a lot of people who either have ADHD themselves or are supporting a child with ADHD.
This post below is from a hockey mom with great perspective and ways we can help support and encourage kids with ADHD. Phenomenal, phenomenal stuff:
As the parent of two young hockey players with ADHD, I was really looking forward to listening to your conversation! I think you could definitely have another episode on this one – there is so much more that could be shared with coaches/parents about recognizing ADHD and understanding how to coach players with it effectively!
There’s still a stigma around ADHD, so many parents either don’t mention it or don’t even have a diagnosis yet. As a result, coaches often don’t realize they’re probably coaching several players with ADHD every season! When a coach can unlock the strengths that an ADHD kid can bring they will find some of the hardest-working, most resilient, and most passionate players on the ice!
Strengths ADHD players often bring:
- They can be incredibly energetic and competitive.
- When something captures their interest, they can hyperfocus, becoming completely locked into the game or a skill they’re trying to master.
- Many are creative problem-solvers and see plays that others don’t.
- They often enjoy fast-paced sports like hockey because there’s constant movement and decision-making.
- Many become natural leaders because they’re enthusiastic, fearless, and willing to take risks.
Challenges you may notice:
- Attention can fluctuate. A player may look disengaged one shift and dominate the next.
- Showing rather than only telling. Many kids with ADHD process visual information much better than long verbal explanations. Demonstrating a drill, drawing it on the board, or physically walking them through it can make all the difference.
- Multi-step directions can be difficult. Breaking instructions into one or two steps at a time helps.
- They usually do best when they understand why they’re doing a drill. Explaining the game application (“This helps you win puck battles”) increases buy-in and focus.
- Medication can wear off, especially during early morning practices or evening sessions. A player who was focused yesterday may genuinely struggle today, even though they’re trying just as hard.
Coaching strategies that often work well:
- Gamify drills whenever possible. Timed challenges, competitions, point systems, races, and personal bests keep attention high.
- Keep feedback brief, specific, and immediate.
- Show first, then explain.
- Praise effort and improvement, not just results.
- Use clear expectations and routines.
One thing that’s especially important:
Many kids with ADHD experience criticism much more deeply than others. What feels like ordinary coaching to one player may feel intensely personal or harsh to them. They usually respond much better to corrections that are calm, specific, and paired with encouragement.
When they know a coach believes in them, they’ll often work incredibly hard to meet those expectations.
One last thought that I think could really help youth coaches, especially those working with 4- to 8-year-olds.
Coaches understandably want everyone to get on one knee and quietly listen during instruction. But for many young kids with ADHD—especially those who are undiagnosed or not yet on medication—that can actually be one of the hardest parts of practice. They’re not standing because they’re being disrespectful or defiant, and they’re certainly not “bad kids.” Many are actually listening better while they’re standing, lightly skating in place, or gently moving.
Movement often helps them regulate their attention rather than distract from it. Allowing a child to stand at the edge of the group or quietly move while listening can actually result in them hearing and retaining more of what the coach is saying than if they’re forced to stay perfectly still.
I’d love for more coaches to recognize that not every child who struggles to sit quietly is choosing not to listen. Sometimes a little flexibility can be the difference between a child feeling successful versus feeling like they’re always in trouble for something they can’t easily control.
I think this is one of the biggest mindset shifts for youth coaches: stillness isn’t the same as attention. Many kids with ADHD look like they’re not listening when they’re actually processing everything, while some kids sitting perfectly still may not be paying attention at all. Helping coaches understand that distinction could make a huge difference for a lot of young players.
One other thing that’s often misunderstood is eye contact. Coaches sometimes expect young players to look directly at them while they’re giving instructions as a sign that they’re paying attention. For many kids with ADHD, though, maintaining eye contact actually makes it harder to process what’s being said. They may look down at the ice, fidget with their stick, or look around while they’re listening—and that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t paying attention. In fact, many are taking in every word. Looking for understanding and engagement, rather than perfect eye contact, can be a much more accurate way to gauge whether a child is listening.
