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PARENT R A P S Photos / UMD Athletics, Laylin Family GETTING OFF THE ICE Like many coaches in the hockey com- munity, Laylin is an advocate for kids playing multiple sports from a young age. He put that philosophy into practice with his own children. His sons all played baseball along with hockey. "Let the kids experience different things and let the kids be kids," Laylin said. "If you specialize too early, the zest or excite- ment gets zapped from them a bit. "We want kids to have that love of hockey for life." Laylin also acknowledged the data that backs up this philosophy. The American Academy of Pediatrics has studied this issue and have found that specializing in one sport too early can cause injury, stress and burnout. A DIFFERENT PATH FOR EVERYONE In nearly all aspects of life, comparing yourself to others is a common prac- tice and something that can cause issues. That's no different when it comes to com- paring the development in one player or another. Laylin acknowledged the dif- ficulty of not comparing one player to another at the youth level and beyond. "I think each kid develops and grows physically and mentally at different rates," Laylin said. "Instead of getting stuck in the compare game, it's important to keep developing, watching and learn- ing. I know a lot of players who played at the B or C level at Bantams and went on to play college or pro hockey." MANAGING THE TIME As players get older and set their sights on higher levels of hockey, more respon- sibility gets placed on the individual players and handling themselves on and off the ice. "If the kid loves the sport they're try- ing to commit to, they need to sacrifice some things," Laylin said. "With sacrifice comes responsibility. It ends up on the kid whether or not he wants to succeed."