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28 // SEPTEMBER 2017 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM HE PHRASE "HOCKEY IS LIFE" gets thrown around, a lot. But what does that phrase imply? For student-athletes, it means skills learned on the ice naturally transfer to the classroom. Hockey players are at an advantage in an aca- demic setting because the game fosters five char- acteristics that contribute to success both on and off the ice. The Desire To Practice The idea that players must practice to improve car- ries over to the classroom. When kids accept that fact that nothing comes easy on the first try, it's much easier for them to embrace the idea that studying in school leads to higher test scores and better grades. The Capacity To Be Persistent It takes persistence for hockey play- ers to develop all of the intricate skills that make a well-rounded player. Athletes learn that progress does not happen instantaneously. In school, student-athletes don't become frustrated if they don't solve an equation correctly the first time or if the teacher asks them to revise a piece of writing. They understand and embrace trial and error. The Propensity To Think Creatively What happens when the defense finds a way to shut down the offense? Players get creative and find a new way into the zone. When the ability to think creatively is sharp, the capacity to master the higher-level thinking that is necessary when debat- ing civics issues or themes in literature comes easily. The Ability To Cooperate Hockey teaches kids quite a bit about collaboration. A one-minute shift at full speed requires skaters to make quick decisions. Cooperation is critical. Kids who work well with others actively engage in group work. In classes like science, where hands-on learning is common, students who can embrace other's ideas and build on them become assets to the learning process. The Desire To Succeed Be it on the ice, in the classroom or in life, the intrinsic moti- vation to succeed is embedded in hockey players. The meta- cognitive environment in schools today requires kids to make discoveries on their own. Classrooms today center around a trial-and-error approach to learning. They offer kids guidance to discover new information on their own. Because of their desire to succeed, hockey players have the skills that are nec- essary to adapt to 21st-century learning environments. P Emily Erson is a middle school teacher and hockey mom in Western Pa. & By Emily Erson READ REACT T How On-Ice Traits Translate To Classroom Success Be it on the ice, in the classroom or in life, the intrinsic motivation to succeed is embedded in hockey players. &