Pre-Skates & ID Skates Explained: What Parents NEED to Know Before Tryouts

Mar 5, 2026

A breakdown of what pre-skates and ID skates really are and why many are early tryouts in disguise. Tips for spotting sales tactics, red flags like guaranteed roles, and when attending makes sense. Discussion on how over-recruiting harms team culture and why trusting evaluators and respecting B teams matters. Practical questions parents should ask before signing up and how to manage tryout anxiety.

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INSIGHT

Why ID Skates Rarely Change Rosters

Most teams have 85–90% of their roster already projected before evals, so ID skates rarely change the core lineup.
Lee and Mike explain that evaluations usually decide bubble spots, not wholesale roster shifts, so parents overvalue single skates.

INSIGHT

How To Spot A Coaching Salesman

There is a real difference between a hockey coach and a salesman: good salesmanship can mask average coaching.
Lee warns parents to spot 'yes to death' promises like guaranteed captaincy or top-line roles as red flags.

ADVICE

Write Down Why You're Considering Leaving

Before chasing other programs, ask why you want to leave and write down family goals for hockey.
Lee urges honest answers (development, coaching, travel) instead of following FOMO or other families.

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🔥 ID skates. Pre-skates. Early evaluations. Winter “select” teams.
If you’re a hockey parent right now, your inbox is probably full — and your anxiety might be too.

So what are ID skates really?
Are they opportunities… or just early tryouts in disguise?

In this episode of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike break down the real story behind pre-skates and ID skates — what they mean, when they make sense, and when parents need to take a deep breath and relax.

Because here’s the truth:

Most teams already have 85–90% of their roster projected.
Most ID skates are not magic auditions.
And the pressure we’re putting on kids? It’s often way too much.

💡 Inside this episode:

What ID skates are actually being used for
When attending one makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
The difference between a coach and a salesman
Why shopping around has consequences
Tier 1 vs Tier 2: how to evaluate a move
Why being on a “B” team is NOT a failure
How to talk to your child before an evaluation
And why calm parents raise confident players

⚠️ Buyer beware: If you’re being “yes’d to death,” promised captaincy, or guaranteed a top line… that’s not development — that’s sales.

Most importantly, this episode is about perspective.

Youth hockey is a journey.
ID skates are a moment.
Don’t let a moment define the journey.

Have thoughts on this one? We want to hear them. Email us at team@ourkidsplayhockey.com and tell us what’s happening in your rink.

📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Truth About Hockey ID Skates: A Parent’s Guide to Pre-Skates & Tryouts

Enjoy evaluation season — and remember to breathe. 🏒

#OurKidsPlayHockey #YouthHockey #HockeyParents #HockeyTryouts #IDSkates #HockeyDevelopment #Tier1Hockey #Tier2Hockey #HockeyCulture #ParentingInSports

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