Timid 8 year old in Hockey

My 8 year old has almost completed his second year of a great learn to play hockey program. He has always been very slow to warm up to new situations and people.  He has always been shy and has always had an anxious temperment.  He is also a homeschooled student.   He seems to do well enough with his academics.  Hockey is one of his social activities.

Last year, he was anxious about playing and had a very difficult time getting on the ice for the practices, 2 times per week.  Once he got on the ice he continued to have a difficult time.  He never talked about hockey and resisted going to practices.

This year, he is enthused about practice and talks about hockey often.  He often refers to himself  as "the thirty" his jersey number.  He fantasizes about "fighting for the puck and shooting alot of goals"  He looks forward to practices and when he comes home he is often pleased with himself.  He is a good enough ice skater and handles the stick well enough.

He does well with pratices and the structured drills most of the time.  He does poorly at games however, he is very timid and doesn't even follow the puck and attend to the game.  We play with him at home and he demonstrates a basic understanding of the game and plays confidently and aggressively with his younger sister and myself.
He seems to talk a big game so-to-speak but seems very timid when he plays with the boys in the program or against other teams.  

He says he wants to play next year and "go to the next level".  He also wasn't able to participate in his First Reconciliation he was too anxious at the time of the ceremony.  He had to meet with the priest one-to-one to complete this.  He had a very difficult time with his hockey pictures going up and being photographed alone.  He is anxious about going up to the coaches as well.

How should we view his progress with hockey?  He wants to play and enjoys it but struggles alot with competing.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Let it alone. You do not need to do anything. As long as he is enjoying it and partcipates with pleasure, there is no need to be involved except to encourage and support him. Whether he is timid or competitive does not really matter. His enjoyment of the activity should be the priority.