Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

I know that our Spring / Summer hockey team had far more success and had far more fun than our fall team did.

we were able to be nimble and be selective with players that are character kids, that play well together, etc.

because of the lack of time commitments outside of games, players are more willing to come from further for a team. Higher end players are doing "skates" and "skills training" outside of their fall teams because they are going to experts and can switch from one coach to another if they aren't bringing value.

So realistically, why wouldn't players start going this route?

Spend money on private training and join Spring / Summer / Tournament teams for your games.

Guest wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2024 2:29 pm I know that our Spring / Summer hockey team had far more success and had far more fun than our fall team did.

we were able to be nimble and be selective with players that are character kids, that play well together, etc.

because of the lack of time commitments outside of games, players are more willing to come from further for a team. Higher end players are doing "skates" and "skills training" outside of their fall teams because they are going to experts and can switch from one coach to another if they aren't bringing value.

So realistically, why wouldn't players start going this route?

Spend money on private training and join Spring / Summer / Tournament teams for your games.

Lots good, and valuable points. The issue is team coaches during the fall/winter season think they know it all. From the perspective of value, costs, fun and choice, spring/summer options are becoming much more attractive. From a development and exposure perspective they are also more valuable.

The winter season is on the decline for it's value in so many components of minor hockey. They can leave, doesn't really impact much.

[quote=Guest post_id=137965 time=1724870770]
[quote=Guest post_id=137960 time=1724869747]
I know that our Spring / Summer hockey team had far more success and had far more fun than our fall team did.

we were able to be nimble and be selective with players that are character kids, that play well together, etc.

because of the lack of time commitments outside of games, players are more willing to come from further for a team. Higher end players are doing "skates" and "skills training" outside of their fall teams because they are going to experts and can switch from one coach to another if they aren't bringing value.

So realistically, why wouldn't players start going this route?

Spend money on private training and join Spring / Summer / Tournament teams for your games.
[/quote]


Lots good, and valuable points. The issue is team coaches during the fall/winter season think they know it all. From the perspective of value, costs, fun and choice, spring/summer options are becoming much more attractive. From a development and exposure perspective they are also more valuable.

The winter season is on the decline for it's value in so many components of minor hockey. They can leave, doesn't really impact much.
[/quote]

This is essentially the American travel team model, which is based on tournaments rather than league play. There's pros and cons either way, one of which is cost. Travel team budgets are significantly higher than league budgets (AA and lower). I think one 'pro' for a travel team is that you should have more control over finding competition that fits your team. We all know of teams that sit all season at the bottom of the standings that might have more fun, and develop more, playing in multiple tournaments that fit their skill level. But again, doing a continuous cycle of tournaments will eventually drain both the bank account and your energy levels. I've spoken to enough American hockey parents to know it's a massive commitment being on a travel team. The Thunder Bay Kings got so tired of it, they developed their GTHL partnership to try and bring some sanity to the process. Be interesting to hear from their parents how they feel about the hybrid model.

the issue with spring/summer hockey is that it's too much and has ruined the game for kids who would like to play other sports, hang out at the beach or just take a break from hockey. It's hard to do any of those things AND keep up with the kids who did that in the fall...if you didnt. there needs to be a balance. I'm sure coaches/orgs love it because it's $$ plus maybe they get to recruit for their winter teams for when it actually matters.

Youth sports have become way too intense and i say this as someone who's kid has been suckered into spring/summer hockey.

Guest wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:36 pm the issue with spring/summer hockey is that it's too much and has ruined the game for kids who would like to play other sports, hang out at the beach or just take a break from hockey. It's hard to do any of those things AND keep up with the kids who did that in the fall...if you didnt. there needs to be a balance. I'm sure coaches/orgs love it because it's $$ plus maybe they get to recruit for their winter teams for when it actually matters.

Youth sports have become way too intense and i say this as someone who's kid has been suckered into spring/summer hockey.

What about playing spring and summer hockey, and play another sport in the winter. Basketball, volleyball, train for track indoors, swim, whatever. Who's limiting hockey to the old school season? The old school method is well, old. It's outdated and full of archaic coaches and administrators.

Competition for athletes to play your sport is good. Hockey is losing ground. If not for the rise in female hockey the numbers would be way down.

Hockey in Ontario specifically, no matter the season has a built in advantage over other areas...proximity of talent in a relatively small geographic area. This concentration of talent drops the need for significant travel. Exploit that, it's one of our biggest strengths.

Minor hockey is all about about politics and it's at every level from AAA to House League. You have to learn how to play the game.

Kids are not always selected based on skill, it can be who their parents are, who they know, what sponsors they can bring in, etc.

However, those who complain loudly about their kid being cut are usually not telling the whole story.

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:45 am Minor hockey is all about about politics and it's at every level from AAA to House League. You have to learn how to play the game.

Kids are not always selected based on skill, it can be who their parents are, who they know, what sponsors they can bring in, etc.

However, those who complain loudly about their kid being cut are usually not telling the whole story.

Looks like you're complaining...ie, one of those parents hiding something

Guest wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:36 pm the issue with spring/summer hockey is that it's too much and has ruined the game for kids who would like to play other sports, hang out at the beach or just take a break from hockey. It's hard to do any of those things AND keep up with the kids who did that in the fall...if you didnt. there needs to be a balance. I'm sure coaches/orgs love it because it's $$ plus maybe they get to recruit for their winter teams for when it actually matters.

Youth sports have become way too intense and i say this as someone who's kid has been suckered into spring/summer hockey.

Yeah, this is a fair comment, but unfortunately its never going to stop.

Its only going to get crazier and crazier.

My kid played a different sport in Spring and i've told this story before on this forum, but the quick version is he was usually top3 kid on the ice last fall. This early summer, when compared to the same kids, but they played spring and summer, he looks slow and not as skilled any more.

He has gone from top kid on the team to middle of the pack, really quickly. Will it level out through the fall? Probably. But it did make me rethink keeping him in another sport through the spring/summer next year. I still feel like multisport is the way to go, but, it sure as shit feels like we messed up.

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 12:52 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:36 pm the issue with spring/summer hockey is that it's too much and has ruined the game for kids who would like to play other sports, hang out at the beach or just take a break from hockey. It's hard to do any of those things AND keep up with the kids who did that in the fall...if you didnt. there needs to be a balance. I'm sure coaches/orgs love it because it's $$ plus maybe they get to recruit for their winter teams for when it actually matters.

Youth sports have become way too intense and i say this as someone who's kid has been suckered into spring/summer hockey.

Yeah, this is a fair comment, but unfortunately its never going to stop.

Its only going to get crazier and crazier.

My kid played a different sport in Spring and i've told this story before on this forum, but the quick version is he was usually top3 kid on the ice last fall. This early summer, when compared to the same kids, but they played spring and summer, he looks slow and not as skilled any more.

He has gone from top kid on the team to middle of the pack, really quickly. Will it level out through the fall? Probably. But it did make me rethink keeping him in another sport through the spring/summer next year. I still feel like multisport is the way to go, but, it sure as shit feels like we messed up.

You’re doing it right, play the long game. A lot of these other kids will burn out and have overuse injuries by age 14. Multi sports are the way to go, keep your kid on the ice weekly but don’t get caught up.

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 12:44 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:45 am Minor hockey is all about about politics and it's at every level from AAA to House League. You have to learn how to play the game.

Kids are not always selected based on skill, it can be who their parents are, who they know, what sponsors they can bring in, etc.

However, those who complain loudly about their kid being cut are usually not telling the whole story.

Looks like you're complaining...ie, one of those parents hiding something

LOL nope - I was trying to respond to a previous post saying that certain organizations were like the mafia but it wouldn't let me quote their comment

Been through the tryout process twice now, my kid was not cut, but I wouldn't come on here an complain if he was. I know my kid's strengths and weaknesses and I'm not an over bearing a$$hole, so if he was cut, it's not as a parent cut.