jg2112 wrote:
I have a friend who is a local coach and long-time referee. He has told me that beyond Edina Green, Andover, Tonka (who has been drilled by Andover), and maybe Hermantown, there is a lack of skill and consistency at the U12 level. And for as "inconsistent" as the U12 pool is this year, he says it will be far worse next year. Last year he said the U10 level was the worst he's ever seen it.
Did your friend elaborate at all on this? Is it puck skills, skating, teamplay? I wonder if growing participation in AAA hockey has caused any of this. Knowing that it's harder to develop hands than it is skating - could it be that girls are skating year round and their feet are getting better, but their hands aren't able to keep up? This could make for a game that looks less skilled as there is less time and space.
The top end players can't go around the lower end players like orange cones like even 10 years ago because even the lower end can skate...just like you said. There isn't the time and space to roast kids like there used to be.
In other words, the difference between the top and middle isn't as big as it used to be and same for the bottom end.
The skill is there but its not Natalie Darwitz (going way back to exaggerate the point) going around all 5 like they are standing still.