Grand Rapids/Greenway Coop
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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greenway1969
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:29 am
Grand Rapids/Greenway Coop
I have not wanted to believe that a Grand Rapids/Greenway Coop was ever going to happen, but I am starting to change my opinion. For the second year in a row, Greenway does not have a bantam team. The numbers were up, but the coaches decided to move those kids (mostly eight-graders) to the JV. The JV has been pounded by their opponents this year. The numbers are good at the mites and squirts, but decline as the age group move up. Does anyone know why? Is it because only a few kids get playing time and the rest sit on the bench? Is hockey too expenseive? Are the kids just lazy? Are the socio-economic reasons too much to overcome? Are those in charge of the program not doing a good job? Anyone close to the program have any thoughts?
I can sum up part of the problem in one word.......... Passion. When the parents have more than the kids…. it is a recipe for mediocrity. The few who (only a handful in the whole program) have it are working there tails off… trying to win… (yes, I believe winning is important) and passion is a key the ingredient. Greenway hockey has a strong tradition… built on winning…. From hockey players who had the passion to win.
Our current coaches are teaching the game at a lower skill level due to the huge spectrum of ability… (and passion) they do not have the time to push the higher skilled payers. How fair is that to the kids that skate and work hard improving their game 12 months out of the year, and are being treated the same as kids who show part time, work hard part time and in some cases would rather be someplace else. The programs need to treat kids fair not equal.
The program is worried about segregating the kids so they don’t quit…. which may makes sense in the short run….but then don’t expect any trips to the Excel to watch the raiders any time soon. There have been and will be more kids moving down the road to put on another color jersey if things don’t change….. I would rather see efforts to benefit all kids….. working together.... developing hockey players everybody can be proud of….
Our current coaches are teaching the game at a lower skill level due to the huge spectrum of ability… (and passion) they do not have the time to push the higher skilled payers. How fair is that to the kids that skate and work hard improving their game 12 months out of the year, and are being treated the same as kids who show part time, work hard part time and in some cases would rather be someplace else. The programs need to treat kids fair not equal.
The program is worried about segregating the kids so they don’t quit…. which may makes sense in the short run….but then don’t expect any trips to the Excel to watch the raiders any time soon. There have been and will be more kids moving down the road to put on another color jersey if things don’t change….. I would rather see efforts to benefit all kids….. working together.... developing hockey players everybody can be proud of….
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fromdanorth
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:29 pm
Well said, you must be a coach at some level and/or a parent that has put a player through the system, small towns with small numbers is very difficult to compete at a high level without the support of the parents, and the coaches at ALL levels, it all starts from the bottom and results of a good hockey program will show at the high school level