Resting The Kids........

[breakout]

I listened to a player talking about his coach who told his players that he didn't want them to play "shinny hockey" the day before their opening game of a tournament (not state tournament). I can't remember those kind of rules growing up.

I remember hearing about Darby Hendrickson and his brother skating for hours at the local park on game day. That was during their high school hockey season.

Personally, I think kids should play "shinny hockey" whenever they get a chance. However, skates need to get sharpened and some rest is needed before "the game".

Your thoughts? Your stories?

[watchdog]

the day before a game is rediculous. the time i think everyone needs a break is over the holidays. you try to do a few family function maybe take in some ice fishing (one day) over christmas and you cant because of practice. to me its over kill. on what you were saying my kids will all go down to the rink on game day and shoot around for an hour. mid morning for an afternoon game. i think its good give em alittle feel for the puck before the game.

[Panthers]

Kids should play "shinny" whenever they get a chance, just use common sense. Day before game, no problem! 2 hours before and showing up at the rink with chopped up blades, not so good! Take advantage of the outdoor ice we have this winter, nothing develops skill and creativity better than a game of 10 on 10 or dropping a bag of pucks and figuring it out on your own!!!!

[MaxPower]

I try to use the same 4 Hour Rule, that MN Hockey uses.
I ask that the players "get off the pond" no later than 4 hours prior to game time, and I recommend 5 hrs, as most kids are at the rink about an hour prior to game time.
For a 7 pm game, get off the pond by 2pm.

[egf hockey1]

The day before a game is ridiculous. If the pros can have an hour skate the day of the game, I am sure that youth players are able to do it. My kid was at the outdoor rink from 9:00am to 3:00pm yesterday with a 7:30pm game. He played one of his better games. I wasn't at the outdoor rink so I don't know how hard he was skating, but when I brought pizza at noon for him and his buddies, he was sweating. Knowing him and his friends it was an all out battle all afternoon the day of a game. (I think all of them had games yesterday, not sure)

[inthestands]

Question, who runs the team?

If the coach has rules in place that aren't out of line as far as USA hockey is concerned, those rules should be followed and supported by the players and their families.

For those that want to make or critique the rules, step up and coach a team.

[shoot to thrill]

Inthestands makes a valid point. I personally think shinny hockey is the best thing kids can do in their free time but I'm not the coach of that team. Although parents may not like the rule, the coach is in charge of the team and the parents would be wise to teach their kids to follow the rules set by the coach. Those lessons can be invaluable later on in life. I would let the coach know you will support the rules but find a time to ask him his logic for why he has that rule. Maybe he will reconsider it in the future.

[egf hockey1]

I agree. I think it is a stupid rule, but there are a lot of rules that I think are stupid. You still have to follow them. If you are teaching your kid that one of the coaches rules is stupid and they don't have to follow it, what is to stop them from breaking another of the rules and another. Everytime a parent backstabs a coach, the kid loses respect for the coach and everything goes downhill from there. I wrote the last post, not out of disrespect for the coaches rule, but just that a little outdoor ice is not going to kill the kid and winning a game shouldn't become more important then the kid having fun.

[watchdog]

inthestands- The coach has control of the team from one hour before games, during games, and during practices. He sets the curfew for away tournaments. Beyond that, it's my kid and I will do what seems best to me. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday! Why don't you step up to that parenting philosophy!

[theref]

inthestands- The coach has control of the team from one hour before games, during games, and during practices. He sets the curfew for away tournaments. Beyond that, it's my kid and I will do what seems best to me. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday! Why don't you step up to that parenting philosophy!

I'm going to say that I have to agree. Let's just put it in this example: What if it's Fall and one of the boys is still playing football? Should the coach tell him he can't play football on game day? Coaches are the boss at the rink, but when it comes the home, the parents get to make those decisions. I know I certainly woulndn't allow my boss to say what I can and can't do when I'm away from work. Now, suggesting that they not skate too close to game time, that's another situation.

[breakout]

Kids should play "shinny" whenever they get a chance, just use common sense. Day before game, no problem! 2 hours before and showing up at the rink with chopped up blades, not so good! Take advantage of the outdoor ice we have this winter, nothing develops skill and creativity better than a game of 10 on 10 or dropping a bag of pucks and figuring it out on your own!!!!

Amen

Certainly, I agree that the kids need to follow team rules. However, 4 hours of rest or so with fresh blades should suffice.

[inthestands]

inthestands- The coach has control of the team from one hour before games, during games, and during practices. He sets the curfew for away tournaments. Beyond that, it's my kid and I will do what seems best to me. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday! Why don't you step up to that parenting philosophy!

I am a parent of more than one hockey player, so I'm up to speed on that watchdog.

I also agree shinny is one of the best and most fun things a kid can do as it relates to hockey, and there isn't enough of it at least in my opinion.

Bottom line, if you get in the way of the coaching ideals on your players team you are doing a disservice to your child not only in sporting events but on the road to life.

[Hockeyguy_27]

Bottom line, if you get in the way of the coaching ideals on your players team you are doing a disservice to your child not only in sporting events but on the road to life.

Exactly! You may not like the coach of your child's team and think his rules are ridiculous but the coach makes the rules and the members of the team need to follow these rules. This is one of the life lessons sports teach kids. What if your child grows up and has a boss he/she doesn't like? Will he/she ignore their rules as well?

As far as the initial question; as long as the kids on my team show up ready to play, I could care less what they are doing. I encourage my players to go the park as much as they want. I also feel (at least in my assocaiton) we are scheduled with too much ice-time. 12 year old kids who are on the ice an average of 6 days a week is too much. The season gets awfully long and by the end of February I find some of the kids tend to flake out and lose interest.

[breakout]

Bottom line, if you get in the way of the coaching ideals on your players team you are doing a disservice to your child not only in sporting events but on the road to life.

Exactly! You may not like the coach of your child's team and think his rules are ridiculous but the coach makes the rules and the members of the team need to follow these rules. This is one of the life lessons sports teach kids. What if your child grows up and has a boss he/she doesn't like? Will he/she ignore their rules as well?

As far as the initial question; as long as the kids on my team show up ready to play, I could care less what they are doing. I encourage my players to go the park as much as they want. I also feel (at least in my assocaiton) we are scheduled with too much ice-time. 12 year old kids who are on the ice an average of 6 days a week is too much. The season gets awfully long and by the end of February I find some of the kids tend to flake out and lose interest.

To your point, finding the time to do 3 x 3 small ice scrimmages during practices and finding time for the kids to get to the park keeps the game fun and fresh.

[wannagototherink]

Here's the bottom line...If some coach would have said "I want you to go to the rink and shinny for two hours before every game" You people would bitch and complain that it is ridiculous to go to the park on game days. I suppose that is what this forum is for, but it gets so old.

I've come to the conclution that people just love to b*tch regardless of the point. whoever it was that said I'm the parent and when he's not at the rink I don't care what the coach says. Well that is the biggest problem in youth sports and it's an attitude that drives good coaches out.

So if the team isn't out of town for a tournament the coach shouldn't set a curfew? It's not as important to have a 9 am game at home as it is on the road? What about teaching the kids about nutrition? Should the coach not suggest what they should eat to grow as an athlete? The "who does the coach think he is mantality" is disgusting!!! He generally is a volunteer who is dedicating HIS/HER time to YOUR child! If the coach sets a rule, your kid should follow it and you should support it! No matter how relavent YOU think it is. Some rules are there simply to teach these kids some discpline because parents are too soft to teach their kids themselves. You get run around by your kids and so when you see an adult not take that crap from a 10 - 17 year old, you get jelous that you don't have the grapes to stand up to your own kid and no the coaches rules are out of line. Screw you people. If they aren't putting your kids in harms way, you should respect the coaches rules and support them...not undermine them. Are you kidding me? What kind of selfish Pr99k does that?

What about the fact that a kid sitting at the rink all day before a game breathing that fresh air and working hard may be tired for his game where OTHERS COUNT ON HIM/HER TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AT A HIGH LEVEL FOR THE OTHERS ON THE TEAM! But I suppose it's not about the team is it? It's about your little johnny or jenny getting his/her D1 scholarship.

Selfishness and greed is what kids are taught today by parents...Those of you who actually respect your kids coaches I'm sorry to lump you in with the rest, it's just we are a dying breed...To many parents that couldn't cut it when they were kids are holding it against their kids coaches now. But hey why not, it wasn't their fault when they couldn't cut it in their youth, so why wouldn't it be someone other than their kids fault when their kids can't cut it.

The fact is when these kids enter the real world, they will be forced to deal with adversity and disappointment. If you don't prepare them for that, they will suffer.

[breakout]

Here's the bottom line...If some coach would have said "I want you to go to the rink and shinny for two hours before every game" You people would bitch and complain that it is ridiculous to go to the park on game days. I suppose that is what this forum is for, but it gets so old.

I've come to the conclution that people just love to b*tch regardless of the point. whoever it was that said I'm the parent and when he's not at the rink I don't care what the coach says. Well that is the biggest problem in youth sports and it's an attitude that drives good coaches out.

So if the team isn't out of town for a tournament the coach shouldn't set a curfew? It's not as important to have a 9 am game at home as it is on the road? What about teaching the kids about nutrition? Should the coach not suggest what they should eat to grow as an athlete? The "who does the coach think he is mantality" is disgusting!!! He generally is a volunteer who is dedicating HIS/HER time to YOUR child! If the coach sets a rule, your kid should follow it and you should support it! No matter how relavent YOU think it is. Some rules are there simply to teach these kids some discpline because parents are too soft to teach their kids themselves. You get run around by your kids and so when you see an adult not take that crap from a 10 - 17 year old, you get jelous that you don't have the grapes to stand up to your own kid and no the coaches rules are out of line. Screw you people. If they aren't putting your kids in harms way, you should respect the coaches rules and support them...not undermine them. Are you kidding me? What kind of selfish Pr99k does that?

What about the fact that a kid sitting at the rink all day before a game breathing that fresh air and working hard may be tired for his game where OTHERS COUNT ON HIM/HER TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AT A HIGH LEVEL FOR THE OTHERS ON THE TEAM! But I suppose it's not about the team is it? It's about your little johnny or jenny getting his/her D1 scholarship.

Selfishness and greed is what kids are taught today by parents...Those of you who actually respect your kids coaches I'm sorry to lump you in with the rest, it's just we are a dying breed...To many parents that couldn't cut it when they were kids are holding it against their kids coaches now. But hey why not, it wasn't their fault when they couldn't cut it in their youth, so why wouldn't it be someone other than their kids fault when their kids can't cut it.

The fact is when these kids enter the real world, they will be forced to deal with adversity and disappointment. If you don't prepare them for that, they will suffer.

I agree with your rules are rules perspective and kids need to obey team rules. I agree with some of your parenting observations as well.

In my opinion, resting kids a day before a game is a stretch. Most NHL teams have an optional morning skate the day of a game.

I wouldn't suggest skating the whole day. But, skating for a few hours followed by rest is not a bad thing.

[theref]

My problem is only this. Suggestion vs. Demanding. While my child is at the rink, the coach is who he needs to listen to. When my child is in my home, my child needs to listen to me. I'm pretty open to suggestions, but I know a thing or two about how to raise a kid too (I had great parents, thankfully) I think it would be great for a coach to suggest not skating so many hours before a game or suggest certain things not too eat, but to demand that a kid not do this or that OUTSIDE of the hockey rink at the youth level is a bit much. Especially when it comes to something as silly as being at the outdoor rink. Suggestions are great, but there won't be rules that apply to my childs personal life when they are away from the rink. I could really go on with this, but I'll stop here as I don't have that much time today.

[inthestands]

My problem is only this. Suggestion vs. Demanding. While my child is at the rink, the coach is who he needs to listen to. When my child is in my home, my child needs to listen to me. I'm pretty open to suggestions, but I know a thing or two about how to raise a kid too (I had great parents, thankfully) I think it would be great for a coach to suggest not skating so many hours before a game or suggest certain things not too eat, but to demand that a kid not do this or that OUTSIDE of the hockey rink at the youth level is a bit much. Especially when it comes to something as silly as being at the outdoor rink. Suggestions are great, but there won't be rules that apply to my childs personal life when they are away from the rink. I could really go on with this, but I'll stop here as I don't have that much time today.

Sounds like your child might not be playing as much as they could if you were more supportive of the coaching group.

Now if we were talking about a referee I could understand following the guidelines only at the rink.

[theref]

My problem is only this. Suggestion vs. Demanding. While my child is at the rink, the coach is who he needs to listen to. When my child is in my home, my child needs to listen to me. I'm pretty open to suggestions, but I know a thing or two about how to raise a kid too (I had great parents, thankfully) I think it would be great for a coach to suggest not skating so many hours before a game or suggest certain things not too eat, but to demand that a kid not do this or that OUTSIDE of the hockey rink at the youth level is a bit much. Especially when it comes to something as silly as being at the outdoor rink. Suggestions are great, but there won't be rules that apply to my childs personal life when they are away from the rink. I could really go on with this, but I'll stop here as I don't have that much time today.

Sounds like your child might not be playing as much as they could if you were more supportive of the coaching group.

Now if we were talking about a referee I could understand following the guidelines only at the rink.

Wow, nice try at the personal attack. My daughter is only three, she's just learning how to skate. Better luck next time. As far as listening to us referees, I've gotten to the point where I don't expect it, as about 90% of parents are ignorant to the rules anyway.

[inthestands]

No personal attack meant at all there ref. Just saying that's who the players should be listening too at the rink.

I've been on both sides of the boards, and have kids that are either involved in hockey or done with school. My experience has been pretty good with the girls programs, good luck with yours.

[watchdog]

theref well said! thats what i think also. i have total respect for the coaches and i try very hard to instill that into my kid as well. i have no problem with the coach laying down the law to a certain point. as a parent your responsible to decide where that point is. people are talking about the boss and teaching your kid to listen to the boss. your right and that boss is his parents. im a friend,father,mentor and the ultimate boss and decision maker for all my kids period. inthestands with your comments your either a coach or a major suck up. goingtotherink same thing. teachers are your kids boss too. what would you say if they called you up and said your kid has to be in bed at 8 every night thats the rules in my class. if thats the way it is for you so be it. the one that started this thread said his sons coach dont allow shinny hockey the day before a game if you dont have enough common sense to see thats stupid its not my problem. as for the coach if you want to valunteer your time thank you and on the other hand thats your choice. it doesnt mean your the almighty himself. so get off your high horse and step back im the parent im the one spend thousands of dollars on hockey each year and if my kid whats to go play shinny for a few hours at a resonable time before a game hes going to! heck my kid just got benched for a period because he went ice fishing the day after xmas and missed practice. my view its xmas break and if i the parent wants to schedule a few fun things over xmas and give the kid a whole 3 day break from hockey i will. the coach did what he felt was needed and so did i no regrets what so ever.

[inthestands]

Watchdog, today I am just a parent but have been a coach in the past.

Your analogy to school and hockey are a bit flawed. Hockey is something our kids choose to do. School is something they don't have a choice in.

If the school prinipal sets rules and guidelines for the students, do your kids follow them? Mine do, with our support. If there is a problem, and there have been, we all meet to get squared away on the details and go from there.

I want our kids to be ready for the real world without mommy and daddy holding their hand til they hit 25. We all make choices based on what's good for our families. The key is how we communicate those decisions to the other people impacted by them...

Hockey is just another one of those life lessons for everyone. It's an activity for the kids to enjoy and get them through one stage of life. Our job is to make sure the memories are enjoyable ones.

[watchdog]

one maybe mandatory and the other by choice but to what extent their authority extends is not any diffrent by my standards. each authority figure sets the rules in their enviorment not in mine. so in that respect their one and the same. im not just a parent either i have coached youth hockey for three years in my time.

[jackstraw]

Telling kids not to hit the outdoor rinks the day before a game is complete stupidity, and if you feel you must meet with the coach and discuss this, then do it. Coaches should have good, common sense approaches to pre-game build-up. Nutrition, physical activity and sleep are things that a coach can convey to both players and parents early in the season. Showing up at a game with a KFC Value meal to eat while getting dressed isn't a good idea!

[Can't Never Tried]

Telling kids not to hit the outdoor rinks the day before a game is complete stupidity, and if you feel you must meet with the coach and discuss this, then do it. Coaches should have good, common sense approaches to pre-game build-up. Nutrition, physical activity and sleep are things that a coach can convey to both players and parents early in the season. Showing up at a game with a KFC Value meal to eat while getting dressed isn't a good idea!

How about popcorn chicken