North St.Paul "A" Bantam Coach

[d2hockeyguy]

I am a hockey parent. I have just heard that NSP has let go of there "A" bantam coaching staff. That is a huge mistake. I have know there head coach B.L. for three years know. He has been a head coach for three years. He coached at Como "B" bantam for two years with a winning record and at NSP for 1 year were they went 30-17-7. With notable good wins over Maple Grove, WBL, The Fire, Woodbury and three ties vs Stillwater.

There coaching staff has had four coaches. None have had kids at the level they coach and two of the four don't even have kids. There coaching staff even has a goalie coach. My son had coach B.L. for his first year at Como. A D1 team with few numbers we went 27-8 that year and won a tourney in New Richmond WI. My son had a great year. I my self could not have been more pleased with the effort of the coach B.L. and his staff.

He was tough and taught the kids discipline, hard work and how to act like young men. I am very pleased with the work ethic of the staff and the time the coaches put in with the kids.

I think it is horrible that a few a parents who's kids did not get "EVEN PLAYING TIME" would focus so hard on getting rid of a "A" bantam coach and staff that work so hard to move players to the next level. The biggest thing I think is the worst. Is that the kids coming up at NSP won't see and learn the great things from this staff and there knowledge of the game.

If you ask the high school and jv coaches from Como. Whose kids act like real hockey players and are ready for the highschool level. Most all came from coach B.L. and his staff.
I think NSP has made a very BAD decsion and will fail as a "A" bantam program. They will return to the bottom of D2.

I would like to thank B.L. and his staff for all there hard work and effort. .

Thank You.

[pond 15]

I second that, my son played for Brian and his staff, it was a great year. And I know who these parents are, but the funny thing is their kids will be lucky to play at the next level, and they know it. The problem is if you’re truthful and tell them their kid is LAZY you get thrown under the bus. Good luck next year complaining to the High school coach about so-called “ EVEN PLAYING TIME” B.L doesn’t coach the parents he coaches the kids. I’m sure another association will appreciate the dedication and time these coaches have to give.

[Polarhockey4]

I would first like to thank NSP for the chance to coach so many great kids. I look forward to watching all the kids I have coached at Como and NSP play in high school, juniors and college. I would like to thank the kids I coached and the parents. I could not have been a good coach with out the help of my very talented staff and the hard work of the kids.

[Polarhockey4]

Thanks for the support d2hockeyguy and pond 15

[Hockeys4me2]

This whole situation is unbelievable! The association finally gets qualified coaches that are committed to building a strong Bantam program at North St. Paul and what does the association do? They take the job away from them.

At the end of this season, I heard that the association met with the A Bantam coaches and told them that they were “too intense” … at this level, isn’t that what is needed to improve into a competitive program? The committee went on to tell them all of the negative complaints they received from a few disgruntled parents. Not once during the meeting did the committee review any of the positive comments or accomplishments with the coaches. It is obvious what the committee’s intentions were from the beginning …. Focus just on the negatives and force them out of the job – not thinking for a moment about keeping the coaches in the job and working with them improve in certain things based on the feedback so that they develop into better coaches (and building a stronger program).

Here is what I know about this season:

1. The passion that the North St. Paul A Bantam coaches have for the game of hockey is very evident in the amount of time and effort that they invested to help the kids this year (especially considering none of them had a child playing at that level and they are not getting paid to coach).

2. Besides teaching them the skills needed to compete this year, they worked with the kids to prepare them to compete at the next level(s).

3. The coaches demanded discipline, respect, and effort from the players … if the players didn’t comply, they were very up front with them and held accountable for their actions.

4. The coaches were able to create a cohesive group of kids that had a successful season. This year’s A Bantam District Record was 6-3-5 (17 pts) … more points than the last two seasons combined (4-8-2 in the 05-06 season and 1-10-1 in the 06-07 season = total of 13 pts)

The A Bantam coaches did a great job this year - too bad they aren't allowed to come back and help the NSP program next year.

[Polarhockey4]

Thanks hockeys4me2

[hockeypops]

sounds like the kind of people that Forest Lake needs for their A Bantam position. I believe there is some re-imbursement for non-contingent coaches. Also, the new arena will be opening this fall so that is a huge plus for the program. The group at A Bantam level next year are the same group that won the district as A Squirts but have been unable to put together a district win since than for a variety of reasons. If you are interested I would contact the association president for more information on how and when to apply.

[hockey77coach]

It's a sad day when young men give of their time to better hockey players and an association, only to have it thrown back in their face. As an official that has refereed the NSP A Bantams many times over the past few years, it was finally fun to see a team that competed against the WBL's and Stillwater's of the District.

Is it a coincidence that these associations have "strong and direct coaches" that win on a continuous basis?

Good luck to the NSP Coaches, you will find someone who wants you.

[Polarhockey4]

Thank you hockey77coach

[rinkresident]

That is to bad to hear... some parents have to much time on their hands!
Send these coaches over to Eden Prairie, since the Bantam A coach- Chris lacombe resigned... Sounds like EP is looking for a new Bantam A coach.

[punchinbag]

polarhockey,

From the sounds of it, you are an excellent coach! Just wanted to let you know that Bemidji High School is looking for a new head coach! Your work ethic and passion for the game are exactly what we are looking for. You should apply! That is, if you can stand to live up in Lake country and can take backed up traffic because a duck and her ducklings are crossing the road

[OnFrozenPond]

That is to bad to hear... some parents have to much time on their hands!
Send these coaches over to Eden Prairie, since the Bantam A coach- Chris lacombe resigned... Sounds like EP is looking for a new Bantam A coach.

Is Lacombe coaching somewhere else?

[chickendance]

punchinbag...I think you need two coaches, even though one doesn't have the grace to fall over. Polar could do either side a lot of good.

[D16Dad]

punchinbag...I think you need two coaches, even though one doesn't have the grace to fall over. Polar could do either side a lot of good.

Boys assistant coach or are you referring to Girls Head Coach???

[Polarhockey4]

I would love a highschool job. The problem is I have no college degree. Also I don't think the wife would like to go. I am still looking at any options that are out there.

[Tony Soprano]

Polarhockey4, you do not need a college degree to coach high school hockey. You can even be a head coach. Go to the high school site mshsl.org and on the home page on right hand side, find the link to "Coaches Education Program" (ASEP).

Click on that and it will bring up a description of the program and where you can take the classes offered. When you complete this program you are eligiable to seek high school jobs. Not all high school coaches are teachers these days. I completed the program in 2003 and have been coaching at the high school level since.

[32HockeyFan]

PolarHockey, If you really want to prove your mettle then you should apply to be the Bantam A coach at STMA. We've typically had parent coaches that stop coaching when their son is done with Bantams. A non-parent, stable coach is exactly what STMA needs.

[32HockeyFan]

Oh, and please don't take this as a slam against parent coaches. We've had some very good parent coaches through the years. The problem is from the stability aspect. I believe at the Bantam A level at the very least you need a coach that stays for more than 1-2 years.

[Polarhockey4]

Thank you for the info Tony


32hockey what is STMA

[32HockeyFan]

Thank you for the info Tony


32hockey what is STMA

Saint Michael/Albertville. 10 miles northwest of Maple Grove.

[boblee]

Stuff like this does happen all the time, but with the sounds of the way you feel about this, it's too bad.

[d10dad]

Polarhockey4 Coach:

[talkhockey]

Polarhockey4 Coach: The WBL Girls Varsity position is open. Talk to the Hill coach he crossed over and from all accounts is lovin it.

[rippin1]

There are plenty of associations looking for qualified non parent coaches. Check the Minnesota Hockey website under employment there are dozens of listings.

The parents complaining are probably the same ones that wanted the Bantam A position and think they can do a better job. What they don't get is there kid probably doesn't even belong playing at that level to begin with. It is a "A" team. It is about winning. You want even play, play at the B level and coach away. The A level is suppose to be the best players at that level not which players the parents or board members think are the best. If it were a fair process every association would hire outside evaluators and have them pick the teams.

[conditioningsucks]

[quote="rippin1"] The A level is suppose to be the best players at that level not which players the parents or board members think are the best. If it were a fair process every association would hire outside evaluators and have them pick the teams.[/quote]

Rippin1, not sure you are correct here. Outside evaluators tend to pick the kids who look flashiest, the kids who are big, or the kids that get lucky a couple of times in tryouts. Outside evaluators do not cull out the 'cement heads' (kids who take a lot of no-brainer penalties), the empty jerseys (flashy players that are scared to come anywhere close to the slot area or go in the corners), poor work ethics, attitude problems, or kids who are consistent problems in the locker room.

This is the dilemma with Minnesota association based hockey. Parents want things to be 'fair'...but in their desire to be 'fair', most teams end up being dysfunctional messes. Having people who know the kids, know their habits - good and bad, and know how to put a complete team together is the best way - whether they are an unbiased parent (yes, there are some of these), or a hockey director that works, watches, and develops the kids throughout the program.