Thought I would try this topic in here, as I imagine that there are more parents experienced in Girls youth hockey than seem to want to respond in the Youth Forum.
Our daughter has a line on a AAA team for next spring. What could you tell me about that experience? This team would start right after association ends, and roll through the summer.
Does anyone have advice on AAA hockey for girls. It doesn't seem to be as cutthroat as the boys is, am I reading that right?
AAA Hockey for U12s
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Here is some perspective - your question is good - let me start with a few questions and then I will share personal experience and recommendations. The other thing I would encourage you to do is ask questions of those you know - you will get lots of insight and that will help you make the right decisions for your daughter.
What level is your daughter playing now and what kind of player is she?
What are her goals - play with friends, play a few games and have fun, develop and get significantly better?
What are hockey development is she doing in the summer - where is she preparing to play next year?
How much time does she want to put into hockey - is she playing other summer sports - do you have a cabin up north that you like to go to?
What is your budget? Do you coach and do you want to be involved.
My thoughts and recommendations....summer hockey now has an option for every kid.....many are called AAA - some are great and some are just kind of a money grab. AAA hockey might make you better but only if there is a focus on development by coaches and well run practices - never forget a kid in a Pee Wee game (read AAA game) will have the puck on their stick 20-40 seconds total. My daugheter started hockey in a summer Showcase League - uneven competition and no development. As a U12 she did two summers with the Schwan program at the Super Rink we really liked the development and games and we were able to form a team with good players. The last three summers she has played on privately formed teams - the St. Croix Saints and this summer with the Jr. WhiteCaps. These programs tried to get the best competition, strong players and had good coaching and kids who all wanted to get better at hockey......and they have been at cost hockey no big mark up - good hockey people have helped form and keep these programs going. IceCats would be another great program if your daughter has top talent. Some of the AAA teams feature great jerseys but cost $750-800 and may not be very great.
The other thing we started doing about U12 was the OS and CODP programs - if your daughter loves the game and wants to get better and have fun these programs are hard work but very rewarding - they will build your daughters hockey skills, her confidence and self esteem. And she will meet kids from many areas around the metro - great new friends.
Last games skills can also really be accelerated playing 3x3 don't forget to look at this if you want your daughter to be better with the puck, moving the puck at speed and scoring - you will see more smiles sweat and fun than a whole summer of AAA.
What level is your daughter playing now and what kind of player is she?
What are her goals - play with friends, play a few games and have fun, develop and get significantly better?
What are hockey development is she doing in the summer - where is she preparing to play next year?
How much time does she want to put into hockey - is she playing other summer sports - do you have a cabin up north that you like to go to?
What is your budget? Do you coach and do you want to be involved.
My thoughts and recommendations....summer hockey now has an option for every kid.....many are called AAA - some are great and some are just kind of a money grab. AAA hockey might make you better but only if there is a focus on development by coaches and well run practices - never forget a kid in a Pee Wee game (read AAA game) will have the puck on their stick 20-40 seconds total. My daugheter started hockey in a summer Showcase League - uneven competition and no development. As a U12 she did two summers with the Schwan program at the Super Rink we really liked the development and games and we were able to form a team with good players. The last three summers she has played on privately formed teams - the St. Croix Saints and this summer with the Jr. WhiteCaps. These programs tried to get the best competition, strong players and had good coaching and kids who all wanted to get better at hockey......and they have been at cost hockey no big mark up - good hockey people have helped form and keep these programs going. IceCats would be another great program if your daughter has top talent. Some of the AAA teams feature great jerseys but cost $750-800 and may not be very great.
The other thing we started doing about U12 was the OS and CODP programs - if your daughter loves the game and wants to get better and have fun these programs are hard work but very rewarding - they will build your daughters hockey skills, her confidence and self esteem. And she will meet kids from many areas around the metro - great new friends.
Last games skills can also really be accelerated playing 3x3 don't forget to look at this if you want your daughter to be better with the puck, moving the puck at speed and scoring - you will see more smiles sweat and fun than a whole summer of AAA.
AAA Hockey can be a good experience.
My daughter started playing in Showcase leagues at the U10 level. As Joe said, the competition was very inconsistent.
My daughter then started playing on some privately formed teams. This was more expensive (as you are paying for the ice time, jerseys, socks, tournament fees, and travel expenses). Some of the teams had many practices, and some had only a few before each tournament. She has played on championship teams and on teams that have won very few games during a summer. I don't think the win/loss record is as important in summer hockey as it is in association or high school hockey.
Some of the positive aspects for our daughter is that she loves the game of hockey and gets to play year-round. She also gets to play with girls from different associations/teams. She has made some very nice friends over the years. When she plays other teams, she often knows one or two players on the other team from summer hockey. Another plus is she has had various coaches, and she can always take something new away from the game because of that.
From a parent's perspective, we love the game of hockey as well, so we get to watch our daughter play year-round. We have also made some wonderful friendships over the years with families from other associations. It is fun to go to the rink and catch up with other parents during the year. It is expensive and a time commitment, but over the years, you will discover a comfort level for both.
I would recommend AAA hockey, but I would ask some questions about the team (how long has it been in existence and who runs it), its coaches (are they knowledgeable and do they have a good reputation), and who your daughter might be playing with (is there anyone you might already know). Ask others who have played on the team in the past to see how they like it and what the commitment level is.
I would try not to get caught up in whether your daughter is playing on the best summer AAA team or whether the team is winning every tournament it enters. I would focus more on whether your daughter is having fun and enjoying the game -- you don't want to burn her out at U12.
My daughter started playing in Showcase leagues at the U10 level. As Joe said, the competition was very inconsistent.
My daughter then started playing on some privately formed teams. This was more expensive (as you are paying for the ice time, jerseys, socks, tournament fees, and travel expenses). Some of the teams had many practices, and some had only a few before each tournament. She has played on championship teams and on teams that have won very few games during a summer. I don't think the win/loss record is as important in summer hockey as it is in association or high school hockey.
Some of the positive aspects for our daughter is that she loves the game of hockey and gets to play year-round. She also gets to play with girls from different associations/teams. She has made some very nice friends over the years. When she plays other teams, she often knows one or two players on the other team from summer hockey. Another plus is she has had various coaches, and she can always take something new away from the game because of that.
From a parent's perspective, we love the game of hockey as well, so we get to watch our daughter play year-round. We have also made some wonderful friendships over the years with families from other associations. It is fun to go to the rink and catch up with other parents during the year. It is expensive and a time commitment, but over the years, you will discover a comfort level for both.
I would recommend AAA hockey, but I would ask some questions about the team (how long has it been in existence and who runs it), its coaches (are they knowledgeable and do they have a good reputation), and who your daughter might be playing with (is there anyone you might already know). Ask others who have played on the team in the past to see how they like it and what the commitment level is.
I would try not to get caught up in whether your daughter is playing on the best summer AAA team or whether the team is winning every tournament it enters. I would focus more on whether your daughter is having fun and enjoying the game -- you don't want to burn her out at U12.