Making the jump to the next level

[JoltDelivered]

I have a son who is making the jump to bantams this year (tryouts are ongoing right now) and I was blown away with how much faster and bigger the game is as compared with Pee Wees.

Question for all of you: In your minds which is the bigger jump to make Squirts > Pee Wees or Pee Wees > Bantams?

From what I've seen the leap to bantams is a much tougher one to make especially for the smaller kids who have enjoyed success at younger levels.

Lets leave the jump to high school for a different conversation.

[Bash Brother]

The jump to bantams is definitely much bigger. it is much faster and most kids have grown.

[muckandgrind]

Each jump as it's own challenges. It's a big leap from Mites to Squirts because kids play more games, get called for offsides and penalties and have to learn "team play".

The jump from Squirts to PeeWees is big because the kids are getting bigger and faster and checking is introduced. Every kid can remember the first hit they took in PeeWees.

Bantams is also a big jump because the players grow in size faster during these years than probably any other. The players are faster and hit harder no question. It's also during this level that coaches start to hold kids really accountable for their actions. Rather than positive re-inforcement all the time, expect to get chewed out or even get benched for a shift or two for errors made on the ice.

Which is the biggest challenge? I would probably say Bantams.

[Bash Brother]

Should add a poll to this.

[tomASS]

It's a big leap from Mites to Squirts because kids play more games, get called for offsides and penalties and have to learn "team play".

Which is the biggest challenge? I would probably say Bantams.

I agree with bantams.

I find the premise of each age having it's own "jump" to be conquered, a good thought in regard to the child development process, however from a pure hockey sense I got a good chuckle thinking that Mite players moving to Squirts even think that much about it. Maybe parents more than players.

[Can't Never Tried]

IDK I think maybe Sq to peewee because the game changes so much adding the physical aspect...after that it's all about size from PW to bantam, and yes there is a speed and skill difference between the PW tp Bantam level, but by that time your head is up and your used to the contact.

[muckandgrind]

It's a big leap from Mites to Squirts because kids play more games, get called for offsides and penalties and have to learn "team play".

Which is the biggest challenge? I would probably say Bantams.

I agree with bantams.

I find the premise of each age having it's own "jump" to be conquered, a good thought in regard to the child development process, however from a pure hockey sense I got a good chuckle thinking that Mite players moving to Squirts even think that much about it. Maybe parents more than players.

That's why it's a "jump". The kids don't think about it, but the coaches do. It can be tough to teach the game of hockey to kids who are used to playing "pom-pom pull away".

[hiptzech]

It's a big leap from Mites to Squirts because kids play more games, get called for offsides and penalties and have to learn "team play".

Which is the biggest challenge? I would probably say Bantams.

I agree with bantams.

I find the premise of each age having it's own "jump" to be conquered, a good thought in regard to the child development process, however from a pure hockey sense I got a good chuckle thinking that Mite players moving to Squirts even think that much about it. Maybe parents more than players.

That's why it's a "jump". The kids don't think about it, but the coaches do. It can be tough to teach the game of hockey to kids who are used to playing "pom-pom pull away".[/quote]

How else are they going to learn the "toe pull"?
My vote is Squirt to Pee Wee.

[Blue&Gold]

I vote squirt to peewee as well. The squirt stud many times becomes the scared peewee and we may never see them at the front again. The physical part of checking is a bigger "jump" than the size of bantams.

Of course: IMHO and YMMV...

[bashbrother55]

peewees to bantams is the biggest. Between the size and the speed it's where the talent level really starts to spread out