Coaches, does this make sense?

[justhavefun]

A co-worker of mine told me today about her son's hockey team. They have to dress up to show up to the arena, walk in the door, go to the locker room then change into sweats to do pregame stretching her son's in 6th grade

is it just me or is this comical? is this a bit overkill. I understand high school and above.

[play4fun]

A co-worker of mine told me today about her son's hockey team. They have to dress up to show up to the arena, walk in the door, go to the locker room then change into sweats to do pregame stretching her son's in 6th grade

is it just me or is this comical? is this a bit overkill. I understand high school and above.

We're not talking about the Fire, right?

[dogeatdog1]

A co-worker of mine told me today about her son's hockey team. They have to dress up to show up to the arena, walk in the door, go to the locker room then change into sweats to do pregame stretching her son's in 6th grade

is it just me or is this comical? is this a bit overkill. I understand high school and above.

We're not talking about the Fire, right?

I have had coaches do this to teach dicipline and team building. Not my gig but if he is a good coach let him teach your kids some other life lessons. overkill probably but it won't kill her kid to comb his hair prior to games either. I would say make sure that you support the coach whatever he is doing and don't sell him out with an excuse for little Johnny..he might learn personal responsibility.

[hawkhockey]

To most people this seems a little ridiculous. I guess for 6th grade it is a little much. But my bantam team did this last year and it just always made me feel a little more respectable walking into a rink whether it was our home rink, or out of town.

[Titan2020]

I think it is ridiculous at the youth level to have the kids dress up for EVERY game. And, especially when they wear it for a total of 3 minutes walking to the locker room and back to the car. Not sure what life lessons could possibly come from wearing a shirt and tie to the hockey rink, but whatever. Let the kids be, well, kids and go have fun! There will be plenty of opportunities / occasions for them to put on the shirt & tie and comb their hair - especially later in life. That being said, I've had teams that have asked to wear shirt & tie during Regions or State...limited number of games - perfect! Less is more.

[Jimbo99]

It's a small thing, but our experience is: One gung-ho coach does it and then a few kids ask if they can do it every year thereafter (because they know it pleases the coaches) and the rest are afraid to say they don't want to.

I agree with above - special playoffs or tournaments can make some sense. The rest is overkill.

[multiplesportskids]

Totally agree with Titan !!!

[PWD10]

A co-worker of mine told me today about her son's hockey team. They have to dress up to show up to the arena, walk in the door, go to the locker room then change into sweats to do pregame stretching her son's in 6th grade

is it just me or is this comical? is this a bit overkill. I understand high school and above

Our previous organization required every player to wear the following to all games home and away.
Team Jacket
Collared shirt...but no ties
Brown or Black slacks such as dockers. A belt was required
If you wore a hat it had to be the teams hat and it better be on with the bill facing forward.
No visibile jewelry.

This was required from all player Mites to 18AA.

The director who was a pro player explained it this way. We need to set the tone that we are a team. Were not a bunch of male hooligans that fell off a bus and are here to play hockey. We frequently get asked or attend dinners and functions after games and we want to set the tone that were a respectable organization. You never know who is going to show up and watch a game and if it should be a scout we want to expose our players in the best light possible to possibly help and aid that player.

I might add when teams were selected and at the first parents meeting of the year he always had a radio or cd player and would launch this segment with that song by ZZ-Top..."Girls go crazy about a sharp dressed guy"

[justhavefun]

Thank you for your comments. I can see how "A" Bantams and up can where it. PW and below, I really question. JR kids maybe, Elementary?? NO way. funny when kids change at home to nice pants and a shirt (Plus wore out tennis shoes) walk in the arena door, the change to sweats. No one saw them walk in. In fact the coach wasen't isn't even there yet. then he shows up in jeans, looks like he just came form the construction sight. Much easier for the Coach to get cleaned up, then the elementary child..

[DMom]

Thank you for your comments. I can see how "A" Bantams and up can where it. PW and below, I really question. JR kids maybe, Elementary?? NO way. funny when kids change at home to nice pants and a shirt (Plus wore out tennis shoes) walk in the arena door, the change to sweats. No one saw them walk in. In fact the coach wasen't isn't even there yet. then he shows up in jeans, looks like he just came form the construction sight. Much easier for the Coach to get cleaned up, then the elementary child..

Wow, that's a chatty co-worker

[justhavefun]

what else is there to talk about when you have an office full of hockey moms?

[GreekChurch]

Thank you for your comments. I can see how "A" Bantams and up can where it. PW and below, I really question. JR kids maybe, Elementary?? NO way. funny when kids change at home to nice pants and a shirt (Plus wore out tennis shoes) walk in the arena door, the change to sweats. No one saw them walk in. In fact the coach wasen't isn't even there yet. then he shows up in jeans, looks like he just came form the construction sight. Much easier for the Coach to get cleaned up, then the elementary child..

Please tell me where is this construction site you speak of!!

[dogeatdog1]

Thank you for your comments. I can see how "A" Bantams and up can where it. PW and below, I really question. JR kids maybe, Elementary?? NO way. funny when kids change at home to nice pants and a shirt (Plus wore out tennis shoes) walk in the arena door, the change to sweats. No one saw them walk in. In fact the coach wasen't isn't even there yet. then he shows up in jeans, looks like he just came form the construction sight. Much easier for the Coach to get cleaned up, then the elementary child..

Please tell me where is this construction site you speak of!!

it is one of Obama's Green jobs... Wait lets not turn political on this site.

[skills_coach1]

A co-worker of mine told me today about her son's hockey team. They have to dress up to show up to the arena, walk in the door, go to the locker room then change into sweats to do pregame stretching her son's in 6th grade

is it just me or is this comical? is this a bit overkill. I understand high school and above.

Not all that much different from what I require from our PW-A team. I expect a respect for the game, the team, their team mates, the rink and their opponents. Dressing is a formality yes. But anyone who wants the kids to feel part of a better "group" knows that building routine, builds morale and a "collective" feel. The kids sort of were wondering, but when the moms, dads and folks all let them know they are "stylin" They really get the feeling of being proud they are part of something.


I also have them do a pre-game warm-up, yup, the same one each time, before practice too. Consistency and repetition builds familiarity and bonding... You should see how much they interact when they do the warm-up... All good in my mind.

Just another point of view.

[justhavefun]

[I also have them do a pre-game warm-up, yup, the same one each time, before practice too. Consistency and repetition builds familiarity and bonding... You should see how much they interact when they do the warm-up... All good in my mind.

Just another point of view. [/quote]


I agree with this part. believe me, team unity, chemistry very neccasry. I am questioning the walk in the arena Doors, go to locker room, change cloths. why not a simple hoody sweat shirt and sweat pants? they can walk in the arena looking like a kids hockey team, drop equipment in locker room and do team warm-up etc.. thanks for your comments, nice to get coaches comments.

[Maverick1999]

It is more about getting mentally prepared for a game. When you are getting dressed in your shirt and tie before you leave for the game, it is time to reflect and get prepared for the task at hand. I think of it as getting ready to go to the office, cause there is a job to do!!

[ThePuckStopsHere]

It is more about getting mentally prepared for a game. When you are getting dressed in your shirt and tie before you leave for the game, it is time to reflect and get prepared for the task at hand. I think of it as getting ready to go to the office, cause there is a job to do!!

Get Real That my friend is the dumbest thing I have heard all day

[Educator29]

It is more about getting mentally prepared for a game. When you are getting dressed in your shirt and tie before you leave for the game, it is time to reflect and get prepared for the task at hand. I think of it as getting ready to go to the office, cause there is a job to do!!

Get Real That my friend is the dumbest thing I have heard all day

I agree. a 6th grader is not sappose to get mentally prepared for anything. Maybe the school teachers would get better test results if they had the kids dress up before test days My nephew is a 6th grader. he's 11 years old. only tie that would fit him is a clip on.

just show up to hockey game, do team bonding with a team off-ice warm up and play the game. [/quote]

[Maverick1999]

Typical MN Hockey responses. Stop comparing hockey to school. Hockey is just as much a mental game as a physical game. And if you do not think so I question how much hockey you have even played yourself.

[PanthersIn2011]

Typical MN Hockey responses. Stop comparing hockey to school. Hockey is just as much a mental game as a physical game. And if you do not think so I question how much hockey you have even played yourself.

It is much less of a mental game at 12 years old than at 20.

I think we should stop comparing 10 and 12 year olds to adult athletes. They are physically and psychologically very different animals.

Having a 12 year old put on a shirt and tie to go to the rink is red-iculous (my opinion).

Having that same 12 year old immediately take it off to put warm-ups on is even more red-iculous.

Waste of time for the kids. Waste of time and energy for the Mom's who have to launder the stuff (do the kids have to put it back on to leave the arena when they're all sweaty? Does the tie get thrown in the bottom of the bag?)

Save the shirt and tie for the school chorus/band concert. And church. And (hopefully) that state tournament banquet.


But I will agree w/ dogeatdog ... don't undermine the coach in front of your kid. If you think the majority of the parents (and players) think dressing up is stupid, then get the parents and the coach together to politely make your case. Maybe there's a compromise. If you're in the minority, then suck it up and go along with the team.

[muckandgrind]

My son was part of a Bantam team a few years ago where the Captains decided what attire the team would wear to each game. Some days the boys decided to wear a shirt and tie, other days they wore their warm-up suits...either way it was up to the captains of the team to decide....Nobody seemed to have an issue with it. And no, the boys did not stuff their shirt and tie into their bags, when they took them off, they put them on a hanger and hung them from a hook in the locker room. More than a few of them even showered after the game (where showers were available) before they put them back on.

I got a chuckle out of it, but the boys took it pretty seriously. My wife thought it was cute.

[Faceguard79]

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[phil mccracken]

For A PeeWees and A Bantams I think it teaches team unity and respect for the game and your opponent. I also think it should be each team's decision, I also like the matching warm up suits some teams wear, to me they make much more sense than Khaki's and dress shirts and shoes.

how is team unity different at pw a's and ba a's then any other travelling team? ophrah, i will hang up and listen

[Faceguard79]

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[DMom]

I actually know the manager of the team justforfun's "co-worker's" kid is on, and the initial talk was, yes, about the team looking like a team, and also that warmup sets are going for $100 and that just about every mom can dig a pair of khaki pants and a dress shirt out of their kids closets or they are on back-to-school clothes clearance racks at this time of the year, so the idea was to look like a team without spending a lot of extra money, pretty sure I've heard money is a concern for hockey families this year.