MM Choice League

[lkool]

Not all associations are created equal.

I cut this from my end of year ice bill.


Team Fees
End of Year Jamboree $400.00

Ice Hours

31.00 Total home ice hours @ $177.50 $5,502.50
Scheduled Ice Hours/Month
November 4.50
December 9.00
January 9.00
February 8.50
March 0.00
Total Scheduled Ice Hours 31.00
Team Gear $42.83
Referee Fees $160.00

That looks about right. Most Mite teams around here play about 31 games. Most teams play two games per weekend and there is usually two practices per week as well paired with that. So if we play 31 games (15 of which are home games) you have about 31 practices and practices ar ean hour so that is 31 hours of practice ice plus 15 home games and 15 to 16 away games. That seems like the normal amount for association hockey.

JSR,
31 games is actually a large number. USA hockey recommends Mites are limited to about 20 games. I would think that if your association had 31 hours to give mites for games, they would be much better off sticking to the 20 recommendation and using the extra 1 for practice.

just my opinion.

[HockeyDad41]

Not all associations are created equal.

I cut this from my end of year ice bill.


Team Fees
End of Year Jamboree $400.00

Ice Hours

31.00 Total home ice hours @ $177.50 $5,502.50
Scheduled Ice Hours/Month
November 4.50
December 9.00
January 9.00
February 8.50
March 0.00
Total Scheduled Ice Hours 31.00
Team Gear $42.83
Referee Fees $160.00

That looks about right. Most Mite teams around here play about 31 games. Most teams play two games per weekend and there is usually two practices per week as well paired with that. So if we play 31 games (15 of which are home games) you have about 31 practices and practices ar ean hour so that is 31 hours of practice ice plus 15 home games and 15 to 16 away games. That seems like the normal amount for association hockey.

That's not 31 hours of games that's 31 total hours for practices and our home half of 15 games.

The beginning of the season we had just practices for a few weeks, then we went to a practice and a game per week and finally just games and no practices. After the initial get the kids acclimated to skating period, the focus was on games.

My kid had a blast. He didn't learn a whole lot, but he sure had fun.

[InigoMontoya]

He didn't learn a whole lot, but he sure had fun.

I think it's sad that so many associations treat these as mutually exclusive.

[JSR]

Not all associations are created equal.

I cut this from my end of year ice bill.


Team Fees
End of Year Jamboree $400.00

Ice Hours

31.00 Total home ice hours @ $177.50 $5,502.50
Scheduled Ice Hours/Month
November 4.50
December 9.00
January 9.00
February 8.50
March 0.00
Total Scheduled Ice Hours 31.00
Team Gear $42.83
Referee Fees $160.00

That looks about right. Most Mite teams around here play about 31 games. Most teams play two games per weekend and there is usually two practices per week as well paired with that. So if we play 31 games (15 of which are home games) you have about 31 practices and practices ar ean hour so that is 31 hours of practice ice plus 15 home games and 15 to 16 away games. That seems like the normal amount for association hockey.

JSR,
31 games is actually a large number. USA hockey recommends Mites are limited to about 20 games. I would think that if your association had 31 hours to give mites for games, they would be much better off sticking to the 20 recommendation and using the extra 1 for practice.

just my opinion.

ikool. We don't have 31 hours to give mites for home games. We have 15 hours for home games, the other games are away games. I actually wish the assocaition would use more of those homeice hours they use for games for practices instead but they don't despite my best efforts. On the other hand I have no problem with the 16 away games, IMO that is just "extra ice" we wouldn't have anyways and we might as well use it and the kids love playing games, it doesn't do alot for development but it doesn't hurt them either and they like them and have fun doing them. Also, the 31 games technically includes two tournaments and our state playdowns and state tournament (yes we have that in Wisconsin), so technically we only do play 20 "games" so to speak, so we are pretty close to inline with the USA Hockey recommendations but like I said, I would like to see a few more used for practice but it's like beating youur head against the wall when you even bring it up.

[JSR]

Not all associations are created equal.

I cut this from my end of year ice bill.


Team Fees
End of Year Jamboree $400.00

Ice Hours

31.00 Total home ice hours @ $177.50 $5,502.50
Scheduled Ice Hours/Month
November 4.50
December 9.00
January 9.00
February 8.50
March 0.00
Total Scheduled Ice Hours 31.00
Team Gear $42.83
Referee Fees $160.00

That looks about right. Most Mite teams around here play about 31 games. Most teams play two games per weekend and there is usually two practices per week as well paired with that. So if we play 31 games (15 of which are home games) you have about 31 practices and practices ar ean hour so that is 31 hours of practice ice plus 15 home games and 15 to 16 away games. That seems like the normal amount for association hockey.

That's not 31 hours of games that's 31 total hours for practices and our home half of 15 games.

The beginning of the season we had just practices for a few weeks, then we went to a practice and a game per week and finally just games and no practices. After the initial get the kids acclimated to skating period, the focus was on games.

My kid had a blast. He didn't learn a whole lot, but he sure had fun.

Aha, gotchya, yeah that isn't a whole lot for that amount of money. So at the mite level for our 31 hours of practice ice, 15 hours of home ice, and then however many away games we get it's $800 in association fees, 25 hours of volunteerism (concession stand, drive zamboni whatever...), $100 for home and away jersyes (though those can usually last you three seasons so that is not an every year fee), and usually another $100 for tournament fees, end of season coaches gifts and miscelaneous stuff.

[InigoMontoya]

So you're dropping $20-25/mite hour for no more than what he would get with a little dad time at the outdoor rink once a week and $3-5/hour in open hockey. For a thousand bucks, I'll take your kid down to the park; I'll even throw one of my kids old jerseys on him and write your kid's name on the back with magic marker for no additional cost - you can work off the volunteer hours by mowing my lawn in the summer.

[JSR]

So you're dropping $20-25/mite hour for no more than what he would get with a little dad time at the outdoor rink once a week and $3-5/hour in open hockey. For a thousand bucks, I'll take your kid down to the park; I'll even throw one of my kids old jerseys on him and write your kid's name on the back with magic marker for no additional cost - you can work off the volunteer hours by mowing my lawn in the summer.

IM, not sure if that was directed at me or the above but first I am not sure where you got your math but my math says it's $16 per hour and it's less money than what I am seeing the parents on this board pay in their Minnesota associations and down in Southern Wisc we don't have outdoor ice rinks in the abundance you guys have up in MN. In fact the nearest outdoor ice to my home is 20 miles away whereas the rink is 3 minutes from my house and we have enough temperature difference down here that most of the time we have slush instead of skateable ice. That said we also get the luxury of skating a significant amount of hours for "free" if the ice at the rink hasn't been sold since our community and ice rink community are so small. A couple last notes, I do not have a mite currently, oldest is a secondyear squirt (same fees as mites) and the youngest is in cross ice (middle child doesn't skate), our association fees are the cheapest I have found in our area and below average for the whole state and below most MN associations. As for the dad comment, I spend more "dad time" with my kids than any other dad (hockey or no hockey) I know so please don't presume you know me it's uncalled for.

[InigoMontoya]

30 hrs practice + 15 hours home + 15 hours away = 60 hours.
800 + 100 + 100/3 + coaches and misc + $8/hour you could be making at Walmart as a greater X 25 hours = about 1200.
1200/60 = 20
I was assuming you were not a Walmart greeter and may in fact make a little more than that.

I've re-read my comment about "dad time", and I still don't see how that was read as attacking anybody. It says that any dad could work with him to teach him to skate, stickhandle, pass, shoot, etc. I don't presume to know you, but thanks for the dad resume. The post was simply a comment on the expense of mite hockey, where in many cases all they do is send the kids out on the ice and throw them a puck.

[High Off The Glass]

So you're dropping $20-25/mite hour for no more than what he would get with a little dad time at the outdoor rink once a week and $3-5/hour in open hockey. For a thousand bucks, I'll take your kid down to the park; I'll even throw one of my kids old jerseys on him and write your kid's name on the back with magic marker for no additional cost - you can work off the volunteer hours by mowing my lawn in the summer.

IM, not sure if that was directed at me or the above but first I am not sure where you got your math but my math says it's $16 per hour and it's less money than what I am seeing the parents on this board pay in their Minnesota associations and down in Southern Wisc we don't have outdoor ice rinks in the abundance you guys have up in MN. In fact the nearest outdoor ice to my home is 20 miles away whereas the rink is 3 minutes from my house and we have enough temperature difference down here that most of the time we have slush instead of skateable ice. That said we also get the luxury of skating a significant amount of hours for "free" if the ice at the rink hasn't been sold since our community and ice rink community are so small. A couple last notes, I do not have a mite currently, oldest is a secondyear squirt (same fees as mites) and the youngest is in cross ice (middle child doesn't skate), our association fees are the cheapest I have found in our area and below average for the whole state and below most MN associations. As for the dad comment, I spend more "dad time" with my kids than any other dad (hockey or no hockey) I know so please don't presume you know me it's uncalled for.

I didn't read IM's post as a slam against your parenting skills by any means. The post was just pointing out someone could put out a good mite program on the cheap and still put out a good product without all the extras (new jerseys, refs, away games, etc...). Don't be so quick to reach for your guns!

[JSR]

30 hrs practice + 15 hours home + 15 hours away = 60 hours.
800 + 100 + 100/3 + coaches and misc + $8/hour you could be making at Walmart as a greater X 25 hours = about 1200.
1200/60 = 20
I was assuming you were not a Walmart greeter and may in fact make a little more than that.

I've re-read my comment about "dad time", and I still don't see how that was read as attacking anybody. It says that any dad could work with him to teach him to skate, stickhandle, pass, shoot, etc. I don't presume to know you, but thanks for the dad resume. The post was simply a comment on the expense of mite hockey, where in many cases all they do is send the kids out on the ice and throw them a puck.

I'm sorry if I took offense and misread your comment but the dad comment came across to me as you saying that I should spend more time with my kids (aka "dad time") instead of sending them out on the ice to skate with the coaches in our association.

That said, while I do make more than $8 per hour I would not be spending my time working during those hours anyway. Further, the only way to make a rink work in our area is through volunteerism. I don't mind, I would do it anyway because I want the ice rink in our community so you need to take the $200 off yoru calculation, it isn't a fair comparison. Atleast in my case it's not. Further, I would agree that SOME dads are capable of teaching skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, but honestly the overwhlelming mahority of hockey dads I knwo are not capable of this. Remember I liv ein Southern Wisconsin, we don't have a population where virtually everyone played hockey to some degree growing up, I'd say of the 14 kids on my sons squirt team last year only two of us dad's played hockey as youths and only one of us was any good at it. For eveyone else this hockey thing is totally new and frankly really scary for most of them. The fact we retain as many as we do is pretty remarkable. We're lucky that one of those two dads wass born and raise din Minnesota and played junior hockey, atleast he can teach the kids the right way more or less. That said, our Mite hockey program is actually pretty well done and the kids do get alot out of it. We have a learn to play program that is FREE for kids new to hockey, then cross ice program for kids for kids who aren't redy for mites/squirts but are better than the learn t play kids and that is only $200 for the whole season (31 hours of ice time). For down here I'd say they get alot more out of it than they would if they left it to the dad's we have and just sent them out to skate. Atleast IMHO they do, if I thought I could do better on my own I would as I am one of the two parents who played but in my estimation my money is being well spent, again my opinion but since it's my money it's all that matters ultimately.

[HockeyDad41]

The last Squirt evaluation for Choice League will be August 10th. Still time to register if you're sitting on the fence.

Minnesota Made has added another level to Choice this year:

Bronze Novice Level

I understand that this year's Bronze mites filled quickly and with a higher than expected talent level so they are creating an opportunity for the kids who are just learning to skate and play hockey.

Teams this year:

PeeWee 4
Squirt 8
Mite Gold 8
Mite Silver 6
Mite Bronze 4
Mite Bronze Novice 2

That's nice growth from last season.

Hockey players aren't born, they are made........ apparently they are making them at younger and younger ages every year.

[irish skater]

Choice league is winding down with only the end of year tournament left. My son said he enjoyed it and I had a great time getting to know some of the other parents. There were significant differences between what went on his association team versus his Choice league team. I think both experiences were very valuable.

Choice leagues practices were well run. We never had an issue with the coaches, they were all very friendly and professional. The practice plans were prepared and were progressive. The practices are almost exclusively designed around skating development with some stick handling drills added in. The length was about an hour and a half, which seemed perfect for my son. I think a few of the benefits from Choice practices were increased strength, stamina and better skating skills.

His association coach (who is a really great guy) warmed the kids up with a few drills, and then went to practicing position and how to break out of the defensive zone. It looked like pretty good stuff and it was working in the games so I am not going to complain. He wasn't getting any of that in Choice league so I was glad to see it.

I would recommend Choice league to anyone who wants to see their kid become a stronger skater.

Any else have a good experience?

I'm getting to your post kind of late. My son spent two years in the MM Choice league. The first year was a very positive experience. My son was with a great group and I couldn't wait for the squirt level to start.

I get my son signed up for about 800 more than the local association hockey fee. It was a commitment on our part as we didn't live anywhere near MM. I wasn't impressed at all with the squirt program. I enjoyed the parents. I met a lot of great parents who were committed. My beef is this:

I think Bernie uses the squirt program to bring up his upper level mite-age kids. My son's team had one second year squirt on our team. There were several kids that played both Choice and association hockey. At least half our team were mite aged kids and one boy who was eight years old. The kids that played association/Choice always put their association first. One kid in particular only showed up for games -- and nobody said anything. I don't think anyone cared as long as his dues were paid. It was sad. Every Friday night here this kid would come and play in the game. It would be the only time during the week we would see him.

It just wasn't realisitic. Sure, the younger kids were good, but they were little and just not a good representation of squirt level hockey.

My son is headed back to association this year and it's my son's idea. Good luck. There's no question, it works for some people

Also, I've seen your handle "hockeydad41" appear over time. You must have something to do with that program other than being a dad with a kid in the program. I've never, ever heard a parent there talk like your previous post. It reads like an advertisement. None of the parents I ever talked to possessed this kind of information -- or even cared.

[lkool]

One kid in particular only showed up for games -- and nobody said anything. I don't think anyone cared as long as his dues were paid. It was sad. Every Friday night here this kid would come and play in the game. It would be the only time during the week we would see him.

My son is evaluating for MM Choice Mites this year, I am hoping he makes it because he needs the focused skill training that it provides.

I can understand your frustration, but in reality when a kid decided to only come to the games, the other kids on the team benefit because they get more ice time. With older where team play is more of a focus that would be a problem. But at the mite and squirt level I would look at it as a win for your kid.

Just my two cents..

[Buck Wheeler]

Choice Mites and Squirts were outstanding. If a kid only shows for games, it's his loss. Training is great.

[HockeyDad41]

Choice league is winding down with only the end of year tournament left. My son said he enjoyed it and I had a great time getting to know some of the other parents. There were significant differences between what went on his association team versus his Choice league team. I think both experiences were very valuable.

Choice leagues practices were well run. We never had an issue with the coaches, they were all very friendly and professional. The practice plans were prepared and were progressive. The practices are almost exclusively designed around skating development with some stick handling drills added in. The length was about an hour and a half, which seemed perfect for my son. I think a few of the benefits from Choice practices were increased strength, stamina and better skating skills.

His association coach (who is a really great guy) warmed the kids up with a few drills, and then went to practicing position and how to break out of the defensive zone. It looked like pretty good stuff and it was working in the games so I am not going to complain. He wasn't getting any of that in Choice league so I was glad to see it.

I would recommend Choice league to anyone who wants to see their kid become a stronger skater.

Any else have a good experience?

I'm getting to your post kind of late. My son spent two years in the MM Choice league. The first year was a very positive experience. My son was with a great group and I couldn't wait for the squirt level to start.

I get my son signed up for about 800 more than the local association hockey fee. It was a commitment on our part as we didn't live anywhere near MM. I wasn't impressed at all with the squirt program. I enjoyed the parents. I met a lot of great parents who were committed. My beef is this:

I think Bernie uses the squirt program to bring up his upper level mite-age kids. My son's team had one second year squirt on our team. There were several kids that played both Choice and association hockey. At least half our team were mite aged kids and one boy who was eight years old. The kids that played association/Choice always put their association first. One kid in particular only showed up for games -- and nobody said anything. I don't think anyone cared as long as his dues were paid. It was sad. Every Friday night here this kid would come and play in the game. It would be the only time during the week we would see him.

It just wasn't realisitic. Sure, the younger kids were good, but they were little and just not a good representation of squirt level hockey.

My son is headed back to association this year and it's my son's idea. Good luck. There's no question, it works for some people

Also, I've seen your handle "hockeydad41" appear over time. You must have something to do with that program other than being a dad with a kid in the program. I've never, ever heard a parent there talk like your previous post. It reads like an advertisement. None of the parents I ever talked to possessed this kind of information -- or even cared.

I know, you'd think I was on the payroll or something. I am just a parent who thinks they do a pretty good job with development. As far as possessing information, I just called them up and asked how evals were going and how many teams at each level.

[irish skater]

Choice league is winding down with only the end of year tournament left. My son said he enjoyed it and I had a great time getting to know some of the other parents. There were significant differences between what went on his association team versus his Choice league team. I think both experiences were very valuable.

Choice leagues practices were well run. We never had an issue with the coaches, they were all very friendly and professional. The practice plans were prepared and were progressive. The practices are almost exclusively designed around skating development with some stick handling drills added in. The length was about an hour and a half, which seemed perfect for my son. I think a few of the benefits from Choice practices were increased strength, stamina and better skating skills.

His association coach (who is a really great guy) warmed the kids up with a few drills, and then went to practicing position and how to break out of the defensive zone. It looked like pretty good stuff and it was working in the games so I am not going to complain. He wasn't getting any of that in Choice league so I was glad to see it.

I would recommend Choice league to anyone who wants to see their kid become a stronger skater.

Any else have a good experience?

I'm getting to your post kind of late. My son spent two years in the MM Choice league. The first year was a very positive experience. My son was with a great group and I couldn't wait for the squirt level to start.

I get my son signed up for about 800 more than the local association hockey fee. It was a commitment on our part as we didn't live anywhere near MM. I wasn't impressed at all with the squirt program. I enjoyed the parents. I met a lot of great parents who were committed. My beef is this:

I think Bernie uses the squirt program to bring up his upper level mite-age kids. My son's team had one second year squirt on our team. There were several kids that played both Choice and association hockey. At least half our team were mite aged kids and one boy who was eight years old. The kids that played association/Choice always put their association first. One kid in particular only showed up for games -- and nobody said anything. I don't think anyone cared as long as his dues were paid. It was sad. Every Friday night here this kid would come and play in the game. It would be the only time during the week we would see him.

It just wasn't realisitic. Sure, the younger kids were good, but they were little and just not a good representation of squirt level hockey.

My son is headed back to association this year and it's my son's idea. Good luck. There's no question, it works for some people

Also, I've seen your handle "hockeydad41" appear over time. You must have something to do with that program other than being a dad with a kid in the program. I've never, ever heard a parent there talk like your previous post. It reads like an advertisement. None of the parents I ever talked to possessed this kind of information -- or even cared.

I know, you'd think I was on the payroll or something. I am just a parent who thinks they do a pretty good job with development. As far as possessing information, I just called them up and asked how evals were going and how many teams at each level.

I've never asked this question of anyone there at MM, but I'll ask you. Does anyone not make it? I know about the "evaluations," and the good kids get sent off first so they can focus on the less talented kids and so on. But, aside from not knowing how to skate, has any kid ever not been placed on a team that tried out?

[HockeyDad41]

I'm getting to your post kind of late. My son spent two years in the MM Choice league. The first year was a very positive experience. My son was with a great group and I couldn't wait for the squirt level to start.

I get my son signed up for about 800 more than the local association hockey fee. It was a commitment on our part as we didn't live anywhere near MM. I wasn't impressed at all with the squirt program. I enjoyed the parents. I met a lot of great parents who were committed. My beef is this:

I think Bernie uses the squirt program to bring up his upper level mite-age kids. My son's team had one second year squirt on our team. There were several kids that played both Choice and association hockey. At least half our team were mite aged kids and one boy who was eight years old. The kids that played association/Choice always put their association first. One kid in particular only showed up for games -- and nobody said anything. I don't think anyone cared as long as his dues were paid. It was sad. Every Friday night here this kid would come and play in the game. It would be the only time during the week we would see him.

It just wasn't realisitic. Sure, the younger kids were good, but they were little and just not a good representation of squirt level hockey.

My son is headed back to association this year and it's my son's idea. Good luck. There's no question, it works for some people

Also, I've seen your handle "hockeydad41" appear over time. You must have something to do with that program other than being a dad with a kid in the program. I've never, ever heard a parent there talk like your previous post. It reads like an advertisement. None of the parents I ever talked to possessed this kind of information -- or even cared.

I know, you'd think I was on the payroll or something. I am just a parent who thinks they do a pretty good job with development. As far as possessing information, I just called them up and asked how evals were going and how many teams at each level.

I've never asked this question of anyone there at MM, but I'll ask you. Does anyone not make it? I know about the "evaluations," and the good kids get sent off first so they can focus on the less talented kids and so on. But, aside from not knowing how to skate, has any kid ever not been placed on a team that tried out?

I don't know the actual number of kids that are not accepted into the program, but I do know that not everyone makes it.

I don't know how much Bernie has to do with the day to day of the Choice league, but if you called him I am sure he would be happy to tell you anything you want to know. Todd probably knows more. He seems to be the one that's in charge of it. At least the evaluation part.

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

Any else have a good experience?

I'm getting to your post kind of late. My son spent two years in the MM Choice league. The first year was a very positive experience. My son was with a great group and I couldn't wait for the squirt level to start.

<< edit, edit, edit >>

It just wasn't realisitic. Sure, the younger kids were good, but they were little and just not a good representation of squirt level hockey.

My son is headed back to association this year and it's my son's idea. Good luck. There's no question, it works for some people

<< edit, edit, edit >>

Our youngest son did both last season, Choice Mites and Association hockey. There really was no comparison in the hockey programs, as Choice was FAR superior in both practice and games. Prioritizing the two "leagues" was real easy for us. He likes games much more than practice so if there was a conflict between a game and a practice we opted to let him have fun and go play the game. Doing both Choice and Association assured us that he would get enough practice and be able to have a lot of fun as well.

While there really was no comparison in quality between the two programs as far as hockey goes, there is no way the Choice League could have given him what the Association model did. Being new to our community, the Association model allowed him to make friends and play with the kids he goes to school with.

While the Choice coach did a good job with the team as a whole, improved their skills and had them playing positions very well (I am not sold on the importance of that at this age, but having coached this age group, it was impressive that he was able to do it). The problem was, the Choice coach wasn't much of a *fun* guy. My little guy didn't like going to his practices and towards the end of the year, didn't even like going to games. Moreover, my little guy seemed to be going backwards as the year went forward.

One day before a Choice games was to start my son was adamant that he wasn't going to go. When asked why, his little lip quivered and he said "Coach doesn't like me. He never tells me 'good job'. He always yells at me."

Of course, parental feathers go up, but I also know my youngest - I know he does have a few lazy bones in his body and he has istening issues. Still, I gave the coach the benefit of the doubt, but kept an eye on the situation and took some extra time to work with my little guy on the things the coach was asking of him.

Low and behold he had a good game and did get a high-five from his coach, a pat on the back and even got the "hard-hat" after the game that goes to the games hardest worker. Well, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face after that game and the "good job" he recieved from the coach that day actually meant something to him, as opposed to the 1000 "good job's" he recieved every game and practice from the dad who coached his Association team.

When the seasons ended, he was glad the Choice League was over and the hilite of his entire hockey season was his Association's Mite Jamboree - he skipped Choice games to attend the jamboree and couldn't stop talking about it for the weeks before and after.

In the spring/summer he was asked to play for a Velocity 3on3 team made up largely of his association friends and coached by his association coach and he was also asked to play for Minnesota Made's 2002 summer program. Too many scheduling conflicts meant he did one or the other. We left the choice to him and he chose Minnesota Made.

The program was largely the same as the Choice Mite League but with *fun* coaches. You could tell, however, that our little guy was done for the year. He went through the motions, lazier than ever and just didn't want to be there. Eventually he made that clear.

I was conflicted because I had paid good money for him to be there and because I don't like the idea of my kids quitting on anything. But we did let him pack it in before the 1st half ended. He said he had enough and we let him quit. (I m still conflicted about that). I asked him at that time what he wanted to do in the fall, Choice or Association, and that he could only do one. Association was his choice.

Anyways, 6 weeks later he says to me out of the blue "why can't I go to a hockey camp?" I told him that I wasn't paying for a hockey camp. That he quit hockey for the summer. "No dad", he said, "I just wanted a break. Now I want to play hockey again."

So he returned to his 2002 team when the 2nd half resumed. So far, so good. PLUS he's getting to fill in on the Velocity 3v3 team his buddies are playing on.

He says now he wants to play Choice hockey in the fall. His mother and I are on the fence with this but we are bringing him to the 2002 evals on August 10th. Honestly, I don't know if he will make the Choice League this year, as it has grown so much and there are so many quality keeners skating at Minnesota Made in his age group.

His mother and I are almost secretly wishing he doesn't make it. We are not convinced he is ready to mentally make the commitment that is required to train the way Choice programs train and we are concerned somewhat that his commitment may again fall short of a coaches expectation. He just wants to have fun and play the game. I know his outside edges are important, but I don't know that they important enough to sacrifice his love of playing. Also, his idea of hockey is chasing the puck and putting it in the net. Positional hockey to him is "boring". Asking him to stand on the blueline when when playing defense is like standing him in the corner with gum on his nose. That's not HIS idea of the game right now. That's not HIS idea of fun.

I am a big believer in the Choice League for kids who are ready for it and I know that a good majority of the kids that play in it are lucky to have it available. There are many kids at this age level who are ready for and want that instruction. Kids at this age who are seeing the game at a level higher than most their age. My son is not one of them. Maybe he will be one day. Maybe he will prefer collecting rocks. I don't know.

Right now I just want to kep things fun for him. At this age, they will do anything that is fun. Good teachers try and make learning fun. Smart moms try and make vegetables tasty. At this age, good hockey coaches need to keep hockey fun. I know who my sons Association coach will be and he's a great guy and lots of fun for the kids. Currently, the Coach that handles my sons 2002 Minnesota Made team is a perfect coach for this age. They do the drills but he's fun to be around and my son loves playing for him. I know that my son would have a good year if this guy was his winter coach, but you don't get to choose at Choice.

[MrBoDangles]

I have register my son for the Choice Program and the reason you register so early is so that if a player is not selected for the league they will know long before the winter association registration happens.

It made sence to me. My son went through the first eval and was selected. It will be our first year in Choice. I will keep you posted as to how it goes.

It makes "SENSE" to me....

[Mnhockeys]

Choice Mites and Squirts were outstanding. If a kid only shows for games, it's his loss. Training is great.

Have anyone seen, heard or experienced issues with kids coming back to association hockey from MM?

MM probably taught them a lot of individual skills (aka. hold on the puck, think there is another two words for it), can they still be good team players? Surely some can.

Do some kids (maybe parents too) feel they are simply better since they skate at the Made?

Just curious!

[observer]

MM probably taught them a lot of individual skills (aka. hold on the puck, think there is another two words for it), can they still be good team players?

Whoa. You've never seen a Machine team? Their style is puck control and shoot 40 completed passes per period.

[sourgrapes]

[quote="Mnhockeys"][quote="Buck Wheeler"]Choice Mites and Squirts were outstanding. If a kid only shows for games, it's his loss. Training is great.[/quote]

Have anyone seen, heard or experienced issues with kids coming back to association hockey from MM?

MM probably taught them a lot of individual skills (aka. hold on the puck, think there is another two words for it), can they still be good team players? Surely some can.

Do some kids (maybe parents too) feel they are simply better since they skate at the Made?

Just curious! [/quote]

The MM choice mite program concentrates on skating.....kids didn't touch a puck for first month of practice and focus was on skating for the whole year. Never once did my kid get coached to "hold onto the puck" during his time at MM. Your going to get double or triple the ice time than most associations and that's why you see the huge gains compared to the association at this young age. No kickback from anyone in the association when he came back.

[Larry Blackstone]

delete

[Mnhockeys]

MM probably taught them a lot of individual skills (aka. hold on the puck, think there is another two words for it), can they still be good team players?

Whoa. You've never seen a Machine team? Their style is puck control and shoot 40 completed passes per period.

Surely have seen a MM team. But puck control as a team is completely different from individual's holding on the puck. If a kid comes back from MM with the new tools and skills, can fit well with your association, power to you.

Just wonder if you hear otherwise.