Association involvement in summer hockey

InigoMontoya · Post by **InigoMontoya** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:41 am

Maybe 20 years ago...but in recent years there is no such thing as non-profit following. It's all about the mighty dollar now.

Absolutely incorrect...

Please elaborate

There are a couple of good summer programs that pride themselves on being non-profit; some people are skeptical. There are definitely dozens if not hundreds of MASH and Showcase teams that exist because a couple guys get $100 from each of 13 skaters and $50 from a goalie, load them all in their two suburbans and head to the rink 10 times for an hour long hockey game. I think the money made by Showcase and MASH is far outweighed by the time put in by these parents - these kids and parents aren't 'following' the leagues; they're following the kids and the coaches, and very few of those kids are being tied up, thrown in the trunk, and dragged into a rink - they're having a good time. Hockey in the spring, summer, and fall is not just about the greedy bastages - it's about the kids.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:54 pm

Forest Lake has a great summer program for squirts, pee-wee, bantam, run by the Varsity coach. He is on the ice w/all teams three days a week. Varsity players and bantams lift at the high school before they skate with the strength coach. Program runs all summer long. Pee weeand squirts do dry land at the rink with coaches father. [ he's the former head coach of 25 plus years. great with the young kids] He makes no $$$$ . $$$ goes to blue-line club to cover ice. Almost cover ice bill!!!

JoltDelivered · Post by **JoltDelivered** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:55 pm

That is refreshing to hear that other organizations are offering "not for profit" off season training opportunities. Guess I just don't come across them too often.

And I too was once involved in Showcase. I had a few kids play in those leagues. I actually coached a few of those teams and I know all about the collecting of checks. Although it was my understanding that Showcase was a "for profit" organization. Maybe I'm wrong.

Not sure what a MASH team is. I am not familiar with that term.

BadgerBob82 · Post by **BadgerBob82** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm

non-profit doesn't mean to lose money. I think playing in a summer AAA tournament that collects $700 per game is making a profit. Winter association tournaments that cost $500 are also making a profit. AAA must be better cuz it costs more

InigoMontoya · Post by **InigoMontoya** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:45 am

BadgerBob82 wrote:non-profit doesn't mean to lose money. I think playing in a summer AAA tournament that collects $700 per game is making a profit. Winter association tournaments that cost $500 are also making a profit. AAA must be better cuz it costs more

I'm not sure why, but I'm going to respond.

You are correct, non-profit does not mean "to lose money". After too many years the correct term would be bankrupt.

All winter associations had better be bringing in more in revenues than the expenses incurred for the tournament; tournaments are usually one of the larger revenue sources for most associations. That would also be true for the non-profit (again, you are correct, doesn't mean lose money) summer programs that host tournaments; the revenues would roll back into the organization to provide reduced fees or additional opportunities.

As for the for-profit tournaments, if they provide a valuable service, others will pay for it. So far, those tourneys continue to draw teams that want to play in them; if there is no longer value perceived from a tourney, teams will discontinue participation, the tourney will no longer be profitable, and those seeking the profit will seek elsewhere.