How do you pick an AAA team?

[CluelessHockeyDad]

I stumbled across this forum, and have found it to be very informative, especially for me, who never played hockey, and barely understands which end of the hockey stick to hold.

Which leads me to my questions. My son is 8, and is about to start his last year of mites (in the Twin Cities area). He breathes sports, and plays them all, but it is clear that hockey is by far his favorite. This is leading me (and him) to consider AAA options and to play closer to year-round. He is better-than-average, but certainly not in the upper 10%. In other words, whatever exactly Walser and the Blades are, that is not for him. All this leads me to a world I don't understand.

Is there a list somewhere of what AAA program are available?
What is a ballpark figure ($/hour of ice) that we might spend?
How can you tell if a particular program is going to be a good fit and the right level for your child?
I've heard that you sign up really early. If I wait until the association season is over, am I sunk?
How can you tell if your kid will be replaced by others for tournaments, or does that only happen for top AAA teams?
Is it ok to attend tryouts, be asked to join a team and say no? Or do you really only try out for teams you are serious about?

Thanks in advance for all advice and tips.

[yeti]

Full season AAA is a waste of money until pee wee major or bantams, its not that the hockey and the training is not good below this level, its the undo pressure from crazy ego driven parents which ruin some kids to early in life, until then stay local and play summer AAA. Just my 2 cents.

[InigoMontoya]

I'm not disagreeing with yeti, but if you wait until his 2nd year of peewees or bantams, he'll need to be better than 10% for someone to find a spot for him on their team. Most programs are laying the groundwork for their program with kids when they are younger than your child. If he's a 2002 birthyear, many teams will already be in their 3rd season next year. I'm not saying you should have started him 2 years ago, just don't wait 2 more years from now.

[JSR]

I'm not disagreeing with yeti, but if you wait until his 2nd year of peewees or bantams, he'll need to be better than 10% for someone to find a spot for him on their team. Most programs are laying the groundwork for their program with kids when they are younger than your child. If he's a 2002 birthyear, many teams will already be in their 3rd season next year. I'm not saying you should have started him 2 years ago, just don't wait 2 more years from now.

I agree with this sentiment. One of my sons just finished his second year of squirts. He went to a tryout recently, of the 15 skaters who made the team he was definitively better than 4 of the players that made the team (even the coaches said so), and equal to another 5 or 6 but those players had been on the team the last two years, so only really 5 kids were "better" than him that made the roster. The coach who picked the team said it's not about the best kids but "kids who are committted to his program". Which is a crock, but it's their soap and water I guess and so my point is unfortunately it probably is best to start early, it gives you a leg up on the competition for sure if you make a team early and continue with that team in the future.

[yeti]

I think what jsr said drives home my point, there is always going to be someone better, its just a matter of when will they show up to tryouts. At the bantam level it is so important to be able to work as a team and the AAA organizations are forced to make tough decisions between players who have commited previous years to the club and great team players, however to put a quality team on the ice new kids get inserted and the ones who spent squirts or even mites through pee wees get beat out, hence wasting all that money on hockey and having to go back to club hockey at the most important time in ones young hockey life, bantams, when boys become men and the development is at its peak. Bantams are really the time you want to be at the AAA level if he or she is good enough to make a team.

[old goalie85]

It's kinda a wierd world. So many "AAA" teams you should be able to find a nice fit for your son and family. Shop around.

[InigoMontoya]

You'd think that to be true. I guess late 98's and early 99's are considered "peewee major" in MN. Let's see how many open tryouts there are at that age.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

Full season AAA is a waste of money until pee wee major or bantams, its not that the hockey and the training is not good below this level, its the undo pressure from crazy ego driven parents which ruin some kids to early in life, until then stay local and play summer AAA. Just my 2 cents.

I think there is some confusion on this thread. It's my impression that Clueless is talking about picking a summer AAA team, but Yeti is talking about a year round program like Little Ceasars etc.

[CluelessHockeyDad]

Sorry I wasn't clear before.

Yes, my son is a 2002.
Yes, we are considering summer AAA.

[Benito Juarez]

Try to find a team that is NOT coached by parents.

Less drama.

[coach75]

At that age it is more important to work on power skating, edge work and stick handling. Robby Glantz or Diane Ness , Scott Stephan are all excellent. Also Chris B. from the Ice edge is one of the best trainers for stick handling he was with MM for several years and went on his own. To pick a AAA program have your son go to 2-3 tryouts and see what kids he fits in with. Most kids want to play at a high level in the summer to increase their game and it is great to make some new pals. But most IMPORTANT of all make sure he is having FUN!!