Bantam's

[zogmoe]

My son was a first year bantam B1 last year and this year as a 2nd year he was put on the bantam C team. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

[57special]

Shouldn't happen unless something extraordinary has taken place.

[InigoMontoya]

He must not have spent enough time fishing.

[Cdale]

While nothing is guaranteed, usually an unwritten rule exists- kids (within same age/Peewee/Bantam/Squirt) stay same level or move up. I suppose if a really strong class of 1st years has moved up or a kid really does go backwards he could drop back.

[ThePuckStopsHere]

My son was a first year bantam B1 last year and this year as a 2nd year he was put on the bantam C team. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

I think this post is FULL of BS

[MnMade-4-Life]

My son was a first year bantam B1 last year and this year as a 2nd year he was put on the bantam C team. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

no

[Shinbone_News]

If your association has more than one B team (implied by your saying he was on B1 last year), then he got screwed. MN Hockey defines C leagues as "house" and "recreational" versus the "traveling" teams of A and B. (not sure what those terms are even supposed to mean anymore). I could see him getting bumped down to B2 if a strong group of first years came up, but Cs? Nah.

Sounds to me like you -- dad -- really pissed someone off

Kidding! But I'd be on the horn or the email asking what happened if I were you.

[dogeatdog1]

My son was a first year bantam B1 last year and this year as a 2nd year he was put on the bantam C team. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

Frist post fisheman.... Not biting... Association?

[Cdale]

Bail on your association...head over to the 'Pack. If nothing else you'll be on the developmental roster.

[Ugottobekiddingme]

Never heard of this before but maybe the "Chaz" note was missed by evaluators...on the bright side, judging from other posters this is an opportunity...super star on the C team with 100+ points and leadership potential. Just don't mirror the other players

[hockeyday]

If your boy was a bubble B player 1st year, it is not abnormal for the bottom B group to be displaced into C especially with a good 1st year group coming up. It is not guaranteed that a player cannot drop down. The only way to truly answer the question is to look at the final B roster and determine if your kid is better than a few of the players. Wont know that on a chat line.

[InigoMontoya]

Never heard of this before but maybe the "Chaz" note was missed by evaluators...on the bright side, judging from other posters this is an opportunity...super star on the C team with 100+ points and leadership potential. Just don't mirror the other players

Agreed. Other posters acknowledge that the experience of scoring a bunch of goals is more important than the level of intensity of the other players in practice and the quality of the coaching staff.

[snyper12]

My son was a first year bantam B1 last year and this year as a 2nd year he was put on the bantam C team. Has this ever happened to anyone before?

Adds to list of reasons why we drink!

IMO an association could have a rule against it but I am sure there are reasons why they don't, and it's been thought over long and hard. Bottom line - get the last laugh next year in high school when he makes the JV team and some of those now on the B don't.

[Scout716]

are the tyouts closed or Open to the parents? where you able to see your sons performance against the other competition? Some kids get a little to confident and just assume their going to make a certian team, then it shows in there performance, did he give his all to new evaluators? Is the mistake this year or last year? I have seen situations similar to this in the past. as mentioned before - tryouts are tough. Yes some kids get screwed. no doubt about it. I have never seen an association correct their mistakes. I say, as others have, really none of it matters in the whole sceam of things. work hard, dominate - if out of place it will show. and when everything starts fresh in High school prove himself. I feel for him and every kid that does not make the team they are hoping to. this is a simple game that everyone plays for enjoyment, yet there are so many heartaches caused by it at time.

[ripping1]

That should never happen. Sounds like your association has some major issues. Do they have a B2 team which would still be considered travel? If not you have every right to ask for a waiver to another association that has a travel team to play on.

[Chuck Norris Fan]

Maybe the true crime was last year when your kid made the B team and he should have been on the C team.... just a thought.

Did he displace anyone last year because he was a first year and the evaluators took a shot, and now a 2nd year it is clear he is not performing at that level.

[greybeard58]

Were there any other Bantam teams last year?
Could have been a B1 and B2 or C
This year what level Bantam teams?

Did the player put forth his best at tryouts or did he feel he had it made because of last year. Number of years ago where a varsity player as a freshman after being informed that where a player played last year meant nothing and placement would be by tryout, and guess who started the year on JV father went ballistic blamed the coach forced a conference with the coach and AD and the player finally had to admit that the tryout was not taken seriously and that the coach had also handed out a flyer stating the policy.

[Cdale]

zogmoe- any comments/feedback? A few on here have thrown out comments & questions. Any reacttion...have we enlightened you?

[O-townClown]

Agreed. Other posters acknowledge that the experience of scoring a bunch of goals is more important than the level of intensity of the other players in practice and the quality of the coaching staff.

Inigo, I think you have twisted the argument set forth by some. Maybe not. It is hard to speculate what others feel about what someone thinks. Anyway, a frequent refrain is that "it doesn't matter" if a kid from a small town plays with kids that aren't at his level as a youth or that "it doesn't matter" if a boy that hasn't grown has to spend a year on a B2 team (or even C) as a first year Bantam even though he might be quite skilled.

By saying "it doesn't matter", it really means these aren't determinant ages and that a speedbump like that won't prohibit someone from reaching their ultimate potential. As you mention, some benefits arise from taking on a leadership role. Some hockey skills are better developed when a player is not overmatched.

I've really never heard it said that the key to making it is moving backward and playing at the lowest level possible as a teenager. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention.

[zogmoe]

zogmoe- any comments/feedback? A few on here have thrown out comments & questions. Any reacttion...have we enlightened you?

My son was a squirt B his first year then squirt A the next year, was a pee wee b1 first year then pee wee A the next year. Was bantam B1 the first year (no B2) now Bantam C. Dosnt make sense. Was among top 3 players last year but coaches were never contacted about him scoring so low this year.

[hunting247]

I know how you feel, I just found out that my son who was the youngest 1st year "A" player last year only made the "B2" team this year. He is devistated. And I have no idea what to do

[Cdale]

I know how you feel, I just found out that my son who was the youngest 1st year "A" player last year only made the "B2" team this year. He is devistated. And I have no idea what to do

Dude- he/you will get over it...we all do. My kid has been cut and been an 'A' kid. After a week or so he is ALWAYS fine. It's me/you that need to get over it. As far as you having no idea what to do...just let things settle down. Don't talk about the cut, talk about the upcoming road trips, talk about how Jonny/Tony are on team, and so & so is coach. Or don't talk hockey for a few days.

[InigoMontoya]

If it's not still too raw to talk about, I'd like to know what these kids did in the off-season.

[Shinbone_News]

I was just gonna say... summer hockey at a high level for this age could really leapfrog some kids. Also growth spurts, which can certainly help OR hurt.

I was watching a top-tier '98 AAA championship this summer (no names of teams, I promise! but we're talking top 30 players in the state here) and I could instantly pick out the kids who'd hit puberty during the summer: Not only were the breezers just a tad small and the skates just a tad new looking, but they were skilled kids suddenly dealing with awkward new bodies. An unsympathetic or non-hockey person might say "How did THAT kid end up on the [team name here. Rhymes with "Grades" or "Grachine"]???

Depending on how hardcore the coach or evaluators are, they might drop a kid a level or two during those tough years??? But it's a terrible time to get pigeon-holed down to Cs if the kid has high school varsity hopes.

Our association has a nice process for grievances along these lines. Not sure how often a placement is changed, but they definitely offer the opportunity for a re-evaluation when something is dreadfully wrong. I think it's then the parents duty to go through that process and gracefully accept the final result.

[ThePuckStopsHere]

I was just gonna say... summer hockey at a high level for this age could really leapfrog some kids. Also growth spurts, which can certainly help OR hurt.

I was watching a top-tier '98 AAA championship this summer (no names of teams, I promise! but we're talking top 30 players in the state here) and I could instantly pick out the kids who'd hit puberty during the summer: Not only were the breezers just a tad small and the skates just a tad new looking, but they were skilled kids suddenly dealing with awkward new bodies. An unsympathetic or non-hockey person might say "How did THAT kid end up on the [team name here. Rhymes with "Grades" or "Grachine"]???

Depending on how hardcore the coach or evaluators are, they might drop a kid a level or two during those tough years??? But it's a terrible time to get pigeon-holed down to Cs if the kid has high school varsity hopes.

Our association has a nice process for grievances along these lines. Not sure how often a placement is changed, but they definitely offer the opportunity for a re-evaluation when something is dreadfully wrong. I think it's then the parents duty to go through that process and gracefully accept the final result.

Let's be clear on your comment, just because you play on one of your unmentioned Top Tier 98 AAA teams in no way puts them as the top 30 98 born players in the state. If you really believe that you should get out of your bubble and watch more hockey.