The dark side of youth sports

[Mnhockeys]

Irish

That's the problem. You spend 98% of your time dealing with finances, fundraisers, and scheduling. Have you ever thought that spending more time focusing on development? I mean 2% dealing with the political issues? Why are there political issues? If everything is running smoothly then no one would be mad.

Irish; I don't know you, and don't know if you serve on a board or not. But I've served on many boards--in business, education, political, civic and youth sports. Boards ADMINISTER policy. They raise money; they manage the day to day operations of an organization; they make sure that money is collected and spent properly and legally.

Committees, and League Directors manage the details (like player development). Our associations for both hockey and baseball (Tonka) have been recognized (nationally) for excellent player development plans, coaching development plans, and facilities. Boards only deal with political issues when the issue could not be solved at the team or league level.

Also, don't kid yourself that a smoothly running organization is void of political issues. There are always political issues in organizations. Well run organizations manage them properly and don't allow the issue to divert the board from administering policy.

Every organization has their whiners and complainers. They think that the board is some secret cabal with nefarious intentions to promote their own children over non-board member's kids. I would suggest to them to join the board to see just how wrong they are, and how much work goes into running an association, and/or coaching a team. I maintain that the "dark side of youth sports" is the non-volunteer who believes their son/daughter is the next Crosby or Mauer and causes endless problems for coaches, directors, and other volunteers by nitpicking and badgering. Read the rules, join the board, be a coach, be a team manager. If not, enjoy the game from the stands and say "thank you" at the end of each season.

Did anyone complain about the board here?

Does no one experience coach(es) play his little Johnny as if he is better than Mauer? . Oh, not in Tonka!

[hockeygoof1]

If you don't like parent coaching don't move to Forest lake. 99% of teams are coached by dads and all but maybe 1% favor their own kids and
forget about the rest of the kids. This goes for all sports. When the kids get older the teams can't compete with other associations and I think its because of all the dad coaching were they don't help develop all kids. And then you also get kids on teams that shouldn't be but are because dad is friends with their parents.

Tell us your whole story.. why so bitter?

How was your kids transition to White Bear?
I've only heard great things about Forest Lake and where they're headed.

You're kidding, right? You've heard great things? Name three things. You also made a comment about WBL, so I think I can assume you're talking about bantams. Great kids, but not a lot of "great things" going on. Again, shut me up and name three "great things" that are going on. Nice job trying to "out" someone, but it was a swing and a miss.

[MrBoDangles]

If you don't like parent coaching don't move to Forest lake. 99% of teams are coached by dads and all but maybe 1% favor their own kids and
forget about the rest of the kids. This goes for all sports. When the kids get older the teams can't compete with other associations and I think its because of all the dad coaching were they don't help develop all kids. And then you also get kids on teams that shouldn't be but are because dad is friends with their parents.

Tell us your whole story.. why so bitter?

How was your kids transition to White Bear?
I've only heard great things about Forest Lake and where they're headed.

You're kidding, right? You've heard great things? Name three things. You also made a comment about WBL, so I think I can assume you're talking about bantams. Great kids, but not a lot of "great things" going on. Again, shut me up and name three "great things" that are going on. Nice job trying to "out" someone, but it was a swing and a miss.

I found it funny that funmom had a hard time with coaches at FL and then was posting about the revolt against the WB coaches this summer. The topic is locked but easy to find by looking at her past posts.

1. Plans are in the works to block in the second rink and start on a third at the same site. Do you remember the old rink?

2. In the last few years they - Took DE to overtime in the section finals, hung a conference title banner in their new arena, and I doubt there is another program in the conference that has put out the amount of D-1 talent (probably two more on this team) FL has recently. Very good coach! I'll only count this as one..

3. Recent USA Hockey article about FL and their explosion in youth numbers.



"great kids" ~ goof

[old goalie85]

Come on funmom, All sports?? Baseball team goes to state 5 out of the last six. Softball better. Hoops state two years ago. Arm pit sniffers, have one of the best coaches in the nation[ Former Big ten champ] Billy Pierce.And are always in the top ten. Volleyball, golf, track all have conf. championships in the last four years. In the same conference that your kid will play in now that you open enrolled in WBL. Hockey, yes we[FL] are still growing, but don't start w/ this ALL sports deal. See ya @ your neighbors.

[funmom]

Old goalie, this is a youth sports forum not highschool! maybe you should look at the forum first before making comments . I 'am talking about youth sports in FL not highschool!

[seek & destroy]

Old goalie, this is a youth sports forum not highschool! maybe you should look at the forum first before making comments . I 'am talking about youth sports in FL not highschool!

Funmom, You said,

When the kids get older the teams can't compete with other associations and I think its because of all the dad coaching were they don't help develop all kids.

OG was simply pointing out that the teams have had success when they get older. Things can't be that bad at the youth level if you are having a lot of success at the HS level. It is a valid point.

[Defensive Zone]

Every organization has their whiners and complainers. They think that the board is some secret cabal with nefarious intentions to promote their own children over non-board member's kids. I would suggest to them to join the board to see just how wrong they are, and how much work goes into running an association, and/or coaching a team. I maintain that the "dark side of youth sports" is the non-volunteer who believes their son/daughter is the next Crosby or Mauer and causes endless problems for coaches, directors, and other volunteers by nitpicking and badgering. Read the rules, join the board, be a coach, be a team manager. If not, enjoy the game from the stands and say "thank you" at the end of each season.[/quote]

I am sure every organization has parents who think what is happening to certain players is Child Abuse per your Coach in Chief Hal Terse. What is even more interesting we see it all the time, but wash our hands of it as if it is in the best interests of the team. While that may sound right the fact is it hurts the team in the long run and encourages those whiners and nit pickers to actually have reason to do exactly what they are doing. http://www.letsplayhockey.com/1022tearse.html

What amazes me the most, is in most cases coaches could have moved players down before the deadline, and initially chose those players and are now at some point in the future blaming those same younger players who paid their money just like anybody else and competed against the rest of your organization. Is it really the fault of the parent who has just driven to EGF to not be a nitpicker when a kid plays a total of 4 or 5 minutes total out of 4 or 5 games? I certainly can see the point of the parent. I watched a father last year call a Bantam A player out of a tournament and watched that kids team lose every single game but one which was a tie. Was it the right thing to do by the Parent? Maybe, in my opinion. It seemed pretty obvious after the teams showing in the tournament the team was not all that it was thought to be by the coaching staff and some of the parents.

Lazy coaches simply shorten their bench and take the easy route. In the end, short benches will work on the scoreboard about 50 percent of the time, but at season’s end, very rarely will the strategy work as the participating players are tired, maybe injured and the rest of the kids not really part of the team.

Having to play several games over a playoff weekend and using a short bench approach is a quick road to elimination as several teams found out over the years when playing against my Bantam and PeeWee teams. I see this happen at the high school level also. Team means everybody; win, lose, tie together. At the end of the day, it is just a game.[/b]

[/quote]

PW, Great quote in red! I have coached for 34 years now and in those years I have seen the ability to coach diminish. What I mean is there are not a lot of coaches that can actually teach, instruct, and train players to the next level. I am sure there are good coaches; I just do not see enough of them.