USA Hockey wants to raise fees another 10.00.

[old goalie85]

Why is this?? Forest Lake has 560 kids X 10. Plus the coaches. What the chuck????

[Bullseye]

Why is this?? Forest Lake has 560 kids X 10. Plus the coaches. What the chuck????

You know it makes complete sense to me!

All of the education and training they are doing so Every Pee Wee, Every Coach, Every Parent and Especially Every Ref knows the CORRECT way to check. They are doing such an excellent job and you know that does cost money!!!

[old goalie85]

I could tell by watching a pee-wee game last night.

[elliott70]

USAH voted the increase at their winter meeting.

It is opposed by MH and their reps to USAH are trying to get it reversed or reduced to a $5 increase.

Some MH board members were very voacl in opposition to the increase last weekend.

[muckandgrind]

When was the last time USAH had a rate increase? What is the purpose behind the hike?

[elliott70]

When was the last time USAH had a rate increase? What is the purpose behind the hike?

I don't know the whole story but one reason was inflation.
There was a handout, but I have not read it.
7 years ago was the last increase.

[Cdale]

Why is this?? Forest Lake has 560 kids X 10. Plus the coaches. What the chuck????

Times that by all other associations/kids in MN. It's all about the money....be nice to see some transparency from USA Hockeys top guard as far as salaries/bonuses etc... Wonder if they have an annual meeting in say Vegas or somewhere tropical?

[old goalie85]

Not to mention Mich/ mass/ND/Wis/yada/yada....

[elliott70]

Why is this?? Forest Lake has 560 kids X 10. Plus the coaches. What the chuck????

Times that by all other associations/kids in MN. It's all about the money....be nice to see some transparency from USA Hockeys top guard as far as salaries/bonuses etc... Wonder if they have an annual meeting in say Vegas or somewhere tropical?

Summer meeting is in Colorado.

Winter meeting is in Florida.

[Shinbone_News]

When was the last time USAH had a rate increase? What is the purpose behind the hike?

I don't know the whole story but one reason was inflation.

Inflation? There is no inflation. It's been deflation for the past 7 years. Well the last 5 anyway. Checked your home value lately? How about those big raises and bonuses you've been getting at work?

The only thing that's grown is the general population, the number of USAH registered hockey players, and the price of gas.

Sorry, "inflation" is not a valid argument. Now if they wanted to argue for LOWER fees, they'd have a valid economic argument.[/b]

[elliott70]

My suggestion was to drop the fee by $5 or find a method of tiered fees.

[O-townClown]

USA Hockey can't win. Folks complain they don't do enough, then when they try to do something there is nothing but resistance.

People want them to step in and govern, but they're awfully fearful of litigation. Raising fees to remain fiscally strong is a necessity if they are to be relevant.

Youth hockey runs many families $2,500 - 5,000 annually per player when you account for hotels, team fees, camps, equipment, etc.... The number easily surpasses $10,000 and approaches $20,000 for many families with kids playing national Tier I schedules.

People now want to raise a fuss over an annual registration cost of $40 versus $30? Does it really make much difference?

The registration fee is an easy target. Not condoning it, but I've got other things to worry about when it comes to youth hockey.

[elliott70]

USA Hockey can't win. Folks complain they don't do enough, then when they try to do something there is nothing but resistance.

People want them to step in and govern, but they're awfully fearful of litigation. Raising fees to remain fiscally strong is a necessity if they are to be relevant.

Youth hockey runs many families $2,500 - 5,000 annually per player when you account for hotels, team fees, camps, equipment, etc.... The number easily surpasses $10,000 and approaches $20,000 for many families with kids playing national Tier I schedules.

People now want to raise a fuss over an annual registration cost of $40 versus $30? Does it really make much difference?

The registration fee is an easy target. Not condoning it, but I've got other things to worry about when it comes to youth hockey.

You are in a different world than some of us.

[Shinbone_News]

USA Hockey can't win. Folks complain they don't do enough, then when they try to do something there is nothing but resistance.

People want them to step in and govern, but they're awfully fearful of litigation. Raising fees to remain fiscally strong is a necessity if they are to be relevant.

Youth hockey runs many families $2,500 - 5,000 annually per player when you account for hotels, team fees, camps, equipment, etc.... The number easily surpasses $10,000 and approaches $20,000 for many families with kids playing national Tier I schedules.

People now want to raise a fuss over an annual registration cost of $40 versus $30? Does it really make much difference?

The registration fee is an easy target. Not condoning it, but I've got other things to worry about when it comes to youth hockey.

I must be the last blue-collar hockey dad on the planet, for whom $10 represents more than rounding error or chump change. It's five skate sharpenings, or a roll of tape and new laces, or half a mouthguard or 3% of a new pair of skates.

Will I pay it? Of course. Will I be happy about it? No. Will USAHockey deliver $10 worth of additional value next year? I wonder.

This is partly symbolic. Minnesota is the last place in the US where middle-income families can afford to play hockey (just barely), and I'm not going to feel ashamed for saying $10 is $10, and I applaud the MH board members who are standing up for affordable, community-based hockey (such as it is today).

[old goalie85]

10 bucks turns into 60.00 after 5 kids and myself.

[JSR]

USA Hockey can't win. Folks complain they don't do enough, then when they try to do something there is nothing but resistance.

People want them to step in and govern, but they're awfully fearful of litigation. Raising fees to remain fiscally strong is a necessity if they are to be relevant.

Youth hockey runs many families $2,500 - 5,000 annually per player when you account for hotels, team fees, camps, equipment, etc.... The number easily surpasses $10,000 and approaches $20,000 for many families with kids playing national Tier I schedules.

People now want to raise a fuss over an annual registration cost of $40 versus $30? Does it really make much difference?

The registration fee is an easy target. Not condoning it, but I've got other things to worry about when it comes to youth hockey.

Here is the break down for my oldest son who plays for his Pee Wee A team. I'd say we do things as affordably as humanly possible while still giving him good opportunities if he wants to do them.

Winter association team fee = $850
USA Hockey Fee = $30
Skating lessons this winter = $165
The one away tourney fee we went to = $50
Away tourney hotel, gas and food = $220
Skate sharpenings for the year = $100 ($5 per around here)
AAA Tryouts = $60 (2 of them)
AAA Team fees for both teams total = $570
Travel, hotel, gas to three AAA tourneys = $660
Summer Camps = $300
New skates (well sort of...) = $100

So that totals $3,105. Other new equipment is tough to factor because sometimes we get used equip that is like new for free, sometime used for a small price, sometimes it's brand new (like a helmet, I want good protection on their heads) but also they can usually use many pieces of equipment over several seasons so that is a tough one to calulate but I think around $3,100 per year is about right and he gets ample ice time, practice, games and fun for that and that is a total full years worth of pricing in there. It might be a few hundered dollars more or less depending on the year but we've never approached anythign near $4,000 or above. Just mind boggling that anyone ever would and my son has played with and against the top AAA teams/players from around the midwest and Canada and if they are paying $20,000 per year they need a refund....

[drop the puck]

MAP = $2400 to start. Add ons are extra.

[surehockey]

Winter association team fee = $850
USA Hockey Fee = $30
Skating lessons this winter = $165
The one away tourney fee we went to = $50
Away tourney hotel, gas and food = $220
Skate sharpenings for the year = $100 ($5 per around here)
AAA Tryouts = $60 (2 of them)
AAA Team fees for both teams total = $570
Travel, hotel, gas to three AAA tourneys = $660
Summer Camps = $300
New skates (well sort of...) = $100

So that totals $3,105.

Forgot MN Hockey fee $10
Team Fees - ours $125
Coach Fee - $100
You got off REALLY cheap if you had an away tournamnet and only spent $270. I am happy if I can get by with $400 and that is without bringing the hubby.
Cost for most summer teams is over $1000 generally in the $1500 range.
I wish I had your winter hockey fee's - ours are $1350 which I thought was about average.
Forgot SNACK BAR
To spend over $5000 isn't that hard on a Peewee age kid for hockey.

[Cardiackid]

USA Hockey wants your money plain and simple. Whether it is the $10 increase this year or the money for modules or continued education for coaches. Remember when we were told that once you were a level 4 that was it no more recertification then came the Age specific modules. Changing the age level for checking was simply about retention and putting a few more dollars in the pocket. Where does the money go? Well it isnt for insurance because I can tell you first hand if your player suffers an injury while playing good luck getting USAH to pay a dime. Until the change in health care laws allowing kids to be on their parents insurance longer most Junior hockey players had to buy COBRA policies or other independent insurance just to play. This would have been a great time for USAH to step in and create a universal policy but NO. We all understand it costs money to run an organization but we are seeing no real results for our money. A select few that play for the National Development team reap the benefit and the rest are the cash cow. Much like the federal government USAH continues to grow and become more of a hindrance than a help. A poll taken showed that less than 10% agreed with the policy to change the age of checking in fact most favored going even younger to have less of a size disparity rather than when it is greatest. Once again we have a governing body that does not listen to the people it is supposed to represent. Might be time for a little "Revolution".

[old goalie85]

AAU hockey. We [Mn] don't need USAH !!!!!!!

[O-townClown]

I must be the last blue-collar hockey dad on the planet,

Maybe. Even around Toronto and Boston they lament that the game has become too expensive to attract and retain every boy that wants to play.

[Toomuchtoosoon]

I don't know if it is the actual amount or the fact that most do not feel USA hockey is providing any value anymore. Most see it as a bloated bureaucracy that imposes its will on many who do not agree with it. More taxes for the king will stir the talk of revolt, even though it probably wont happen.

[O-townClown]

AAU hockey. We [Mn] don't need USAH !!!!!!!

Because when I think "well run organization", AAU is the first thing that comes to mind.

[Cdale]

My suggestion was to drop the fee by $5 or find a method of tiered fees.

LOL "drop the fee by $5". Not sure what you mean by tiered. But it's like big government, it's just gonna keep growing! AKA expect our fees to go up, not down. They'll invent new guidelines, classes, mandatory books or dvd's that will "justify" future increases. What we have now will not be sufficient in 2-3 years in the eyes of USAH.

[goldy313]

Not too many years ago I coached rink peewee and bantam teams, these teams weren't registered with USA Hockey. We practiced outside mostly and plus played 20 or so games from early December through mid March, sign up fees ran about $100. One year RYHA decided to make all kids register for USA Hockey, we never played against a team from outside our house league, with that registration came a $45 fee...the kids from areas in town that used to play hockey just couldn't afford it anymore and quit. I t was a sad day, for being a youth sports orginization it was shown that instead of being for the kids it became about the prestige and money.

Is a $10 increase really that much nowadays? No, but the truth is most kids get absolutly nothing from USA Hockey membership, the families would be better off giving the money to the Red Cross or Salvation Army.