I was at the game. I was sitting by two seperate couples. During the third period, I noticed both guys were checking the shot clock after every HM shot. Kind of like watching a spectator at a tennis match. Heads on a swivel, because Tartan was on the opposite side from the shot clock. So I started watching. I saw one off the crossbar counted as a shot. Which to me shouldn't count as a shot. Another off the side of the net, again counted. Another one she caught about a foot above the net counted as well.
That's three that I noticed, in less than one period. Multiply that out for a whole game, then by a season, and you could easily add over 100 shot to her stats. There is always room for human error, but they may be a little generous over there.
I get that question a lot about pretty much everything we discuss on the forum. I don't think anything here is other than discussion by those that support the sport, have players involved, etc. regardless of the topics.
I think the answer to this question is dependent upon why we even have the league to begin with - the players.
It matters to the players. They care about their statistics and I think it is the duty of the game officials to do as accurate of a job as possible. Game officials are there to serve the players, IMHO (this should include refs, too).
The players put in a ton of work to become the best they can be. Why shouldn't game officials put in the work to be as accurate as possible?
I think the answer to this question is dependent upon why we even have the league to begin with - the players.
It matters to the players. They care about their statistics and I think it is the duty of the game officials to do as accurate of a job as possible. Game officials are there to serve the players, IMHO (this should include refs, too).
The players put in a ton of work to become the best they can be. Why shouldn't game officials put in the work to be as accurate as possible?
I think he may be implying that the players probably don't care. I don't know many players who know the team's win/loss record, let alone their own G/A/SOG numbers. Do many players care about this at all, or is it just something to keep hockey nerds happy?
Players dont care. Mommy and especially Daddy do care though, cause they are the one's that it matters who is the best. Kids just like to play the game, and for the most part have fun. Typically Dad cares cause his work buddies might think he is cool if his kid leads the team or metro in points.
Today's society has become so individually driven. This thread just confirms that.
I find it amusing that several posters have commented that goalie stats are unimportant, however, there is currently a thread on this forum where someone has created a system to rank goal scorers according to the strength of their schedule. Nobody as of yet has posted how unimportant those goals and assists are. I'll wait and see how many of you people that felt compelled to speak up in this thread do so in that one...
And as far as Tartan goes, I've had the pleasure of watching Maggie play several times. She's the real deal.
Tigers33 wrote:Players dont care. Mommy and especially Daddy do care though, cause they are the one's that it matters who is the best. Kids just like to play the game, and for the most part have fun. Typically Dad cares cause his work buddies might think he is cool if his kid leads the team or metro in points.
Today's society has become so individually driven. This thread just confirms that.
If that is true then why in most games do you see a crowd of them by the ref after a goal letting them know who to give an assist to?
As a current coach with a high school girls team, I can guarantee that you are very sorely mistaken.
I am constantly trying to get the girls to stop counting their point on the bench during the game, let alone after the game when they want to see their names in the paper.
As a former goaltender, I can guarantee you that the stats I compiled in my career are still important to me. I am fortunate enough to have played for a HS program & college program that cared about data integrity.
Well of course during the course of the game they care, because there is alot of ME mentality. However, most of the girls dont know their team record. They care about their own stats cause mom and dad told them thats important. I used to coach, and very rarely does a kid complain about their stats. The dad certainly never was afraid to make that call. My kid should have gotten that assist, or my kid actually tipped that goal in.
How many parents keep track of their own kid's stats? And how many players keep their own stats?
The game is also an opportunity to know what it is like to work hard at improving yourself and skill set. A life long lesson that every parent wants to see instilled in their kid.
As far as goaltending goes, these stats do matter to my daughter:
She battles through the game, one shot at a time. She tends to view each saved shot as "W" in her game log and the goals (which are never missed) as a "L". Problem is, in taking 20-30 shots, she can't recall but a few memorable moments in the game and even those moments fade as one game rolls into the next. Saves and save % is her primary scorecard (that doesn't fade away) on whether she is improving or not.
I encourage her to keep tabs on her save % simply because it is an integral part of her feedback loop she gets on her individual peformance, helping to motivate her to keep working on her game. If she is improving, the game "Ws" should tend to point in the same direction, making everyone on the team much happier.
Players have little control on how the stats are recorded.
In high school minor officials are simply paid helpers. Some take it seriously and others do not.
Many HS programs have a trainer videoing games and another recording stats. These programs certainly have the information available to correct stats when necessary.
As normal for this forum, there are very diverse opinions on this topic. Here is one that agrees with everyone. My daughter does not seem to care about points, and I wish she did. After a recent game one of her relatives asked her how many she had and she looked up with an embarassed look on her face and said "I don't know". She loses several assists (and sometimes a goal or 2) every year because she doesn't want to speak up and/or simply doesn't care. I have been tempted to let the coach know but have chosen not to because I know she would not want that and I figured she should fight her own battles and he probably has better things to worry about.
IMO most players do care A LOT. And if that is what motivates them and so long as they aren't worrying about themselves over the team, I don't see a problem with that.
As for parents caring more than their kids, it must be obvious by now that I am guilty of that. However, its not so I can brag about her (as soon as you do that, they invariably go 3 or 4 games without a point). I, like Bleed-in-red, believe its one way of measuring progress and evaluating whether expensive off season activities are helping. And I have a perhaps mistaken belief that points do matter for getting initial college interest and post season opportunities.
Having said all that, IMO what everyone should care more about is +/-. No one seems to care, they don't even track it on the HUB. I am sure there are pitfalls there too but at least it rewards the team players more and allows a defenseman to be evaluated along with the forwards. Having a lot of goals because you never pass or getting assists soley because others knock in your rebounds are issues that are not revealed on a score sheet or in the paper. Over time +/- should be some indication of who back checks, who turns over the puck because of selfish play, who blocks shots, etc. It seems like those things should matter more if the game is played for the team and not the individual.
I have known alot of goalies, cant remember any that did not know their stats, at least at a basic level. Parents tend to take it a whole other level. Some goalie dads care about this so much that they even volunteer to do the stats for the team. They tend to be generous on one end and stingy on the other. Sat behind one of them awhile back and watched them do it on the computer. That is a kid who is always near the top and probably doesn't need the help.
Most goalies (that are secure in their own skin) I have met, coached or spoke with seem happy with the WIN first. They want to play well enough to help their team win whether it is a shutout, a save % of .950 or a save percentage of .850.
Goalies playing on teams well under .500 may revert to personal stats for self survival. But at that point all shots are certainly not created equal.
I feel like there is an implication that a player (goalie, forward, or defense) can't possibly care about the team AND the accuracy of their personal stats.
Why is it that people think these are mutually exclusive? Can't they care about both?
Ever heard the phrase "if you can't do it right, don't do it at all?"
So back to the question, "Why keep stats?"
Some could use this same thought process for every player quitting that isn't a star. Think what they'd be missing as far as life experiences/lessons.
I usually see this phrase used as an excuse to not do something at all because it takes some work, or it isn't easy, or not fun, or interesting, or ... (you name it).
I think the the stats teach another key life lesson - your work will be measured (sometimes unfairly).
Heads on a swivel, because Tartan was on the opposite side from the shot clock. So I started watching. I saw one off the crossbar counted as a shot. Which to me shouldn't count as a shot. Another off the side of the net, again counted. Another one she caught about a foot above the net counted as well.