How to save girls Hockey

[zambonidriver]

I have had three girls play girls hockey and one is in her senior year at a D1 school. My youngest is now playing youth. Here are the changes in girls hockey that I have noticed.
1. Large associations are selecting A teams with 10-13 skaters.
2. Goalie shortages and no goalie development
3. Even with smaller teams the benches get shortened.
4. No female coaches.
5. treating girls like boys.
6. more girls playing on the boys side.
7. High Schools robbing the youth programs.
Here is how to fix it.
1. All A rosters 15 skaters two goalies and roll the lines and alternate goalies. Develop all of the kids.
2. Find female non parent coaches.
3. Redraft bylaws of each association not to allow girls to cross over and then be willing to stand by the rules. or eliminate the girls program completely and have girls play with boys until bantams.
4. HAVE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES QUIT ROBBING THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T LET JUNIOR HIGH AGE KIDS PLAY VARSITY BEFORE 9TH GRADE.
5. Girls are not boys they are wired different so don't treat them like boys.
6. girls hockey is still in it's infancy promote numbers and get rid of the elite ideas. Edina and NE metro are doing it right full squads at the A level and the kids are developing.
7. Stop all playups. If you don't have the numbers coop with another community.
8. Promote fun and sportsmanship over winning.

[BluehawkHockey]

I have had three girls play girls hockey and one is in her senior year at a D1 school. My youngest is now playing youth. Here are the changes in girls hockey that I have noticed.
1. Large associations are selecting A teams with 10-13 skaters.
2. Goalie shortages and no goalie development
3. Even with smaller teams the benches get shortened.
4. No female coaches.
5. treating girls like boys.
6. more girls playing on the boys side.
7. High Schools robbing the youth programs.
Here is how to fix it.
1. All A rosters 15 skaters two goalies and roll the lines and alternate goalies. Develop all of the kids.
2. Find female non parent coaches.
3. Redraft bylaws of each association not to allow girls to cross over and then be willing to stand by the rules. or eliminate the girls program completely and have girls play with boys until bantams.
4. HAVE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES QUIT ROBBING THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T LET JUNIOR HIGH AGE KIDS PLAY VARSITY BEFORE 9TH GRADE.
5. Girls are not boys they are wired different so don't treat them like boys.
6. girls hockey is still in it's infancy promote numbers and get rid of the elite ideas. Edina and NE metro are doing it right full squads at the A level and the kids are developing.
7. Stop all playups. If you don't have the numbers coop with another community.
8. Promote fun and sportsmanship over winning.

There is another thread talking about some of the same issues "Taking Girls' Programs Seriously in Association Hockey".

Let's face it, it is highly unlikely anything will change with girls hockey in Minnesota. On the other thread, there were 22 posts and nothing has been posted on it for a week. There just isn't enough interest to force change to happen. In most cases, the association boards are filled with parents of boys who play hockey with maybe a couple girls parents. Girls programs are the last thing they want to deal with and they last thing they will spend any time or money on.

I think every small and medium association should find a coop partner and form permanent coops for their girls programs. Coops that are contracted for anywhere from 5 to 10 years. It just is not going to happen. It would take focus away from the boys to work it out.

If girls programs were strong enough, girls wouldn't want to play boys hockey or go to the high school team. My daughter played Peewee A, is now a Bantam A and will be a Bantam A again next year. It is the best thing for her development. We know the association doesn't like it but until they fix the girls program, it is her best option. Most associations are not going to put the time, energy and money into building a strong girls program.

You can't require an A level team to have 15 skaters and 2 goalies. In an association that has 18/19 skaters and 2 goalies at U12, there may only be 4 or 5 A level skaters. You would be forcing that team to probably lose every game. While we all may know that a lot can be learned from loses, getting some wins makes it more fun and helps to keep those girls playing. Coop with another similar size association and suddenly having a full team is possible.

District 10 tried to force coops at the A level a couple year ago, associations wouldn't do it because it was going to be a 3 year commitment.

I just don't think any changes are going to happen. Until Minnesota Hockey and the districts force changes, the associations will just focus on their boys. Until Minnesota Hockey and the districts actually care about girls hockey, it isn't going to change. The districts and Minnesota Hockey are no different than the associations. The same mindset. The same lip service to girls programs. The same backgrounds. Just more power. Does Minnesota Hockey have any programs in place to grow girls hockey? If they do, they aren't promoting them very well. Do the districts? Heck does USA Hockey?

Until parents of the girls step up and apply pressure at all levels, nothing will change. I wish it would. I've been talking to our association board about forming a permanent coop for 5 years. It looks like it may finally be working. But it is now in the hands of the two associations. Will they be willing to put in the effort to make it happen? I hope so but I'm not holding my breath.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

You make some good points. I'm always glad to hear a parent who helped their kid get to college hockey has more kids coming up. I have a son and a daughter and while I treat them differently in most respects I have found in hockey that hasn't always proven right. Let me ask you a few questions about your D1 kid -
Did she play on any boys teams coming up?
Did she play "up"?
How many female non-parent coaches was she lucky enough to have?
How many "elite" programs or teams or tourneys did she play on or get invited to?
I'm not trying to question or criticize anything you did or have done or decided for and with your daughters. My point is simply this - unless you can say she got to her D1 success without any of the things you are rallying against, I don't see how you can speak against them IN GENERAL now. I know a lot of great high school and college talent that needed the very things you want to change to get there. Unless you create a level playing field nation wide, making these changes will only harm our local girls in the long run. That 16 year old girl who made the Olympic team until the last cut? From everything I've read a product of playing up, with the boys.

Curious to see what you all say about this thread. I share the sentiment at the source that we need to think about and address the state of girls hockey.

[zambonidriver]

You make some good points. I'm always glad to hear a parent who helped their kid get to college hockey has more kids coming up. I have a son and a daughter and while I treat them differently in most respects I have found in hockey that hasn't always proven right. Let me ask you a few questions about your D1 kid -
Did she play on any boys teams coming up?
Did she play "up"?
How many female non-parent coaches was she lucky enough to have?
How many "elite" programs or teams or tourneys did she play on or get invited to?
I'm not trying to question or criticize anything you did or have done or decided for and with your daughters. My point is simply this - unless you can say she got to her D1 success without any of the things you are rallying against, I don't see how you can speak against them IN GENERAL now. I know a lot of great high school and college talent that needed the very things you want to change to get there. Unless you create a level playing field nation wide, making these changes will only harm our local girls in the long run. That 16 year old girl who made the Olympic team until the last cut? From everything I've read a product of playing up, with the boys.

Curious to see what you all say about this thread. I share the sentiment at the source that we need to think about and address the state of girls hockey.

Our D1 player played girls hockey all the way up and was actually on two b teams she did codp in the summer and was asked to play mn selects and super series. Triple A for girls was in it's infancy and she played on different tournament teams that would be thrown together always girls. She never played with the boys except minimites which was for everyone. The high school she played for had a policy not to accept anyone below 9th grade until her Junior year when by then everyone was doing it. They won the u-12A state tournament with 15 skaters and they had bubble kids that developed every bit as well as the high end kids. She had a passion for the game and she found ways to improve herself. My arguments are based on her feed back on where she sees girls hockey going. There are females out there qualified to coach but associations need to make commitment to those female coaches and run interference so the parents can't run them out. Our D1 daughter doesn't see herself as a big deal but when she is home and skates with her little sisters team the girls follow her around like puppies. My younger daughters team has a girls assistant and the girls idolize the ground she walks on.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Thank you. I wish her example was more of a universal standard, but I think she'd be the exception rather than norm about coming up with the girls. I envy your association.
My daughter may be one of the girls following yours around the rink! She has really gotten into the game and follows the girls high school players as much or more than I do. Every time we watch a hs game she will pick out a player (usually a D1 commit because of the games I choose but not always) then the next practice or when we are out at the pond she will show me what she has learned by watching them! Now she is little, so her success at this mimicry is questionable at best, but her excitement is awesome.

Of the dozens of things I want to change on the girls side, mostly I want to keep up the excitement they come in with and grow the love of the game. As was pointed out to me here recently, that is not the same as the love of the win.
I hope your daughter will come back as a coach when she has completed her own career.

[zambonidriver]

The problem as I see it is we as parents think we know best for our children as players. Both boys and girls. Our D1 daughter once told me that association hockey was for playing with her friends and having fun and the summer was for the work. Which is just the opposite of what I grew up with. With that statement in mind associations both boys and girls should take that approach to grow the game do away with aa a b c and promote playing with your friends and your classmates. For girls, hockey is just another social activity I am always amazed at how fast girls move on to the next thing. We as adults should recognize it. No matter how bad you want your daughter to succeed there are factors that are just outside our control as parents. 1 size, 2. passion, 3. talent. As a high school teacher and a coach I have seen it happen so many times where the super good youth player never gets above the JV level. Usually because of growth. I have seen the girl from mound westonka a couple of times and though she has all the tools as her career moves forward kids will catch up. Because it has been easy for her the adjustment when they do will be more difficult when she is a piece instead of the focal point. White Bear has some really good players but they need to grow or the physical side of the game will weed them out. Same with Forest lake. Hockey has everything backward it starts weeding out at such a young age with A teams. Hockey should encourage growth with multiple teams and don't designate elite, let triple A do that in the summer. We as parents should not do the weeding out and the investment dollars in our daughters should not be part of the equation. We as parents should also get the idea of a free education out of our heads. Our d-1 daughter has told us that her college is focusing more on Canadian girls as opposed to Minnesota girls. Even the U recruits world wide. The best opportunity for a female athlete to get a full d-1 ride is golf!!!

[BluehawkHockey]

My daughter used to see association hockey as just for fun and summer hockey as the time to get a lot better. A couple years ago she flipped it on us. Now that she plays with the boys in the winter, she sees it as the time to develop. Summers she only plays with girls and usually with girls she has known for many years. They all have fun and love being together. Most of those girls also played boys hockey for several years. Many of them are also playing HS hockey now. At least playing boys hockey is keeping her from playing HS hockey.

How do we get Minnesota Hockey, districts and associations to devote some time, energy and money to promoting and improving girls hockey?

[legalbeagle05]

I don't think all girls think of it as social - I've heard this before. My daughter is on a boys team (they are also her buddies at school) and they are young enough to hang out w/o it being "weird" - and they do at school - and she does with her girlfriends, too. But she doesn't see it hockey as a social activity. It's a practice hard, have fun in the game thing. The fun part is assisting a perfect goal with her good friend (a boy who also happens to be the best scorer on the team.)

Then to get her girlfriend ("social") fix, she'll paint her nails or go swimming/play tennis with her non-hockey playing girlfriends later. Two separate deals and both fulfilling in their own way.

Hockey isn't a social thing for all girls, especially not the introverted ones who can only take so much of "other people" time.

Sidebar: I don't think Ovechkin does the nail polish thing, does he?

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Blueback - how is playing hockey with the boys keeping her from playing high school hockey? Did you mean you and she chose to keep her in bantams rather than a 14u girls or jv/varsity hs program for developments sake?

Legal - just because its "social" and/or "fun" doesn't take away (in most cases) from the hard work and intensity of development. I hope that's true on any team. If it wasn't fun and social, neither of my kids would show up for the bag skates and sprints.

I think the original poster here is demonstrating the success his D1 daughter has achieved in a strong association that does right by its girls. My questions to him were to point out that in many or even most associations, in MN and beyond, this simply isn't the case. We do what we need to do for our girls success. This may be far from ideal, and I'd say that for every kid and every family this path is different, but if we all support the end goal of more options for girls in hockey that equals more girls in hockey. And the more fun we can keep in the game the more girls we can keep in the game.

[zambonidriver]

Blueback - how is playing hockey with the boys keeping her from playing high school hockey? Did you mean you and she chose to keep her in bantams rather than a 14u girls or jv/varsity hs program for developments sake?

Legal - just because its "social" and/or "fun" doesn't take away (in most cases) from the hard work and intensity of development. I hope that's true on any team. If it wasn't fun and social, neither of my kids would show up for the bag skates and sprints.

I think the original poster here is demonstrating the success his D1 daughter has achieved in a strong association that does right by its girls. My questions to him were to point out that in many or even most associations, in MN and beyond, this simply isn't the case. We do what we need to do for our girls success. This may be far from ideal, and I'd say that for every kid and every family this path is different, but if we all support the end goal of more options for girls in hockey that equals more girls in hockey. And the more fun we can keep in the game the more girls we can keep in the game.

I was speaking in general and my comments ring true for the majority of girls times change. When I truly realized that girls were totally different was when during the state championship u-12a game in 05 between the 3 period and the first overtime all but 3 girls were on their cell phones texting friends.
Granted every person is different but I have had three girls that are hockey players two who have had a lot of success and one that is playing youth hockey and is very good. Having gone through the recruiting process and the college choice process I have found that the creme always will rise to the top if the intangibles are there. I have seen many players both boys and girls over the years and one common thread runs through all of them. If you have the size, passion,and most of all talent you will succeed at the higher levels if you are missing one you can only get so far. whether you play boys or girls it doesn't matter.

[InigoMontoya]

Here is how to fix it.
1. All A rosters 15 skaters two goalies and roll the lines and alternate goalies. Develop all of the kids.
2. Find female non parent coaches.
3. Redraft bylaws of each association not to allow girls to cross over and then be willing to stand by the rules. or eliminate the girls program completely and have girls play with boys until bantams.
4. HAVE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES QUIT ROBBING THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T LET JUNIOR HIGH AGE KIDS PLAY VARSITY BEFORE 9TH GRADE.
5. Girls are not boys they are wired different so don't treat them like boys.
6. girls hockey is still in it's infancy promote numbers and get rid of the elite ideas. Edina and NE metro are doing it right full squads at the A level and the kids are developing.
7. Stop all playups. If you don't have the numbers coop with another community.
8. Promote fun and sportsmanship over winning.

Ok, first, I don't disagree with much of what you've said, however, the Devil needs an advocate, too. Many of these fixes seem a little metrocentric and a little one-size-fits-all, so let's say the Devil lives outstate.

1. Many associations have fewer than 15 skaters at each age group.
2. Many associations have trouble finding male, non-parent coaches or female, parent coaches.
3. I'm pretty sure that an association's charter is tied to following MNH and USAH rules.
4. If there is no 14U team, the choice for 8th graders is bantams or high school. (Also, are you really going to say there will be no 7th or 8th graders on any roster at the state tournament?)
5. Girls are not wired white, and boys are not wired black. They're all wired some shade of gray. I hope a coach wouldn't treat every girl exactly the same.
6. See #1.
7. The word "all" is dangerous. I think most of us have walked into a rink during a 10b or 12b game, and watched one girl skate faster, handle the puck better, and shoot harder than anyone else on the ice. Throwing an anchor on that kid isn't going to help her - and it certainly doesn't help her teammates (except in the win column, which you denounce in #*.) Available coops may be 45, 60, or more miles away; that's quite a hike just to promote fun and sportsmanship.
8. Winning is part of the equation with fun and sportsmanship and hard work and teamwork and losing... The programs you list in #6 are winning.

[zambonidriver]

Here is how to fix it.
1. All A rosters 15 skaters two goalies and roll the lines and alternate goalies. Develop all of the kids.
2. Find female non parent coaches.
3. Redraft bylaws of each association not to allow girls to cross over and then be willing to stand by the rules. or eliminate the girls program completely and have girls play with boys until bantams.
4. HAVE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES QUIT ROBBING THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T LET JUNIOR HIGH AGE KIDS PLAY VARSITY BEFORE 9TH GRADE.
5. Girls are not boys they are wired different so don't treat them like boys.
6. girls hockey is still in it's infancy promote numbers and get rid of the elite ideas. Edina and NE metro are doing it right full squads at the A level and the kids are developing.
7. Stop all playups. If you don't have the numbers coop with another community.
8. Promote fun and sportsmanship over winning.

Ok, first, I don't disagree with much of what you've said, however, the Devil needs an advocate, too. Many of these fixes seem a little metrocentric and a little one-size-fits-all, so let's say the Devil lives outstate.

1. Many associations have fewer than 15 skaters at each age group.
2. Many associations have trouble finding male, non-parent coaches or female, parent coaches.
3. I'm pretty sure that an association's charter is tied to following MNH and USAH rules.
4. If there is no 14U team, the choice for 8th graders is bantams or high school. (Also, are you really going to say there will be no 7th or 8th graders on any roster at the state tournament?)
5. Girls are not wired white, and boys are not wired black. They're all wired some shade of gray. I hope a coach wouldn't treat every girl exactly the same.
6. See #1.
7. The word "all" is dangerous. I think most of us have walked into a rink during a 10b or 12b game, and watched one girl skate faster, handle the puck better, and shoot harder than anyone else on the ice. Throwing an anchor on that kid isn't going to help her - and it certainly doesn't help her teammates (except in the win column, which you denounce in #*.) Available coops may be 45, 60, or more miles away; that's quite a hike just to promote fun and sportsmanship.
8. Winning is part of the equation with fun and sportsmanship and hard work and teamwork and losing... The programs you list in #6 are winning.

You make some good points.
I grew up in NW Minn and the differences from the cities are noticeable
1. Hockey is affordable up north because Ice time for youth teams is free most northern teams still field at least one a and 1 b team.
2. success is cyclical WBL and Mound won't be as strong next year and numbers do dictate.
3. I have coached a long time and I have found that no matter what level you play at you need all of your players because you never know who is going to step up at any given time.
4. The truly great players make players around them better. So you really are not putting an anchor on those people. If team play and development are truly the goal then those higher skilled players should make the players around them better. I will use Hannah Brandt as an example she makes her line mates better. She has played Girls hockey all the way up.
5. You can find non parent coaches if you offer to pay them the problem with associations is they want everyone to volunteer their time and are sitting on big bank accounts. The city park departments up north run the programs and hire and pay the coaches.
6. there are ways to fix the problem but it isn't easy.

[Coachk]

I believe Hannah Brandt played boys until she attended Hill Murray. I was told sometime ago by a UMD coach and scout that a girl playing with the boys at a high level reaises the schools interest level. Kelly Pannik for example was the top player on her boys team until she attended BSM.

[BluehawkHockey]

Blueback - how is playing hockey with the boys keeping her from playing high school hockey? Did you mean you and she chose to keep her in bantams rather than a 14u girls or jv/varsity hs program for developments sake?

It is providing her with an option other than HS. Our association doesn't have a 14U team this year. The decision to play bantams was entirely her own. She could have chosen to play HS or waiver into another association to play U14. She was asked by the HS coach the last 2 years to play HS. She knows that playing Bantams is a better level of hockey than she will get playing HS varsity. She prefers playing with the boys because it is more of a challenge for her. I think she would even consider playing boys HS if she thought the head coach would allow it.

[zambonidriver]

I believe Hannah Brandt played boys until she attended Hill Murray. I was told sometime ago by a UMD coach and scout that a girl playing with the boys at a high level reaises the schools interest level. Kelly Pannik for example was the top player on her boys team until she attended BSM.

That is really hard to believe being I coached her at u12 and she was on the same line as my Daughter. She started at Hill eighth grade

[Coachk]

I guess you would know then, just repeating what I have heard. Sorry. But there is a difference between being a girls playing with boys. My goaltender daughter recieved her education at a prep school out of state because she was a sucessful Bantam A goalie.

[zambonidriver]

I guess you would know then, just repeating what I have heard. Sorry. But there is a difference between being a girls playing with boys. My goaltender daughter recieved her education at a prep school out of state because she was a sucessful Bantam A goalie.

CoachK, I guess I don't understand your daughter played a bantams and then went out of state to high school did she play boys or girls at prep school? So if you kept your daughter out of the system what would you propose to fix girls hockey at the youth level?

[Coachk]

Every child is different, Prep school, playing girls hockey was best for her. My other daughter played girls in Minnesota and won 2 National Championships in college. I have been involved with girls hockey for 17 years and alot of the things you suggested that needs to be fixed has been going on as long as I have been involved. Heck at first there was no way anyone wanted girls to be playing, taking ice time away for the boys etc.. Even with its ups and downs, girls hockey is here to stay. What it looks like is up to the poeple with young ones in it. My main suggestion and just a suggestion is, not to stress on girls and boys playing together at a young age. Girls playing with boys will develop and frankly at an early age as you probably know, they tend to learn quicker then the boys. By constantly trying to form girls only teams, you create an island of the associations rich with players and the ones that can't form a U8 team. When we lived up north all the squirt teams were coed and she developed just fine. You bet there are alot of problems with girls hockey and I bet a boys parent could put a list together with their problems. Find whats best for the player, encourage and enjoy the moment, but at the sametime try to improve what we can improve. So I applaud your efforts, we need more caring people like you.

[zambonidriver]

Every child is different, Prep school, playing girls hockey was best for her. My other daughter played girls in Minnesota and won 2 National Championships in college. I have been involved with girls hockey for 17 years and alot of the things you suggested that needs to be fixed has been going on as long as I have been involved. Heck at first there was no way anyone wanted girls to be playing, taking ice time away for the boys etc.. Even with its ups and downs, girls hockey is here to stay. What it looks like is up to the poeple with young ones in it. My main suggestion and just a suggestion is, not to stress on girls and boys playing together at a young age. Girls playing with boys will develop and frankly at an early age as you probably know, they tend to learn quicker then the boys. By constantly trying to form girls only teams, you create an island of the associations rich with players and the ones that can't form a U8 team. When we lived up north all the squirt teams were coed and she developed just fine. You bet there are alot of problems with girls hockey and I bet a boys parent could put a list together with their problems. Find whats best for the player, encourage and enjoy the moment, but at the sametime try to improve what we can improve. So I applaud your efforts, we need more caring people like you.

Thank you I truly love the game and hate to see the direction it is going It is sad but true eventually triple A will take over and if we are not careful our beloved boys state tournament will be in jeopardy.
I grew up up north in a much simpler time no you have to worry about who you train with what teams are asking for your daughter and whether she is being passed by. I hope your girls are pursuing coaching as my daughter will when she graduates this spring we need girls coaches to spread the game. I worry what once was a game for all is turning into a game for the chosen few!

[observer]

This is an important discussion. Keep it focused on girls hockey. Good ideas but really there is only one task and the rest takes care of itself.

Each association must recruit between 20 and 30 new mite girls each year.

In some instances it's to late for your daughter. Make sure future families of girl players don't face all the challenges you did. How? Focus on what you can do to grow your association.

Your association girl's program is either getting bigger or it's getting smaller.

More players
More teams
More girls playing at the correct level for development
More revenue
More and better volunteers
More and better coaches
More success
More fun!

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

New girls come out to play at 10u or even 8u level and the new parents and their kids are made to feel as it is almost too late for their daughter to start. Yes the exceptional kids at 8 and 10s have been skating for a long time. They and girls like them will dominate your child this season and next. But that's it! If you get your kid on the ice (and I don't mean tons of $ in off season programs) and if they love the game, in 2 or 4 years those gaps can be eliminated. I encouraged our association to offer learn to skate for older than mites kids ("it's not too late to learn to skate!" copyright 2013, NTMH Inc. Traxler, get at me.) Guess whether they did it or not...

[zambonidriver]

This is an important discussion. Keep it focused on girls hockey. Good ideas but really there is only one task and the rest takes care of itself.

Each association must recruit between 20 and 30 new mite girls each year.

In some instances it's to late for your daughter. Make sure future families of girl players don't face all the challenges you did. How? Focus on what you can do to grow your association.

Your association girl's program is either getting bigger or it's getting smaller.

More players
More teams
More girls playing at the correct level for development
More revenue
More and better volunteers
More and better coaches
More success
More fun!

I agree more importantly get rid of the win mentality
Our former association was one of the bigger ones fielding multiple teams at each girls level after this season the cupboard will not only be bare but the kitchen has been destroyed

[Coachk]

good call Observer, keep it going its so important. One thing that I have seen in the past that works, not sure how much they do it anymore, but get the older girls involved. Have the high school girls mentor the U12s and 14s, tell them they can use that volunteer time on their college application. Have the U12 and 14s mentor the mites/ squirts and skate with them, have that time apply to their families volunteer commitment. a win win all the way around. Other girls will see this and want to get involved in hockey. Organizations just have to be consistant and not stop recuiting girls when one supporter leave the board or their daughter starts high school. I myseld am not quite done yet, I still have my 16 year old that we are trying to navigate threw the fog. I plan to get back involved as soon as she has achieved her goals.

[zambonidriver]

Being boys hockey is what drives the association and brings in revenue maybe all of Minnesota should offer no fee's if girls play girls hockey up to u-12. Once you get to that level then start charging. Associations would have to eat the ice bill It would mean a major fundraising effort by associations.

[observer]

Our former association was one of the bigger ones fielding multiple teams at each girls level after this season the cupboard will not only be bare but the kitchen has been destroyed

Ouch. Solid leadership followed by weaker leadership as opposed to even better leadership. You're either getting better or you're getting worse. This is key and not uncommon. Boys can weather these recruiting peaks and valleys a little better because there are more of them. Shrinking numbers is very disruptive.

Recruiting is the most important function in every association. Everything I mentioned is true on the boy’s side as well. Bigger numbers solve almost all problems. If there were 17 new mite girls this season the goal next season has to be 20+. Start planning now to determine what can be done to build on recruiting success this year to add even more girls next season. Peaks and valleys must be avoided for continued strength of the association.

That's what good Presidents and recruiting committees do. Growth is the only measuring stick of successful association leadership. Honestly, everything else takes care of itself.