Tryouts

[MrBoDangles]

Have you ever been standing at the rink, when one of your buddies from summer hockey walks up and says, see if you can guess which of our players is the board member's kid?

Yep!

[hockeygoof1]

I can only say I honestly believe we're in one of the shadiest associations around. There are more back room politics, it would put the city of Chicago to shame. The president is on his millionth term. His last kid has one year left, then I'm sure he'll step down. Then he'll focus on the high school program -- actually he already has. His kids aren't that good, yet miraculously they keep on making the top teams. Then he's an assistant coach on all of their teams. Funny thing is, I don't think he knows anything about hockey. The president also likes to dip his pen in the company ink well, oh, yeah. Why would he ever step down? I'd go to work, too, if I had that to look forward to.

One day, and it can't be soon enough, I'll have all this association hockey behind me -- way behind me. I'll miss some of the people I've met, but won't miss the process or the politics. Some of the dads need to take the MMPI test and have it on file before they're allowed to enter the rinks, same with some board members and coaches. There are a handful of dads, some on the board, some aren't, who are constantly in the know. They know what's going on way before everyone else. Then the jockeying for position starts for their kid. Why anyone would ever want to coach is beyond me -- at least at this association.

Oh, yeah, this is about the trying out process. Our association keeps it a secret. No parents. I suppose if the dads promised not to drink before they showed up, maybe they'd open it to the public. Better yet, no dads allowed, period. Only grandparents, moms and siblings should be allowed to the games. Then maybe the kids would have fun. Good night, everybody!

[the_juiceman]

I can only say I honestly believe we're in one of the shadiest associations around. There are more back room politics, it would put the city of Chicago to shame. The president is on his millionth term. His last kid has one year left, then I'm sure he'll step down. Then he'll focus on the high school program -- actually he already has. His kids aren't that good, yet miraculously they keep on making the top teams. Then he's an assistant coach on all of their teams. Funny thing is, I don't think he knows anything about hockey. The president also likes to dip his pen in the company ink well, oh, yeah. Why would he ever step down? I'd go to work, too, if I had that to look forward to.

One day, and it can't be soon enough, I'll have all this association hockey behind me -- way behind me. I'll miss some of the people I've met, but won't miss the process or the politics. Some of the dads need to take the MMPI test and have it on file before they're allowed to enter the rinks, same with some board members and coaches. There are a handful of dads, some on the board, some aren't, who are constantly in the know. They know what's going on way before everyone else. Then the jockeying for position starts for their kid. Why anyone would ever want to coach is beyond me -- at least at this association.

Oh, yeah, this is about the trying out process. Our association keeps it a secret. No parents. I suppose if the dads promised not to drink before they showed up, maybe they'd open it to the public. Better yet, no dads allowed, period. Only grandparents, moms and siblings should be allowed to the games. Then maybe the kids would have fun. Good night, everybody!

care to enlighten us?

[ilovemesomehockey]

I can only say I honestly believe we're in one of the shadiest associations around. There are more back room politics, it would put the city of Chicago to shame. The president is on his millionth term. His last kid has one year left, then I'm sure he'll step down. Then he'll focus on the high school program -- actually he already has. His kids aren't that good, yet miraculously they keep on making the top teams. Then he's an assistant coach on all of their teams. Funny thing is, I don't think he knows anything about hockey. The president also likes to dip his pen in the company ink well, oh, yeah. Why would he ever step down? I'd go to work, too, if I had that to look forward to.

One day, and it can't be soon enough, I'll have all this association hockey behind me -- way behind me. I'll miss some of the people I've met, but won't miss the process or the politics. Some of the dads need to take the MMPI test and have it on file before they're allowed to enter the rinks, same with some board members and coaches. There are a handful of dads, some on the board, some aren't, who are constantly in the know. They know what's going on way before everyone else. Then the jockeying for position starts for their kid. Why anyone would ever want to coach is beyond me -- at least at this association.

Oh, yeah, this is about the trying out process. Our association keeps it a secret. No parents. I suppose if the dads promised not to drink before they showed up, maybe they'd open it to the public. Better yet, no dads allowed, period. Only grandparents, moms and siblings should be allowed to the games. Then maybe the kids would have fun. Good night, everybody!

This is why you shouldn't drink and post

[InigoMontoya]

Sounds pretty familiar to me.

[ilovemesomehockey]

Sounds pretty familiar to me.

Except most people don't have the balls to say it -- surprised we haven't stirred up the old "why don't you just get involved, volunteer..."

[MrBoDangles]

I can only say I honestly believe we're in one of the shadiest associations around. There are more back room politics, it would put the city of Chicago to shame. The president is on his millionth term. His last kid has one year left, then I'm sure he'll step down. Then he'll focus on the high school program -- actually he already has. His kids aren't that good, yet miraculously they keep on making the top teams. Then he's an assistant coach on all of their teams. Funny thing is, I don't think he knows anything about hockey. The president also likes to dip his pen in the company ink well, oh, yeah. Why would he ever step down? I'd go to work, too, if I had that to look forward to.

One day, and it can't be soon enough, I'll have all this association hockey behind me -- way behind me. I'll miss some of the people I've met, but won't miss the process or the politics. Some of the dads need to take the MMPI test and have it on file before they're allowed to enter the rinks, same with some board members and coaches. There are a handful of dads, some on the board, some aren't, who are constantly in the know. They know what's going on way before everyone else. Then the jockeying for position starts for their kid. Why anyone would ever want to coach is beyond me -- at least at this association.

Oh, yeah, this is about the trying out process. Our association keeps it a secret. No parents. I suppose if the dads promised not to drink before they showed up, maybe they'd open it to the public. Better yet, no dads allowed, period. Only grandparents, moms and siblings should be allowed to the games. Then maybe the kids would have fun. Good night, everybody!

Association hockey seems to be more about the parents than putting a winning program together and developing kids of good character. I've also seen rare cases of good leadership beat impossible odds.

Hope the president realized his faults and has changed for the better....

[hockeygoof1]

The only reason I don't go into detail is out of respect for the "ink well's" ex-husband. Believe me when I say, it gets much worse. The subject has been brought up many times and nothing has been done. This guy really has a brass pair.

Getting back to tryouts . . . Awww, maybe not.

[bestpopcorn]

Sounds pretty familiar to me.

Except most people don't have the balls to say it -- surprised we haven't stirred up the old "why don't you just get involved, volunteer..."

I will bring it up. We have lunatic parents in our assn. Nothing but complaints and "better" ways to do things.

Come annual meeting time, nothing. We have a hell of a time finding enough people to fill the slots, sometimes we don't. Show up at the meeting, your in.

[InigoMontoya]

You mean your system doesn't allow for the sitting president to have the final word on which names are or are not on the ballot? Someone from outside the good ol' boys network can be nominated from the floor, and written in, but that announcement doesn't get made until a good portion of the ballots have already been handed in? After voting, the ballots are scurried off to a dark alley to be counted by a couple cronies? And one year, one of the cronies accidentally congratulates a write-in candidate in the hallway, only to have a different name announced at the podium?

[needtoordermorechecks]

Open tryouts don't change the politics within the process, it just allows you to see which parents stopped by happy hour after work and which ones should sit by the defibrillator.
I think the solution is to find an association where you know your kid will make the top team, and then start or join an academy within that association's boundaries, get-a-waiver...

[old goalie85]

Goofy- Haven't seen you at any meetings. Hope to see you soon.

[bestpopcorn]

You mean your system doesn't allow for the sitting president to have the final word on which names are or are not on the ballot? Someone from outside the good ol' boys network can be nominated from the floor, and written in, but that announcement doesn't get made until a good portion of the ballots have already been handed in? After voting, the ballots are scurried off to a dark alley to be counted by a couple cronies? And one year, one of the cronies accidentally congratulates a write-in candidate in the hallway, only to have a different name announced at the podium?

No. Show up and your darn near in. Very few times does anyone even run opposed. Very small assn. The votes are counted right in the room, there are usually less than 20 votes. Technically... the board has never been legitimate as it is supposed to be elected by 10% of the membership. I don't think 10% have ever shown up. Not sure what to do about that.

There have been times that someone gets elected and then drops out when the realize they might be asked to lend a hand here or there.