HEP Program

[upucker]

What are your thoughts on the new HEP program Minnesota Hockey is force feeding? From what I see you could actually lose positioning in league standings based on fair play points if you have more penalty minutes than are allowed. Thats just not right some things the HEP program as far as practice to game ratios are good ideas but this thing about taking points away from a team are way off. <p></p><i></i>

[roadkingpuck]

HEP seems to be another attempt to legislate good behavior; I've never seen it work. Did the stop patches prevent hits from behind? I doubt it.<br><br>One item from HEP I will touch upon is Skill Development. If USA/MN Hockey were serious about getting more skilled players in hockey, they should be sending millions of dollars downstream so to speak (toward mite programs); instead of upstream (NDT, Selects, etc). It seems to me if you have two pools of players: one with 100 players and another with 25 players, you have a better chance of more skilled players developing from the 100 player pool. The number one reason I hear from parents for not signing their kids up for hockey is cost. To: USA/MN HOCKEY. MAKE IT LESS EXPENSIVE TO PLAY HOCKEY. They have so many ways to extract money from hockey people: 1. Individual player fees, 2. Team fees, 3. CEP fees, 4. Tournament sanctioning fees (particularly irritating, since they don't do anything to help an association host a tournament.), 5. Insurance fees - you almost have to lose a limb to collect dime one, 6. Try-out fees for the select and national development teams. 7. For the try-outs for the Lake Placid Camp, they even charge the parents to watch the try-outs, for which the parents have already paid. 8. And I am sure to follow: mandatory HEP clinics; for a small fee of course.<br><br>The point is they have the resources to make hockey less expensive for the entry level player.<br><br>One last thing about skill development: it is not developed during a one hour practice. The top players all work on skills on their own, outside of organized MN/USA hockey. These player are on backyard rinks, playground rinks, shooting pucks in their basement; playing in open hockey sessions; working on skills in driveways. The key is to have more of these players.<br><br>Well enough about that for one night. <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

HEP is a positive program, but it is CHANGE. The hope is to get it ingrained into the hockey community so it is the norm. Will it need to be tweaked a bit. Of course, but let's look at it from the prespective that MN Hockey is trying to make a change for the better - use what works - change what might work - get rid of what does not work.<br>The 12 district directors discussed the obstacles of HEP and will be monitoring its effect within each district. Please let us know your concerns as it progresses.<br><br>Fair play points is just one component of HEP. The district directors have discussed it and have it on their plates to monitor, analyze, and adjust. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... liott70</A> at: 7/14/04 8:19 am<br></i>

[elliott70]

Roadking- <br>Believe me, your concerns are also the concerns of the MH board and particular the 12 district directors.<br>I have printed your post and will distribute it to the board members. <p></p><i></i>

[troll21]

After ready the introductory to the program on the Minnesota hockey website, I am amazed Minnesota<br> Hockey spent $50,000 for this program and our fees will be increased because of this program. Oddly enough, to attend the kick off event, we still have to pay to get in the door? <br><br>Hypothetical:<br>For a district where all teams do not get to participate in league playoffs, a team that has the best win/loss record but does not receive any HEP "bonus" points will not be able to participate in playoffs.<br><br>The program has many good topics and ideas but we have seen this before, 12 directors making choices for 40,000 players and coaches. I have attend board meetings and district meetings, and very minimal information was given but that it was a program that was going to be in place for the upcoming year. Once I heard about the program, there where so many unknowns and then here it is without any input from people that paid for the funding.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

Troll<br>First - it is not just the 12 directors but the entire board of directors (26 or so) of MN Hockey that votes.<br>Second - funding for some if not all is coming from a sponsor.<br>Third - there were several meetings with prominent hockey people regarding all of HEP<br>Fourth - there were 3 meetings in different areas of the state with reps from local assn<br>Fifth - there were meetings at all 12 districts<br>Sixth - In D16, if not others, there were distribution of material regarding HEP continullay since it was first brought forward over a year and a half ago with requests for feedback.<br><br>Yes, fairplay may impact certain districts in terms of teams making the playoff, but each district director has control over how that plays out.<br><br>And last, I appreciate the feedback.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[upucker]

Elliot<br>If MNHockey can change the parents, coaches and players violent behavior than more power to them, then its a good program. But how do you punish a parent who is consistently bad mouthing a coach and stirring up trouble in the rink? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... upucker</A> at: 7/18/04 10:35 pm<br></i>

[elliott70]

If the problem is at the local rink, the local association needs to step in and take control (zero tolerance). A suspension from coming into a facility while under their control (while they rent the rink) is a good place to start. Miss a weekend of your kids games and you will think twice about being a jerk.<br><br>If the local assn cannot/will not do anything bring it to the district director. The director can ban the individual from atending any sanctioned event (practice, scrimmage, games, tournaments).<br><br>But someone needs to talk to the person because he/she is making his/her kid have a miserable time and teaching the kid the wrong things. And its also miserable for the rest of the team and parents. <p></p><i></i>