You can't just blame a coach for a difficult season. I think Coach Kennedy is doing the best he can given the situation. Plus, I've seen many an underdog beat a more talented team... so look for a Kennedy W - or two - before long.
There are many reasons why teams vary in quality from year to year. It may seem easy to blame a new coach but it's a much bigger issue (or combination of several issues.) It could be a general decrease in population, less kids interested in playing hockey and they choose other sports, the high expense of hockey, the politics of youth hockey associations or kids leaving for better teams. (although it's more difficult to jump to another team because of the new MSHSL rules.)
The bottom line, given the right environment, any youth association can develop into a good feeder program for their high school. It's time to get back to the vision of past coaches like Ikola and Saterdalen. These guys worked with mites on up in their associations to help develop the skills and interest of youth players. In those days, the kids wanted to play on THEIR high school team. This doesn't mean that a HS coach has to spend every waking moment at the rink...
*They can hold pre-season clinics with the youth coaches to talk about development expectations.
*Visit practices and games every now and then. (and not just the "A" teams - but the B's & C's, as well - because each kid develops at a different pace.)
*Involve current HS players into youth practices as role models.
*Have youth nights and activities during HS games to encourage interest a desire to play for the HS..
I know several current HS coaches that are working with their youth associations to build for the future. I also know HS coaches who could care less about their local youth program. These coaches may have some good players and are currently winning but they'll be scratching their heads 4 years from now... wondering why there are only 18 kids showing up for tryouts???
We can also learn a valuable lesson from our friends up North. I recently learned that the entire population of the city of Roseau is less than the number of students attending Eden Prairie High School!!! And yet, year after year, Roseau develops great hockey players and a very competitive High School team. Does it happen because of the water up there? No. It happens because of a dedication to the youth hockey association. They build an interest and desire to play a sport that holds such a great tradition in that city.
The integration of HS coaches and HS players with the youth associations may not solve all the problems but it certainly is a start to creating more competitive high school teams in the future.
Bloomington Kennedy
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Re: Developing Players
I agree with everything you said and if it were the case I wouldn't be on here chirping. Unfortunately it hasnt been one year, it has been many years and in fact you could say a decade or more... I just hope that they dont have to become the Bloomington Bears of the past and combine in a co-op with Jefferson. I am sure Kennedy HS will turn it around when the will for a team really becomes the interest but until then it wont be much prettier than it is now...doubleAAguru wrote:You can't just blame a coach for a difficult season. I think Coach Kennedy is doing the best he can given the situation. Plus, I've seen many an underdog beat a more talented team... so look for a Kennedy W - or two - before long.
There are many reasons why teams vary in quality from year to year. It may seem easy to blame a new coach but it's a much bigger issue (or combination of several issues.) It could be a general decrease in population, less kids interested in playing hockey and they choose other sports, the high expense of hockey, the politics of youth hockey associations or kids leaving for better teams. (although it's more difficult to jump to another team because of the new MSHSL rules.)
The bottom line, given the right environment, any youth association can develop into a good feeder program for their high school. It's time to get back to the vision of past coaches like Ikola and Saterdalen. These guys worked with mites on up in their associations to help develop the skills and interest of youth players. In those days, the kids wanted to play on THEIR high school team. This doesn't mean that a HS coach has to spend every waking moment at the rink...
*They can hold pre-season clinics with the youth coaches to talk about development expectations.
*Visit practices and games every now and then. (and not just the "A" teams - but the B's & C's, as well - because each kid develops at a different pace.)
*Involve current HS players into youth practices as role models.
*Have youth nights and activities during HS games to encourage interest a desire to play for the HS..
I know several current HS coaches that are working with their youth associations to build for the future. I also know HS coaches who could care less about their local youth program. These coaches may have some good players and are currently winning but they'll be scratching their heads 4 years from now... wondering why there are only 18 kids showing up for tryouts???
We can also learn a valuable lesson from our friends up North. I recently learned that the entire population of the city of Roseau is less than the number of students attending Eden Prairie High School!!! And yet, year after year, Roseau develops great hockey players and a very competitive High School team. Does it happen because of the water up there? No. It happens because of a dedication to the youth hockey association. They build an interest and desire to play a sport that holds such a great tradition in that city.
The integration of HS coaches and HS players with the youth associations may not solve all the problems but it certainly is a start to creating more competitive high school teams in the future.
