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In more than one post I said they would be private AAA teams.

Then they're not the best players. The top 3 players from each of the 5 biggest associations would wax that team everyday.

I am honsestly trying to understand why someone would want to leave their assocaition and pay 500% more in hockey fees.

I did the math, it's only 467%. Quit exagerating to make your point!!

SnowedIn gave us two good reasons why parents want their kid playing with "better players":

A: You live in an area that has a non-competitive association and you think your child (son or daughter) is a good player today and deserves more than a 5-30 season every winter?

Yes, but the record isn't always what ticks them off - it's the fact that junior or juniorette doesn't have anywhere near enough good kids to push practices hard enough for their kid to develop. Most coaches coach to the middle. And if your association doesn't run, say, a U12A team, it might be pretty frustrating to have juniorette be an A level player playing with B's.

B: You live in a large association where the top (A) team line-up is tough to crack and your child, who is good, is repeatedly cut to B's. And you think he should have an opportunity to play with better players.

Been here on this with middle kid. Kid gets cut from A, is sent to B, and told to just carry the puck, never pass to your teammates, we need your scoring. Kid gets plenty of ice, lots of touches, but isn't really playing hockey, and most practices aren't real beneficial. Sucks to be a bubble kid if you land on the wrong side of the bubble. Kid scores 30+ goals, but doesn't feel like it's a real big deal since it's only B.

In these two cases, I think it should be okay for kids to try and make up another A team. Let the big and competetive associations fill their A teams, then hold open tryouts for any kid not on those A teams. There are some A kids playing B1 or B (in girls, where it really sucks to not play A) who are really A-level. These open teams might never be as good as the best A teams, but I would actually support some form of this if it were available.

Problem is, the potential for abuse or hanky-panky is high. But associations who can't serve the needs of their constituents should allow those people to look elsewhere. And as long as that's another association who might not field an A team at a level, Minnesota hockey isn't hurt.[/quote]

Based on your answers you seem very uninformed and isolated

Things are not always as they seem...and glad to see I'm not the only condecending one here although I was doing it inadvertantly.

Look, here's my only point and I'll say my last word on this topic. What you are asking for already exisits today.

If it really is development that you are looking for (and I have my doubts) with a focus on skills with good instructors away from your association, there's a private AAA program based in Edina that serves this very market segment - ALL YEAR LONG. and the best part is you don't even have to worry about changing one single rule with Minnesota Hockey.

The organization I'm referring to caters to people who are looking for the very things you state above. (AAA teams, accelerated development, focus on skills, out of state travel, big time tournaments etc...)

However I suspect that's not exactly what you are looking for is it?

And one final note. I'm always cautioned by people who advocate for accelerated athletic development (regardless of sport) for young kids. I always ask...what's the hurry? What's the catalyst for being in such a rush?

Eventually we all end up in the same place anyway...Tuesday night beer league hockey. It's just that some of us get there faster than others.

JoltDelivered: You are very wise and obviously speak from experience.

I get the feeling several of these posters have yet to reach age 40 and they are talking about their first born child. As you send your 2nd and 3rd kid through, things become clear. Please continue posting the sanity checks Jolt!

JoltDelivered wrote:Eventually we all end up in the same place anyway...Tuesday night beer league hockey. It's just that some of us get there faster than others.

I just got demoted to Sunday night 11pm after my shoulder fell out of it's socket

I'm not the only condecending one here although I was doing it inadvertantly

Inadvertantly condecending???

However I suspect that's not exactly what you are looking for is it?

That one looks pretty advertant.

Eventually we all end up in the same place anyway...Tuesday night beer league hockey.

That's just boring; you can do better than that.



Maybe we can give a couple of these folks the benefit of a little doubt. Maybe the board is corrupt - paying their buddies and getting their own kids on the A team. Maybe the coaching is horrible. Maybe the philosophy is "if you don't feel like practicing today, then just stay home and watch Hanna Montana". Maybe the other kids can't catch a pass, or make a pass, or skate three strides with the puck on their sticks, or skate backwards. How is the kid going to develop when two kids who have never skated before were pulled out of gym class, because of their kick ball prowess, to fill out the bantam team. Maybe the kid did go to MM for mites and Squirts, and the peewee and bantam programs are so bad that the head of player development for the association required a sit-down meeting with the parents to have them sign a document stating that they will lower their expectations. Maybe the association doesn't have any summer ice - no STP much less a AAA program; maybe the board members don't want to drive their kid 40-60 minutes to a rink a couple times a week, so they convince everyone else that skating from mid-March to mid-October develops bad habits and is even physically dangerous - practically child abuse. And maybe, just maybe the kid would like to win more than 6 games throughout his entire squirt, peewee, and bantam experience.

BadgerBob82 wrote:JoltDelivered: You are very wise and obviously speak from experience.

I get the feeling several of these posters have yet to reach age 40 and they are talking about their first born child. As you send your 2nd and 3rd kid through, things become clear. Please continue posting the sanity checks Jolt!

Gracias amigo...On my 4th actually. It does get easier.

Inadvertantly condecending???

Ya know my wife has sometimes accused me of being condecending. Hmph, now here too. Well, there's my area of development I guess.

Damn...there's that word again.

HockeyDad - those weren't my reasons. Check the post again for the author.

Hey Jolt and WI guy, you guys are so cool and laid back man. You should get together around the campfire and exchange stories. Sounds like you'd be good for a case and walk away all warm and fuzzy about how everything is all right in your worlds and snicker about those that may want to push the envelope. I'm guessing you don't get many calls for motivational speaking.

"Hey kids do your homework but don't study too hard because you'll wind up with a deadbeat job working for the man. Shoot for the trees because you'll never get to the stars. We know because we've had kids 7 kids between the two of us and that's a statistically relevant sample from which to base all of lifes important conclusions. Pick up your free campfire DVD on your way out for more of life's lessons."

SnowedIn wrote:HockeyDad - those weren't my reasons. Check the post again for the author.

Hey Jolt and WI guy, you guys are so cool and laid back man. You should get together around the campfire and exchange stories. Sounds like you'd be good for a case and walk away all warm and fuzzy about how everything is all right in your worlds and snicker about those that may want to push the envelope. I'm guessing you don't get many calls for motivational speaking.

"Hey kids do your homework but don't study too hard because you'll wind up with a deadbeat job working for the man. Shoot for the trees because you'll never get to the stars. We know because we've had kids 7 kids between the two of us and that's a statistically relevant sample from which to base all of lifes important conclusions. Pick up your free campfire DVD on your way out for more of life's lessons."

Ouch man...where's the love?

Good for a case? What's Badger Bob gonna drink?

Signed...

Joe Cool

JoltDelivered wrote:

SnowedIn wrote:HockeyDad - those weren't my reasons. Check the post again for the author.

Hey Jolt and WI guy, you guys are so cool and laid back man. You should get together around the campfire and exchange stories. Sounds like you'd be good for a case and walk away all warm and fuzzy about how everything is all right in your worlds and snicker about those that may want to push the envelope. I'm guessing you don't get many calls for motivational speaking.

"Hey kids do your homework but don't study too hard because you'll wind up with a deadbeat job working for the man. Shoot for the trees because you'll never get to the stars. We know because we've had kids 7 kids between the two of us and that's a statistically relevant sample from which to base all of lifes important conclusions. Pick up your free campfire DVD on your way out for more of life's lessons."

Ouch man...where's the love?

Good for a case? What's Badger Bob gonna drink?

Signed...

Joe Cool

Right on target SnowedIn and the response from the alerted association mainstream advocate is typical. I'll bring the smores to the tired response I'm expecting. I'm cool too Badger drinks the Captain although he can't lift his leg high enough.