Just wondering....

[ilike2score]

I am wondering if anyone else feels that our youth hockey season begins too early? I have an 11 year old and a 13 year old. They both play Fall sports, one soccer and one football. The problem is there has been conflicts the last two weeks with Hockey tryouts conflicting with the In season sports. This week we need to make the choice of attending Hockey tryouts or participating in the final week and playoffs for Football. Any Thoughts?

[O-townClown]

All relative I guess. The rest of the country began in late August.

[ilike2score]

Is the rest of the country multisport or hockey only athletes?

[Tenoverpar]

commit to your "in season" teams. If you kids can make a few of the tryouts, they're sure to get selected for the appropriate skill level.
If your kids are top 6 players, it will be evident, if they are bubble players in hockey, and YOU THINK they should be A players and they end up B because of missing a few tryout skates, then maybe they are actually B players right now. In the end, it doesn't matter. Enjoy the games, whatever team they are on.

[sorno82]

It is somewhat ironic that USA and Minnesota hockey go on at length about needing multi-sport athletes, but it is nothing more than talk. They could do a real simple thing-enforce a no tryout before a certain date (October 15?). THis will allow kids to play their fall sports without having to compromise on either. I see too many kids going to tryouts or leaving tryouts with football or soccer gear on. I know of few parents who think this is a good idea. Does anyone really think the extra 2 or 3 weeks is going to make a difference in March? Kids can still skate on their own or in clinics, but can stagger the days and control the intensity.

As with USA or Minn Hockey, it is a lot of hot air. I do know I had to send the pair $40 in order to have the pleasure of coaching this year. Oh yeah, I need another level of certification too.

Outside of Minnesota, most teams have their tryouts in the spring or summer, so their is not a lot of conflict. Also, it is a lot more expensive elsewhere, so you may have fewer multi-sport kids.

[nMN]

Tryouts in the spring and more expensive? You are talking about AAA teams, not the clubs. It is not the rest of the country it is apples and oranges. Clubs everywhere have fall tryouts, some sooner and some a bit later. Last thing we need is more regulation.

It is somewhat ironic that USA and Minnesota hockey go on at length about needing multi-sport athletes, but it is nothing more than talk. They could do a real simple thing-enforce a no tryout before a certain date (October 15?). THis will allow kids to play their fall sports without having to compromise on either. I see too many kids going to tryouts or leaving tryouts with football or soccer gear on. I know of few parents who think this is a good idea. Does anyone really think the extra 2 or 3 weeks is going to make a difference in March? Kids can still skate on their own or in clinics, but can stagger the days and control the intensity.

As with USA or Minn Hockey, it is a lot of hot air. I do know I had to send the pair $40 in order to have the pleasure of coaching this year. Oh yeah, I need another level of certification too.

Outside of Minnesota, most teams have their tryouts in the spring or summer, so their is not a lot of conflict. Also, it is a lot more expensive elsewhere, so you may have fewer multi-sport kids.

[sorno82]

Last thing we need is more regulation.

Totally agree, but why not make a rule that actually makes sense. Preventing ealier than necessary tryouts helps a majority of kids and families. Not sure I have heard anyone say that tryouts that start in September are not early enough. Every family I have talked to agree that having early tryouts is crazy. If common sense does not prevail, then do something about it.

[O-townClown]

Is the rest of the country multisport or hockey only athletes?

Depends if kids want to play just one sport or more. Of course, the older one gets the harder it is to keep up with the demands. All want kids to commit to that one.

My son plays soccer right now as well as his hockey, and he plays a lot more hockey than the Minnesota kids his age. Last winter he played flag football in addition to the hockey and in spring it was hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.

The problems with multiple sports from the rink owners' standpoint:
1) kids might find they actually like one of those other sports more
2) the frequent customers come by less frequently

[O-townClown]

Tryouts in the spring and more expensive? You are talking about AAA teams, not the clubs. It is not the rest of the country it is apples and oranges. Clubs everywhere have fall tryouts, some sooner and some a bit later. Last thing we need is more regulation.

I don't know which clubs you are talking about. In the Southeast, and pretty much along the east coast, the norm is to hold tryouts around May so the team can be selected in advance of the summer. It helps with planning.

One of the main reasons for the USA Hockey shift in registration period was to make the tryout fall in the same season as the actual games.

For Mites in Florida, tryouts were mostly through the summer. At older ages they were sooner.

[Mac15]

When I was a kid we tried out weekdays at 5:30am and on Sunday. It never conflicted with football at all. Of course, getting to the bus stop on time was kind of hard.