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While, I think most teams will put their best players in at the end of a game, to try and win, others have power play lines for the entire game. EP red has a wonderful PP line. Would their record be different if they played everyone evenly? (that could be another topic)

Should it be about winning at all costs...or developing, everyone!!! As far as I know, everyone pays the same in association hockey (unless your a goalie)

For BB1
Power Play = earned
penalty kill = earned
normal Playing time = try to make equal over the the course of the year.
ride the wood rail = discipline problem

You still have 14 skaters out of 15 that are trying to make a difference, sometime it hurts.
Learn how to earn!

They should not shorten the bench... if you wan't to lose.

Shorting the bench in the 3rd period is mandatory at the bantam level, but I also think that when the game is not so close in the third, the weaker players should get more ice time.

Stealth wrote:For BB1
Power Play = earned
penalty kill = earned
normal Playing time = try to make equal over the the course of the year.
ride the wood rail = discipline problem

You still have 14 skaters out of 15 that are trying to make a difference, sometime it hurts.
Learn how to earn!

Stealth has it right with the normal playing time idea reflecting what FredFlinstone indicates what should happen

My opinion, for important district games, the coach needs to consider the good of the team versus the limiting the ice time of certain players.

The EP Red power play line have an advantage, they're the coaches kids....

Playing time should be based on three criteria:

1) Effort (practice and game)
2) Skill/Ability - can and will they help the team
3) Team Play - do they play for their own glory or the glory of the team

This isn't mite hockey - it's approprate to cultivate a winning attitude and teach the behaviors of winning teams. All players are not created equally - the kids have already figured this out. Associations have been showing them since squirts with classifications like A, B and C. By and large they want to win. If they don't - the lack of desire hurts those kids on the team who do. The problem comes in when coaches don't explain the methodology for playing time to the kids (and parents for that matter) - believe me, the kids get it if you take the time to explain and be consistent with the decision making process for playing time.

Coaches should rarely shorten the bench at any youth level.

District games, district/region/state play-offs, fine; do what you have to in order to win (at the appropriate time(s)). But non-D games, tournaments, devlop the players.

PP and PK are different. But do not exclude anyone. Have your #1, #2 etc...

Discipline is another story.

I think coaches should shorten the bench in key situationsorin district games. Because on my team we have four lines.