Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 11:40 am We need to simplify the system for coaches. Get back to the simple Coach, Asst Coach, Manager, Trainer scenerio. Get 4 volunteers, each volunteer knows there role and execute against that role. Parents need to be educated on what team will provide .. schedule, budget, 1-2 games/week, 1-2 practices/week, tournaments. The team is not about private skills sessions or providing player x with more power play time.
Secondly, if we simplify, we will get costs down for all kids. Remove the BS in team budgets, paid coaches, swag no one wants, expensive exhibition games, training camps at rinks that charge $400/hr.
Finally, take time out as well. Teams show up 30 minutes before the game, 25 mins before a practice .. why is it one hour? Team meetings with parents are at practices with Asst Coach running the practice.
Practice sheets shared online, 24 hours before practice. Players be prepared.

All good in theory but we don't have enough volunteers to fulfill all these roles as intended. On the house league level, the association I coach had 23 coaches for 6 teams 2 years ago and last year they started out with 12 volunteers, ending up around 16 or 17. You get desperate and accept anyone who completes the HC training and has a valid VSC. You end up not having a team manager and the trainer is on the ice/bench helping coach.

I have also coached Select, which involves more planning for schedules, budgets, games, etc and even at this little bit better than house league level, there are a lot of issues. While we were able to have managers and a full complement of coaches, it took a lot of work to make the season a reasonable expense for parents. Unfortunately, we don't have enough coaches who have the dedication that my staff and I have because of all the non sense from parents, the association, refs, etc.

I'm coaching because I love it but there are a lot of days when I wish I could just sit in the stands and watch. It's pretty much a part time job that I think about constantly.

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 12:30 pm Look out the snowflake coward is at it again. Angry little man

Yup he hayes parents, blames everyone else, and won't accept accountability.

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 12:33 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 11:40 am We need to simplify the system for coaches. Get back to the simple Coach, Asst Coach, Manager, Trainer scenerio. Get 4 volunteers, each volunteer knows there role and execute against that role. Parents need to be educated on what team will provide .. schedule, budget, 1-2 games/week, 1-2 practices/week, tournaments. The team is not about private skills sessions or providing player x with more power play time.
Secondly, if we simplify, we will get costs down for all kids. Remove the BS in team budgets, paid coaches, swag no one wants, expensive exhibition games, training camps at rinks that charge $400/hr.
Finally, take time out as well. Teams show up 30 minutes before the game, 25 mins before a practice .. why is it one hour? Team meetings with parents are at practices with Asst Coach running the practice.
Practice sheets shared online, 24 hours before practice. Players be prepared.

All good in theory but we don't have enough volunteers to fulfill all these roles as intended. On the house league level, the association I coach had 23 coaches for 6 teams 2 years ago and last year they started out with 12 volunteers, ending up around 16 or 17. You get desperate and accept anyone who completes the HC training and has a valid VSC. You end up not having a team manager and the trainer is on the ice/bench helping coach.

I have also coached Select, which involves more planning for schedules, budgets, games, etc and even at this little bit better than house league level, there are a lot of issues. While we were able to have managers and a full complement of coaches, it took a lot of work to make the season a reasonable expense for parents. Unfortunately, we don't have enough coaches who have the dedication that my staff and I have because of all the non sense from parents, the association, refs, etc.

I'm coaching because I love it but there are a lot of days when I wish I could just sit in the stands and watch. It's pretty much a part time job that I think about constantly.

Easy fixes that sadly most coaches-especially at the tier 2 and tier 1 levels, don't want.

1-associations take over practice planning for not just the season, but a coordinated approach that encompasses all age groups and levels. Essentially a curriculum. This saves coaches a TON of time, and also takes the target off of them when idiot parents question their plan. They can be redirected to the Association.

2-Have approved budgets, and take out lots of away tournaments. This has gotten WAY out of hand, increasing costs, time commitment from players/families and organization requirements from coaches/managers etc.

3-inform the team that if there's not at least one assistant coach, a manager and a trainer, there's no team. And stick to it.

4-parents who are a-holes, suspend them for poor behaviour from the rink, with ever extending suspensions until complete ban.

5-open up closed centres. Closed centres create apathy in those involved who have ZERO accountability, and become self righteous. Not saying that they are always wrong, but have them earn people's money, time and respect. If they're good people will want to be part of their program.

Be innovative, use measures that keep people accountable-parents and coaches-put the PLAYER/KID-as the 1st priority, and promote a "merit" based approach. If your association is organized, has well thought out long term plans, quality coaches with good communication skills, support for the much valued volunteers, immediate repercussions for bad parents, and can teach and develop young players while having fun.....you'll have to put people on waiting lists to be part of whay you bring.

Or spin your wheels, keep closed centres, complain, have excuses, blame everyone else and essentially be part of the problem.

Why do you think that spring hockey and private development are growing exponentially? Because in many ways-not all ways-it's better. People at least get to pick their poison so to speak. Development, well private guys are better hands down.

Its the parents...

I get it, they pay a lot of money, spend a lot of time being committed to youth hockey.

If the coaching staff are volunteers, cut them some slack, they did sign up to do it and should be doing what they are supposed to do.

Somewhere along the minor hockey journey, in the last 3 decades, extra development came along, not playing any other sport (even in summer) came along, ice time and equipment got very expensive, excessive parental pressure came along.

Only a very small percentage of players ever actually get to make a living playing hockey. Some parents need a severe reality check.

I was talking about you spellcheck

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:07 pm Its the parents...

I get it, they pay a lot of money, spend a lot of time being committed to youth hockey.

If the coaching staff are volunteers, cut them some slack, they did sign up to do it and should be doing what they are supposed to do.

Somewhere along the minor hockey journey, in the last 3 decades, extra development came along, not playing any other sport (even in summer) came along, ice time and equipment got very expensive, excessive parental pressure came along.

Only a very small percentage of players ever actually get to make a living playing hockey. Some parents need a severe reality check.

It can be the parents, and often times it is, but you willfully ignore the coaches.

The "Just because they are volunteers" argument is tired. Yes most are, but they also hold power over parents/players as volunteers. Be accountable no matter what, it's not hard, and it's the "coaches" who are fighting back against accountability.

Good point "should be doing what they are supposed to do." Who decides "what is supposed to be done?" The coach, the association, the parent, Hockey Canada, The Branch...whom?? This is a massive problem, no standards, therefore no accountability. But you nailed it, "doing what they are supposed to do!" The problem is, Associations and coaches, want free reign to decide what this means.

Easy fix, OPEN CLOSED CENTRES! Boom if you're way is best, and people are happy, they'll stay, if not they'll leave. Earn your way, be accountable.

Extra development-great point to. The problem is see is that teams, aka coaches or associations, are IMPOSING these extras on players. That impacts costs, along with demands to go tot 5+ away tournaments, suits, plus track suit, plus winter jackets, ++++++. ALL on the coaches/associations. If parents freely chose on their own time to do extra, that's on them, nobody else's business.

Not playing another sport, yes some parents do this on their own, and they're nuts, not informed and actually hurting their kid. But do what you want. Too bad teams, and Associations, can't take that out. They let their teams, ahem, coaches, make this happen. Coaches are also BIG culprits in the demands to make sports specialization mandatory or at least it's so difficult to play another sport people chose not to.

YES parents are nuts, and you'd think that ASSOCIATIONS, who control teams, and supposedly their coaches, who follow HC standards, would at least make HC umbrella hockey, free from all that nonsense. But, like everything else, they lack effective and impactful leadership.

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:17 pm I was talking about you spellcheck

Where is your period champ?

Spoken by the lying uneducated coward scumbag that projects his own insecurities on others. Yeah we know who you are sweetie.

What is has become over the last 30 yrs or so is a business that investors (parents) want their ROI on.

Everyone has their hand in your pocket from the associations, development, coaches, tournaments and equipment suppliers.

This has caused the narrowing of the pyramid at the base of players which has caused teams to play over their heads (think all the AAA bottom feeders) who should really be playing down a level. This would move all the bottom feeders down at each level and make games more competitive.

This of course is all doomed to fail because parents ego could not withstand the hit.

Guest wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 4:20 pm Spoken by the lying uneducated coward scumbag that projects his own insecurities on others. Yeah we know who you are sweetie.

Hey snowflake I was looking for the yellow cowboy hat in you punked out. Coward

Grow some nuts. Remember you're afraid of hockey moms.

Read that again

You're welcome son