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Why should anyone care about a few wins or losses for a 9- or 10-year-old? What does winning or losing some ordinary games even prove? Otherwise, that parent must have serious issues or be incredibly immature.
It’s a sign of shortsighted parents who want to be on the best team, have a win at any cost attitude and extend that to games that don’t mean anything. At this age it is about development and fun and having kids find a role that suits them and highlights their strengths. They will ALL develop at different times. Everyone knows that. Some will be the big, physical guys, some will be small and skilled, some will use their smarts to succeed, some will skate faster than other. A good team will have a mix and a good coach will be able to squeeze out a contribution from everyone!
It's not a function of "wanting to be on the best team", it naturally progresses to being one of the best teams.
Nobody knew what they had before the season started. Throughout the year kids develope and some wohld rather be in la la land during drills and are timid and scared to compete. If some kids work harder, are more aware and generally care more about the outcomes of the game, why play the kids who don't care as much as ghe ones who do? Every team has a mix, some just have more talent, higher compete levels and skill than other teams with coaches who know more about how to get the most out of their kids. If your kids are not developing by the end of each year it's time to ask them if they would care to continue or place them at a level where they do contribute. It sounds like you're one or two levels above where your child should be.
Kids this young don’t yet have the benefit of life experience so you have to be a lot more careful with their confidence and their mental readiness. You say everyone starts the season not knowing how it pans out but that’s not true when coaches tell you one thing and do another. And if it is true? Then you go to practice and one kid excels because they are faster than the others? Or one is more comfortable being physical because he is bigger or just plays that way? Okay but if you then say well you other kids are too slow or you are being targeted for your size so you can’t play on special teams or in the third, what message is that? Just do what he bare minimum and that kid now won’t be motivated so he comes to practice feeling down about the game the night before.
And also there is a range of kids, you sound like you think you have a AAA one on you hands so why don’t you take him there where he can warm the bench and see if he likes it? Leave us AA where we are.
I have an older boy who made the jump to AAA at u12 and one that plays AA (2015). I have seen every team in AA and there is not a single kid (mine included) that will last on any team with the lack of intensity there is in AA. Guess what its ok lol, let them fall in love with the game before they are ripped apart in AAA, you have to be mentally there to play AAA and these AA kids are not.
100% it's a different mentality but only the top 3 or 4 teams have the kids who have that mentality drilled into them. It's also quite possible that some or many of those kids lose the intensity over time as they've had to maintain that for so many years.
Nobody knows that the future holds but the people who constantly complain that their kids are not getting better because it's everyone else's fault? Those ones are sick in the head and need help. Look in the mirror!
It’s a sign of shortsighted parents who want to be on the best team, have a win at any cost attitude and extend that to games that don’t mean anything. At this age it is about development and fun and having kids find a role that suits them and highlights their strengths. They will ALL develop at different times. Everyone knows that. Some will be the big, physical guys, some will be small and skilled, some will use their smarts to succeed, some will skate faster than other. A good team will have a mix and a good coach will be able to squeeze out a contribution from everyone!
It's not a function of "wanting to be on the best team", it naturally progresses to being one of the best teams.
Nobody knew what they had before the season started. Throughout the year kids develope and some wohld rather be in la la land during drills and are timid and scared to compete. If some kids work harder, are more aware and generally care more about the outcomes of the game, why play the kids who don't care as much as ghe ones who do? Every team has a mix, some just have more talent, higher compete levels and skill than other teams with coaches who know more about how to get the most out of their kids. If your kids are not developing by the end of each year it's time to ask them if they would care to continue or place them at a level where they do contribute. It sounds like you're one or two levels above where your child should be.
Kids this young don’t yet have the benefit of life experience so you have to be a lot more careful with their confidence and their mental readiness. You say everyone starts the season not knowing how it pans out but that’s not true when coaches tell you one thing and do another. And if it is true? Then you go to practice and one kid excels because they are faster than the others? Or one is more comfortable being physical because he is bigger or just plays that way? Okay but if you then say well you other kids are too slow or you are being targeted for your size so you can’t play on special teams or in the third, what message is that? Just do what he bare minimum and that kid now won’t be motivated so he comes to practice feeling down about the game the night before.
And also there is a range of kids, you sound like you think you have a AAA one on you hands so why don’t you take him there where he can warm the bench and see if he likes it? Leave us AA where we are.
I have an older boy who made the jump to AAA at u12 and one that plays AA (2015). I have seen every team in AA and there is not a single kid (mine included) that will last on any team with the lack of intensity there is in AA. Guess what its ok lol, let them fall in love with the game before they are ripped apart in AAA, you have to be mentally there to play AAA and these AA kids are not.
100% it's a different mentality but only the top 3 or 4 teams have the kids who have that mentality drilled into them. It's also quite possible that some or many of those kids lose the intensity over time as they've had to maintain that for so many years.
Nobody knows that the future holds but the people who constantly complain that their kids are not getting better because it's everyone else's fault? Those ones are sick in the head and need help. Look in the mirror!
Usually or mostly
This is a dad who never played this sport or another
But kids put in skates or 2,3
Maybe they are good maybe they are not but they get pushed
Every year dad fights the same fight
Coach keep him, he’s got it! New coach, take him we have shooting pad at home and 3 skills coach’s
Dad can go to beers and tell high school buds little Joey(s) won the cup
How is HVS looking? I heard they cut their weakest kids and the goalies so they might move up the standings this year. They are playing this weekend, right? Mississauga HC?
Guest wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:25 pm
How is HVS looking? I heard they cut their weakest kids and the goalies so they might move up the standings this year. They are playing this weekend, right? Mississauga HC?
Guest wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:25 pm
How is HVS looking? I heard they cut their weakest kids and the goalies so they might move up the standings this year. They are playing this weekend, right? Mississauga HC?
Guest wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:09 pm
Who cares. You still went 1-4 and lost to the second worst team in the East.
Why should anyone care about a few wins or losses for a 9- or 10-year-old? What does winning or losing some ordinary games even prove? Otherwise, that parent must have serious issues or be incredibly immature.
It’s a sign of shortsighted parents who want to be on the best team, have a win at any cost attitude and extend that to games that don’t mean anything. At this age it is about development and fun and having kids find a role that suits them and highlights their strengths. They will ALL develop at different times. Everyone knows that. Some will be the big, physical guys, some will be small and skilled, some will use their smarts to succeed, some will skate faster than other. A good team will have a mix and a good coach will be able to squeeze out a contribution from everyone!
It's not a function of "wanting to be on the best team", it naturally progresses to being one of the best teams.
Nobody knew what they had before the season started. Throughout the year kids develope and some wohld rather be in la la land during drills and are timid and scared to compete. If some kids work harder, are more aware and generally care more about the outcomes of the game, why play the kids who don't care as much as ghe ones who do? Every team has a mix, some just have more talent, higher compete levels and skill than other teams with coaches who know more about how to get the most out of their kids. If your kids are not developing by the end of each year it's time to ask them if they would care to continue or place them at a level where they do contribute. It sounds like you're one or two levels above where your child should be.
Kids this young don’t yet have the benefit of life experience so you have to be a lot more careful with their confidence and their mental readiness. You say everyone starts the season not knowing how it pans out but that’s not true when coaches tell you one thing and do another. And if it is true? Then you go to practice and one kid excels because they are faster than the others? Or one is more comfortable being physical because he is bigger or just plays that way? Okay but if you then say well you other kids are too slow or you are being targeted for your size so you can’t play on special teams or in the third, what message is that? Just do what he bare minimum and that kid now won’t be motivated so he comes to practice feeling down about the game the night before.
And also there is a range of kids, you sound like you think you have a AAA one on you hands so why don’t you take him there where he can warm the bench and see if he likes it? Leave us AA where we are.
1. That is his true level (he is top half AA player)
2. It is a stretch (bottom half) but he is improving faster than teammates
3. It is a stretch (bottom 10%) but started late and is doing lots of extras
4. He was too strong in A last year and moved up
5. He was too weak in AAA last year and moved down
6. He could play AAA but we choose not to ($ or commitment)
7. He could play AAA but for a weak team and we will move when he develops to be ready to play on a mid tier team
8. He is weak but is playing with the same team since early days and it would break his heart to go down to A
9. Other - specify
Guest wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:40 pm
Maybe this will spark some good discussion.
My son plays AA because:
1. That is his true level (he is top half AA player)
2. It is a stretch (bottom half) but he is improving faster than teammates
3. It is a stretch (bottom 10%) but started late and is doing lots of extras
4. He was too strong in A last year and moved up
5. He was too weak in AAA last year and moved down
6. He could play AAA but we choose not to ($ or commitment)
7. He could play AAA but for a weak team and we will move when he develops to be ready to play on a mid tier team
8. He is weak but is playing with the same team since early days and it would break his heart to go down to A
9. Other - specify
Guest wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:40 pm
Maybe this will spark some good discussion.
My son plays AA because:
1. That is his true level (he is top half AA player)
2. It is a stretch (bottom half) but he is improving faster than teammates
3. It is a stretch (bottom 10%) but started late and is doing lots of extras
4. He was too strong in A last year and moved up
5. He was too weak in AAA last year and moved down
6. He could play AAA but we choose not to ($ or commitment)
7. He could play AAA but for a weak team and we will move when he develops to be ready to play on a mid tier team
8. He is weak but is playing with the same team since early days and it would break his heart to go down to A
9. Other - specify
Lame.
Now let’s really get the conversation going: what team has the hottest dads?
