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Old 02-05-2013, 09:48 PM   #28
Mr.Coffee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek Sutton View Post
The OP was in regards to spring hockey, which is a whole different can of worms then minor hockey, so lets stick to that, I will outline some of the differences. Spring hockey is essentially unsanctioned, meaning no residential rules regarding where kids play. Also no governing body such as Hockey Alberta to handle discipline, officiating, game times etc... As well most spring clubs are private "for profit" businesses.

I became involved in spring hockey in 2006 with a 6yr old. Back then there were only a handful of teams around. Top Guns, S A selects, Foothills Elite and the Wolverines. It was at the time considered AAA. Less then three years later there were nearly 10 teams. The focus was no longer on giving kids high level competition which really lackss until pee wee in many areas, but on, making money and parents trying to avenge hurt feelings. anyone with an ice time and 12 friends with kids became a AAA spring team. If your kid was cut from one team you just went to a different team, or stated your own. If a coach benched your kid, you just went to a different team or started your own. Spring hockey, like so many other kids activities became a showcase for the parents. Back in 2006 local tournaments such as the Stampede Challenge and the showdown in in Cowtown were top level competition having 6 or so teams in each age group with teams coming from Vancouver, Minnesota etc... 2009 would feature 8 teams in three divisions in nearly every age group tiered in to gold, silver and bronze no longer AAA, the teams were nearly all from Alberta as well. The the hockey was no longer elite competition.

Spring hockey tournaments are a full time job for the promoters, as the linked article mentioned. The same groups run tournaments all over from Edmonton to Winnipeg to Las Vegas which are usually poorly organized, poorly officiated and. There sole objective is to make money, and parents don't seem to care.

The costs vary from club to club depending n the number of tournaments, ice times and amount of travel. As well as track suits, jerseys bag, gloves etc.. but what has also happened over the years is that teams have a core of 12 or so players that play together and form the team, funding and all. When they go to a tournament they will bring in 2-4 star players who play for free because they want to win. The parents of the core 12 have bank roll the ringers in their original fees they pay at the start of the year. This has become the norm. I know first hand on several occasions where kids have gotten all expense paid tournaments air fare, food and hotel.
Wow. This is nuts. Seriously, assuming the above is all true... just wow, not sure what else to say. Bank rolling other kids so your little kids team can win? What the hell?

Anyway I find this thread both sad and hilarious all at the same time. When I grew up, my dad would always go over the odds of me making it. I know that sounds bad, but I think he was just trying to be honest, and keep me healthy and normal. A lot of what's being written in this thread, about a kid being so overly dedicated to a sport, just doesn't seem healthy to me. I understand kids get passionate, but I kind of think like fotze that maybe that passion is left unbridled because parents are hoping for something more. But it just seems so backwards if it's all about the parents, doesn't it? And if you're pushing your kid to be a millionaire, aren't there basically a lot better ways to get there, with probably less work overall? Maybe not... but I dunno... sacrificing one's childhood and youth seems like a pretty steep price.

It's not just hockey too... parents going crazy on extracurriculars... it's all very strange to me. My wife and I had a little kid a couple months ago... I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams trying to force her into something because I have wild career dream aspirations for her. It sounds ridiculous, petty, materialistic and frankly wrong and a little depressing.

There is more to life.

Last edited by Mr.Coffee; 02-05-2013 at 09:51 PM.
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