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Development?
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:42 pm
by hockeymomtomany
Just to get a conversation started in regards to AAA hockey, in your opinion what is more important for development? If you had to choose one or the other.
1. A kid being the best player on the team? Meaning they have the puck a lot, score a lot of goals, not pushed that much but is a leader?
Or
2. A kid playing with like skilled players/ better players? At a faster speed, being pushed more, and not scoring as many goals but playing with kids that can play with him/her?[/u]
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 1:42 pm
by SCBlueLiner
Option 2. Provided the other players aer similar skilled like you stated. All day long.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:28 pm
by 57special
Alternating between both can be good. Being "the man" can be a great experience, as everyone is going after you, and it is good experience dealing with the pressure involved in having to bring it every night in order for your team to do well.
Having said that, if i had to make a choice for development between the two it would be to play with better players, assuming that the player isn't playing too far over his head. Being the worst player on a team can be a miserable experience, especially if he doesn't have the athletic ability to compete(size, speed, strength, coordination).
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 1:46 pm
by Froggy Richards
I would choose option 2 as well. Always better to be challenged and have to work for what you get, provided, as 57 said, that they aren't too far over their head. That can be counterproductive.
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:42 pm
by boomerang
I think it can also depend on the player. My own son tends to improve the most when he's in the bottom half skill wise, but a winter team mate tends to improve more when he's one of the top few.
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:39 pm
by Nevertoomuchhockey
Oh, that was a real question.
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:27 am
by boomerang
Honestly, the best money I ever spent was on a personal trainer that knew little about hockey and just focused on agility and endurance. My kid improved the most the summer he did that and only did the cheapest AAA team just to get a few games in for fun.
Re: Development?
Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:34 am
by JSR
hockeymomtomany wrote:Just to get a conversation started in regards to AAA hockey, in your opinion what is more important for development? If you had to choose one or the other.
1. A kid being the best player on the team? Meaning they have the puck a lot, score a lot of goals, not pushed that much but is a leader?
Or
2. A kid playing with like skilled players/ better players? At a faster speed, being pushed more, and not scoring as many goals but playing with kids that can play with him/her?[/u]
Depends on the exact situation. If the kid is on the third or fourth line of Option 2 and is struggling just to keep up and it kills his confidence then Option 1 is the answer all day long. If he is right in the thick of things and gets special teams play and solid playing time and it does not effect his confidence then Option 2 all day long. Finding the right watermark for the individual player is the key.
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:17 pm
by legalbeagle05
What JSR said, x 1000.
My kid soars when she can get her groove on and score once in a blue moonl. But when she's in the bottom of the heap, she gets Eyore-like and thinks she is the worst player in the world.
I hate to throw this in there, too, but it can also depend on the team. One team might really boost your kid along and they all might thrive on each others' talents. Another team might all be space cadets who are in their own worlds.
Multiple kids? Each kid has their own brain, own style of play, and own confidence level. Consider each kid individually and go with your gut.