My kid was on the bubble -made squirt A

[ajj2and3]

He made A his first year and passed 2 second year squirts. Parents of the 'passed' accuse the 'A' parents of drinking the same cool-aid. Like we conspired this . I know my son isn't the fastest but I think he deserved to make it- he out-worked most and is a team-player. Guess my wife and I are feeling the heat and need to make new 'friends'. What do we do when another Dad wants a 'piece of me'?
We have a right to watch and help our son. Do we stay in the parking-lot?
Ideas?

[PG3319]

I wouldn't worry about it to much untill there is a real threat or threats made to your child then your hockey board needs to get involved as well as the police. It is too bad that parents resort to acting out about the letter of the team their children make. As long as the kid continues to develope there is no issue, right. People need to grow up and quit living through their children.

DISTURBED

[MNHawker]

He made A his first year and passed 2 second year squirts. Parents of the 'passed' accuse the 'A' parents of drinking the same cool-aid. Like we conspired this . I know my son isn't the fastest but I think he deserved to make it- he out-worked most and is a team-player. Guess my wife and I are feeling the heat and need to make new 'friends'. What do we do when another Dad wants a 'piece of me'?
We have a right to watch and help our son. Do we stay in the parking-lot?
Ideas?

Go find ALL the bantam Parents and most of the Peewee Parents at the local Tavern... have a beer\POP. as you will notice, as you go up levels, there are less people around for Practices...

Then go Pick your kid up at the end of Practice...

[O-townClown]

He made A his first year and passed 2 second year squirts. Parents of the 'passed' accuse the 'A' parents of drinking the same cool-aid. Like we conspired this . I know my son isn't the fastest but I think he deserved to make it- he out-worked most and is a team-player. Guess my wife and I are feeling the heat and need to make new 'friends'. What do we do when another Dad wants a 'piece of me'?
We have a right to watch and help our son. Do we stay in the parking-lot?
Ideas?

One of two things will happen.

A) Your son proves he can play and advances to stay ahead of those other players, or
B) they validate their parents concerns by passing your boy.

Or potentially others and then their kid will play with yours.

I'm always surprised by the sense of finality that surrounds cuts in sports. Hey, if the coaches got it wrong those cut will certainly show them.

Don't complain about not making the NCAA. Go out and win the NIT.

Not your fault your son made it, so I hope no backlash is directed toward you.

[Air Force 1]

First, congratulations to your son!

It's just Squirt hockey. 9 and 10 year old hockey. For those other parents, there are more issues than what team their kid was selected for. Support your player, tell him to have fun before the game and tell him you love him after that game regardless of the outcome.

Were those second years on the Squirt A last year? Did your son displace those second years or did they compete for the same opening and you son simply beat them out?

As MNHawker said, come over and find us Bantam parents at the pub, we'll buy you a beer and tell you lies.

[watchdog]

wow you cidiots need to get a serious grip on reality!!!!!

[MrBoDangles]

wow you cidiots need to get a serious grip on reality!!!!!

I suppose in weak hockey country everyone makes the team..

[kopernicus]

This is Good Stuff

[Spinerama]

Do you want to provide your kids stats and those of his teamates. Perhaps then we can make a proper determination on whether yo should handle this in the parking lot by dropping the gloves!

[dogeatdog1]

wow you cidiots need to get a serious grip on reality!!!!!

WOW? Watchdog you should think before getting on this board again. You my friend again are giving the North a bad name. A parent comes here and tries to get some advice and you tear into him/her as if there are never any controversies in the pure white north. Maybe we should call you an NORON (MORON FROM THE NORTH as im sure you are not bright enough to figure that out). My guess is your kiid is a perennial A player and you don't have to talk to the lower parents.. I'm sure he will turn out to be just like you a noron...Nice post!

[Faceguard79]

deleted

[O-townClown]

Just laugh at anyone who says anything, half the kids on that A team won't even be in hockey by Bantams.

Do you have anything to back this up? USA Hockey data on player retention indicates otherwise. The first year attrition rate is 43%, but after that the retention rate is actually quite high.

I don't see what you describe.

Do you?

[watchdog]

thanks eat for your awesome insight once again. i was talking about the guy getting so upset he wants to beat up a parent of a kid that made the team but you just keep on filling everyone with your superior wisdom ill just sit back read your post and learn a thing or two.

[silentbutdeadly3139]

thanks eat for your awesome insight once again. i was talking about the guy getting so upset he wants to beat up a parent of a kid that made the team but you just keep on filling everyone with your superior wisdom ill just sit back read your post and learn a thing or two.

well then maybe you should put more thought in your post, or at least who it is directed at rather than firing a broad insult leaving everyone to guess who your insulting. Ok, now your free to attack me now ...

[watchdog]

deadly your right i should have been more spacific. what i said however wasnt much of an insult. i think everyone is all crazy right now because its that time of the year. we still have hs tryouts left and some havent made cuts for youth up north we will make it people!!! anyway not one deer shot by this household yet thats what i cant beleive..

[hockey relic]

He made A his first year and passed 2 second year squirts. Parents of the 'passed' accuse the 'A' parents of drinking the same cool-aid. Like we conspired this . I know my son isn't the fastest but I think he deserved to make it- he out-worked most and is a team-player. Guess my wife and I are feeling the heat and need to make new 'friends'. What do we do when another Dad wants a 'piece of me'?
We have a right to watch and help our son. Do we stay in the parking-lot?
Ideas?

Sorry to hear that parents are so crazy squirt level. It does get easier as the season goes on and as you move up levels. There have to be a few sane parents in the group to hang out with. Take the high road, the SQA coach will appreciate it and it will help your son and his team mates in the long haul.

[InigoMontoya]

The stress level of parents that have kids on the bubble is not just a city issue. Outstate there can be even more at play; smaller associations not only have fewer kids, but few resources - the difference in development opportunity offered to a kid that skates on the squirt or peewee A team with a coaching staff that knows what it's doing versus the B team with a group of dads (albeit very well-meaning folks) that rarely includes a guy that played beyond high school and often includes a guy that never played at all. "Develop as a leader" and "learn to push yourself" are fine and dandy, but the reality is the kid that skates B will fall behind the kids that skate A all winter long - even when hours of ice time are equal. In areas of the state where summer opportunities are rare, it's a long haul for that kid to catch up. (Please note that I am in no way advocating physical violence against another parent, slashing his tires in the parking lot is just as effective.)

Just to stir the pot: did the kid play mites in the association? Is he moving from another association due to the new 'school rule', or is he coming from an alternative mite opportunity? The kool-aid comment leaves that question as yet unanswered.

[elliott70]

He made A his first year and passed 2 second year squirts. Parents of the 'passed' accuse the 'A' parents of drinking the same cool-aid. Like we conspired this . I know my son isn't the fastest but I think he deserved to make it- he out-worked most and is a team-player. Guess my wife and I are feeling the heat and need to make new 'friends'. What do we do when another Dad wants a 'piece of me'?
We have a right to watch and help our son. Do we stay in the parking-lot?
Ideas?

Congratulations to your son.
Tell him he has to work harder now.

Tell those that do not like the process nothing, don't speak with them.

Playing squirt B or C is not a bad thing. Playing is the important thing.
They will either figure it out or have a miserable time with hockey and os will their child. Hopefully they will get it before the player gets to be a miserable SOB also.

If someone wants to be physical just dial 911 and walk away.

[JSR]

I understand that at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels the "development" can be different because of coaching. But at Mites and Squirts ice time and time with the puck matter most. I remember 2 years ago my son and his friend were both on the "bubble' so to speak for Mite A's versus Mite B's. My son ended up on the Mite B team his friend on the Mite A. I would be lying if I said there wasn't SOME intitial disappointment for ME but my son did not care and he just wanted to have fun and play hockey and it was the best thing that ever happened to both of us. I learned an early lesson that I probably needed so as not to go to the "dark side" and he was rewarded ten fold. Turned out he ended up dominating the Mite B level, had tons of puck time, scored tons of goals and assists and most importantly had a blast doing it and gained TONS of confidence. Meanwhile his friend struggled to keep up on the A team and rarely saw the puck. He learned lots about "positiong" and his skating ability was about equal but his stick handling and confidence with the puck were near zero. The following season the boys did a total role reversal so to speak. At the early ages people need to understand ALOT can be gained form being the best player on the B team as opposed to being the bottom player on the A team. Just sayin.

[elliott70]

wow you cidiots need to get a serious grip on reality!!!!!

I suppose in weak hockey country everyone makes A TEAM not always the A TEAM..

[elliott70]

deadly your right i should have been more spacific. what i said however wasnt much of an insult. i think everyone is all crazy right now because its that time of the year. we still have hs tryouts left and some havent made cuts for youth up north we will make it people!!! anyway not one deer shot by this household yet thats what i cant beleive..

3 here (none by me).

[elliott70]

The stress level of parents that have kids on the bubble is not just a city issue. Outstate there can be even more at play; smaller associations not only have fewer kids, but few resources - the difference in development opportunity offered to a kid that skates on the squirt or peewee A team with a coaching staff that knows what it's doing versus the B team with a group of dads (albeit very well-meaning folks) that rarely includes a guy that played beyond high school and often includes a guy that never played at all. "Develop as a leader" and "learn to push yourself" are fine and dandy, but the reality is the kid that skates B will fall behind the kids that skate A all winter long - even when hours of ice time are equal. In areas of the state where summer opportunities are rare, it's a long haul for that kid to catch up. (Please note that I am in no way advocating physical violence against another parent, slashing his tires in the parking lot is just as effective.)

Just to stir the pot: did the kid play mites in the association? Is he moving from another association due to the new 'school rule', or is he coming from an alternative mite opportunity? The kool-aid comment leaves that question as yet unanswered.

That's too bad.
In this part of the world those assn that are stronger have someone that wathces over the coaches to be sure ALL kids are receiving instruction to improve them and have fun - obviously A level players receive differnet instruction than B level and as you mentioned our resources can be less then the metro area, but we have former D1, former pro, former Olympians on the ice in some organizations (even for the girls).

Unfortunately, you are right about some places, though. But the metro lower end player can develop with dad's $.

For those without that opportunity (metro or elsewhere) the player and family need to find alternatives (outdoor ice, shooting pucks, dryland in the backyard, etc...). It is not impossible.

But I agree (at least for the most part) with what you are saying.
To overcome it, the kid has to work hard to advance, that means being the first on and last off the ice...listening to the coach...learn that hard work is a good and fun thing, not something to run from.

[flatontheice]

The stress level of parents that have kids on the bubble is not just a city issue. Outstate there can be even more at play; smaller associations not only have fewer kids, but few resources - the difference in development opportunity offered to a kid that skates on the squirt or peewee A team with a coaching staff that knows what it's doing versus the B team with a group of dads (albeit very well-meaning folks) that rarely includes a guy that played beyond high school and often includes a guy that never played at all. "Develop as a leader" and "learn to push yourself" are fine and dandy, but the reality is the kid that skates B will fall behind the kids that skate A all winter long - even when hours of ice time are equal. In areas of the state where summer opportunities are rare, it's a long haul for that kid to catch up. (Please note that I am in no way advocating physical violence against another parent, slashing his tires in the parking lot is just as effective.)

Just to stir the pot: did the kid play mites in the association? Is he moving from another association due to the new 'school rule', or is he coming from an alternative mite opportunity? The kool-aid comment leaves that question as yet unanswered.

That's too bad.
In this part of the world those assn that are stronger have someone that wathces over the coaches to be sure ALL kids are receiving instruction to improve them and have fun - obviously A level players receive differnet instruction than B level and as you mentioned our resources can be less then the metro area, but we have former D1, former pro, former Olympians on the ice in some organizations (even for the girls).

Unfortunately, you are right about some places, though. But the metro lower end player can develop with dad's $.

For those without that opportunity (metro or elsewhere) the player and family need to find alternatives (outdoor ice, shooting pucks, dryland in the backyard, etc...). It is not impossible.

But I agree (at least for the most part) with what you are saying.
To overcome it, the kid has to work hard to advance, that means being the first on and last off the ice...listening to the coach...learn that hard work is a good and fun thing, not something to run from.

I wanna drop gloves and go at it with you after reading all this. Anyone that would come on this board looking for that kind of advice needs to get a couple of leftys to choppers...come on...I am sure you can figure out how to handle it by yourself...you are an adult are you not?

[InigoMontoya]

Yes, District 16 is rich with hockey tradition. It would be my guess that the populations of Waseca or Sleepy Eye do not have the per capita ratio of Olympians that you are blessed with up there. A quick search of the Litchfield directory shows no Brotons listed. All I'm saying is that a parent may be a little anxious when staring at a fork in the road: left turn = stagnation; right turn = Citius, Altius, Fortius.

[MaxSnatch]

The stress level of parents that have kids on the bubble is not just a city issue. Outstate there can be even more at play; smaller associations not only have fewer kids, but few resources - the difference in development opportunity offered to a kid that skates on the squirt or peewee A team with a coaching staff that knows what it's doing versus the B team with a group of dads (albeit very well-meaning folks) that rarely includes a guy that played beyond high school and often includes a guy that never played at all. "Develop as a leader" and "learn to push yourself" are fine and dandy, but the reality is the kid that skates B will fall behind the kids that skate A all winter long - even when hours of ice time are equal. In areas of the state where summer opportunities are rare, it's a long haul for that kid to catch up. (Please note that I am in no way advocating physical violence against another parent, slashing his tires in the parking lot is just as effective.)

Just to stir the pot: did the kid play mites in the association? Is he moving from another association due to the new 'school rule', or is he coming from an alternative mite opportunity? The kool-aid comment leaves that question as yet unanswered.

That's too bad.
In this part of the world those assn that are stronger have someone that wathces over the coaches to be sure ALL kids are receiving instruction to improve them and have fun - obviously A level players receive differnet instruction than B level and as you mentioned our resources can be less then the metro area, but we have former D1, former pro, former Olympians on the ice in some organizations (even for the girls).

Unfortunately, you are right about some places, though. But the metro lower end player can develop with dad's $.

For those without that opportunity (metro or elsewhere) the player and family need to find alternatives (outdoor ice, shooting pucks, dryland in the backyard, etc...). It is not impossible.

But I agree (at least for the most part) with what you are saying.
To overcome it, the kid has to work hard to advance, that means being the first on and last off the ice...listening to the coach...learn that hard work is a good and fun thing, not something to run from.

I wanna drop gloves and go at it with you after reading all this. Anyone that would come on this board looking for that kind of advice needs to get a couple of leftys to choppers...come on...I am sure you can figure out how to handle it by yourself...you are an adult are you not?

My money is on the old man from the Range!!! I am sure that he even has a fighter strap on his Sunday church shirt!!!