ChiTown Shuffle

[Trash Hauler]

I'm not convinced this is about NHL dreams, or even high school dreams. I think it's more about the given moment that a parent gets to feel when their son or daughter is considered "elite". Either by the parents themselves or others involved.

It's great that the kids rank hockey tournaments as being a fun filled activity. I just don't buy that they base that enjoyment on the color or responsiveness of the puck, nor the offsides rules used, etc. That goes more to the parents inability to use the word "elite" when they struggle a bit.

[JSR]

I'm not convinced this is about NHL dreams, or even high school dreams. I think it's more about the given moment that a parent gets to feel when their son or daughter is considered "elite". Either by the parents themselves or others involved.

It's great that the kids rank hockey tournaments as being a fun filled activity. I just don't buy that they base that enjoyment on the color or responsiveness of the puck, nor the offsides rules used, etc. That goes more to the parents inability to use the word "elite" when they struggle a bit.

So explain this to me then.... my younger son has never seen a blue puck in his life, we've never even discussed them because they aren't used here at all. This past weekend in Chicago he played his first two games with black pucks like normal, had a great time. The third game all of a sudden it was said they would have to use a blue puck right before the game. I didn't even know about it until they were on the ice and drpped the puck, after the game the first thing my son says before I even have a chance to say a word is "What was wrong with that puck? It was stupid, it was bouncy and kept sticking to the ice. Why did we have to use it?" ... so explain how there was any parental influence in this situation and apparently a certain degree of base enjoyment was removed fromt he game for him if he asked those questions unabated by me. Now after he said that, yes I agreed with him and there was major parental influence but not before. Like most people I don't think you give enough credit for how intelligent an 8 year old can be... also get over yourself on parents using the word "elite", none are using in the context you are using it in....

[Trash Hauler]

Not having been there I can only imagine. I cannot determine the number of adults that made contact with the situation prior to him expressing his dissatisfaction to you. Coaches, other parents, the general rumblings from a dissatisfied crowd. There's all kinds of possibilities. Regardless of what may have happened, you confirm that once your son made a comment, you went to town on expressing you displeasure with the rule. You had choices on how to respond to him, and you are free to make them. It would not have been my response. You mention your family trips to the Bahamas. My family has had the fortune of similar travels. If it happens to be raining in paradise, and my kids complain. I try find a way to help them see all the wonderful positives in the situation, rather than being a whiner.

I've reviewed many of your past posts, and as far as getting over it? I'm probably as likely to "get over it" as you are. I enjoy hearing other perspectives and offering competing thoughts. I try not to have too short a fuse though and I stand by my opinion that adult personal gratification has created an ugly monster and removed much of the innocent childhood enjoyment of youth sports.

[JSR]

Not having been there I can only imagine. I cannot determine the number of adults that made contact with the situation prior to him expressing his dissatisfaction to you. Coaches, other parents, the general rumblings from a dissatisfied crowd. There's all kinds of possibilities. Regardless of what may have happened, you confirm that once your son made a comment, you went to town on expressing you displeasure with the rule. You had choices on how to respond to him, and you are free to make them. It would not have been my response. You mention your family trips to the Bahamas. My family has had the fortune of similar travels. If it happens to be raining in paradise, and my kids complain. I try find a way to help them see all the wonderful positives in the situation, rather than being a whiner.

I've reviewed many of your past posts, and as far as getting over it? I'm probably as likely to "get over it" as you are. I enjoy hearing other perspectives and offering competing thoughts. I try not to have too short a fuse though and I stand by my opinion that adult personal gratification has created an ugly monster and removed much of the innocent childhood enjoyment of youth sports.

I prefer not to lie to my kids. If something actually sucks and I think it sucks and there is merit to why I think it then I tell them as much. I don;t see any necessity on putting lipstick on a pig. On the flip side I do not accept whining over things that can be fairly viewed objectively either. I just have not found any redeaming merit what so ever in the blue puck in any of my encounters and further I don't know anyone personally that has either. So why should I lie to my son if that is the case. I did make positives out of the competition he faced, the great time he had at the pool and all the fun he did have but like most intelligent people I am able compartmentalize things and able to see that oen thing doesn't have to do with the other, they are mutually exclusive for me

As for your last sentence, I disagree, I don't think adult gratification is why you are seeing what you are seeing, not in the context you are eluding to anyway

[Trash Hauler]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

[JSR]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

The only "taint" of the tournament for myself or my son was the blue puck itself. If you ask him in general about the tournament he'll tell you it was great.

[InigoMontoya]

My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time.

How old is he? Why does he want to play in the Shuffle?

[Froggy Richards]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

The only "taint" of the tournament for myself or my son was the blue puck itself. If you ask him in general about the tournament he'll tell you it was great.

I coach Mites so not only have I seen several games played with the blue puck, we also practice with both blue and black pucks. I've heard the arguments so I always made a point to see which puck the kids chose in practice since they could use either. I never saw any pattern, they always grabbed the one closest to them. So they didn't seem to have a preference either way.

Since I coach, I've actually used the blue puck on the ice myself several times in practice. Is it easier for a young kid to stickhandle with the blue puck? Yes. Can you shoot and pass it harder and farther? Yes. I haven't really witnessed this bouncing phenomenon that you refer to. The one argument that definitely has merit is that if the ice is not in good condition it will definitely stick more than a black puck. This is especially true on outdoor ice that is chewed up or on very soft indoor ice.

I think the main issue is that USA Hockey tends to view all Mites as the same, when there is a huge difference between 6U and 8U. Should 6U be using the blue puck? In my opinion, absolutely. 8U? That is certainly up for debate. It's just like the full ice argument, I think some benefit from it, while others should be using the black puck. Just my opinion.

[This is nuts!]

Way off the thread topic. The only problem with the blue puck is that it doesnt slide unless the ice is very hard. Nothng worse then watching a player of any age skate with the puck and have it come to a complete stop and the player having to stop to try to get it going again. Make a blue puck that slides and we wouldn't have to discuss it.

If the black puck didnt' slide for youth, high school, college, or the NHL the problem would be fixed. FIX it for mites.

[JSR]

Way off the thread topic. The only problem with the blue puck is that it doesnt slide unless the ice is very hard. Nothng worse then watching a player of any age skate with the puck and have it come to a complete stop and the player having to stop to try to get it going again. Make a blue puck that slides and we wouldn't have to discuss it.

If the black puck didnt' slide for youth, high school, college, or the NHL the problem would be fixed. FIX it for mites.

Bingo..... (or when the ice is still a little wet after the zam, or when the ice gets snowy in the third period of a good mite game, the thing sicks like crazy and way worse and way easier than a black puck does)

Froggy Richards said:
I haven't really witnessed this bouncing phenomenon that you refer to.

When they are "warm" they bounce like a crazy super ball. Keep them in a freezer overnight and it helps harden them up but most of the time they are warm. Take a nice warm one and bounce it on concrete or shoot it hard off a goalies stick and you will see what I mean

[SCBlueLiner]

To be fair black pucks are "bouncy" too when they are warm. Both black and blue pucks should be frozen for game play.

[This is nuts!]

To be fair black pucks are "bouncy" too when they are warm. Both black and blue pucks should be frozen for game play.

Correct. I have froze them, I have sprayed silicon, Pam, and other product to get the puck to slide with no success.

The good part is I do not have mites anymore so dont have to deal with it. Good luck all.

[edgeless2]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

Ha Ha....The soap box hero is back!!! Please continue your pontification, so we can all know the right way to raise our children. Darn it must be fantastic to know everything. It might be tough to have a conversation face to face with you though, since you won't allow any tainting. Guy...If it looks like sh*#, and it smells like sh*#, and it tastes like sh*#. Maybe it's sh*#!! Whether you allow that or not.

[Trash Hauler]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

Ha Ha....The soap box hero is back!!! Please continue your pontification, so we can all know the right way to raise our children. Darn it must be fantastic to know everything. It might be tough to have a conversation face to face with you though, since you won't allow any tainting. Guy...If it looks like sh*#, and it smells like sh*#, and it tastes like sh*#. Maybe it's sh*#!! Whether you allow that or not.

I'm so sorry you don't agree with my opinions. I don't agree with most of yours, but I trudge trough them anyway and try to respond candidly. You are right though, I do try to turn lemons into lemonade, and not ....

[edgeless2]

I don't tell my kids its not raining when it is. I don't tell them the puck is black when it's blue. I do help them find the good things, and not live life thinking that a vacation is bad because it rains, or a hockey tournament is bad, because they are using a different puck than they have seen before. We as parents have choices to make. We can guide and help them, or we can get caught up in our own problems, and deliver them to our children. My son would love nothing more than to play in the Chi Town tournament, he talks about it all the time. I would not for a second, taint, or allow him to taint, a great experience by complaining about the type of puck that is used, or the rules that it's played by, or the calls of the referee. That's just me, I'll try to get over it.

Ha Ha....The soap box hero is back!!! Please continue your pontification, so we can all know the right way to raise our children. Darn it must be fantastic to know everything. It might be tough to have a conversation face to face with you though, since you won't allow any tainting. Guy...If it looks like sh*#, and it smells like sh*#, and it tastes like sh*#. Maybe it's sh*#!! Whether you allow that or not.

I'm so sorry you don't agree with my opinions. I don't agree with most of yours, but I trudge trough them anyway and try to respond candidly. You are right though, I do try to turn lemons into lemonade, and not ....

By all means....Proceed!

[JSR]

To be fair black pucks are "bouncy" too when they are warm. Both black and blue pucks should be frozen for game play.

Also to be fair that is like comparing a racket ball to a super ball, it is true that both bounce but.....