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This is an interesting subject. My two cents from the South, try traveling from Mankato to the twin cities for training. To us in the South it seems (may not be reality) like those in the metro have an unlimited selection of training choices all within 15 minutes of home. Fortunately for us we have both a D1 Men’s and Women’s program who participate with the teams at the youth level which has raised the level of training here in Mankato.

We did the travel to the twin cities for a while thinking that things would be better up there. Besides making some fantastic friends we found that the training was no better than what we could find in our own back yard. I think it’s all about priorities and listening to your daughter. She will lead you in the right direction. I once asked my daughter why she liked playing hockey so much. Her response was “when I’m skating down the ice it feels like I’m flying”. We spend the money to keep that fire burning and will till she says enough.

OntheEdge wrote:You are correct in stating that in other parts of the country people are paying more for hockey but I think that is a red herring. It really doesn't matter what other people are paying. What really matters is each person's particular financial situation.

I agree that each person's financial situation matters a great deal. What I was trying to say that we here in Minnesota enjoy a big advantage compared to other places, because of our high school system, which allows a lot of girls to play hockey for 3-4 months at a bargain price compared to other areas. I agree that beyond the high school season, if your daughter wants to participate in every camp or AAA team that comes along, we are pretty much on an equal footing compared to other parts of the country.

That said, for those that want to improve their skills or play against better competition during the off-season, we do enjoy advantages compared to other areas of the country. Each player/family needs to evaluate the available options, factoring in the costs, what they can afford, what their daughter wants and how she could benefit the most, etc. There is no simple solution/answer because every situation is different.

To gain persective, just imagine that you're in California, Arizona, Colorado, etc. and want your daughter to play against really good competition. Just the airfare alone would make it cost-prohibitive for many families. There are many other states where hockey has sadly become pretty much just a rich man's sport. But at the "elite"/national level we are competing against these rich/elite players.

That was the only point I was trying to make - compared to other areas, we have it pretty good, because we allow a larger number of players to advance at a relatively reasonable cost. Still not cheap, but cheaper than most everywhere else.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

OntheEdge wrote:You are correct in stating that in other parts of the country people are paying more for hockey but I think that is a red herring. It really doesn't matter what other people are paying. What really matters is each person's particular financial situation.

I agree that each person's financial situation matters a great deal. What I was trying to say that we here in Minnesota enjoy a big advantage compared to other places, because of our high school system, which allows a lot of girls to play hockey for 3-4 months at a bargain price compared to other areas. I agree that beyond the high school season, if your daughter wants to participate in every camp or AAA team that comes along, we are pretty much on an equal footing compared to other parts of the country.

That said, for those that want to improve their skills or play against better competition during the off-season, we do enjoy advantages compared to other areas of the country. Each player/family needs to evaluate the available options, factoring in the costs, what they can afford, what their daughter wants and how she could benefit the most, etc. There is no simple solution/answer because every situation is different.

To gain persective, just imagine that you're in California, Arizona, Colorado, etc. and want your daughter to play against really good competition. Just the airfare alone would make it cost-prohibitive for many families. There are many other states where hockey has sadly become pretty much just a rich man's sport. But at the "elite"/national level we are competing against these rich/elite players.

That was the only point I was trying to make - compared to other areas, we have it pretty good, because we allow a larger number of players to advance at a relatively reasonable cost. Still not cheap, but cheaper than most everywhere else.

MNHockey,

I know that you stated that everyone's situation is different. I know you understand this. I wasn't attacking you personally. You always make good points. However I often hear about how lucky we are because our hockey is a better deal and we don't have to go very far for good competition. I agree with that statement but often I think people use it as a crutch to spend more money than they can afford by essentially saying I spent a lot but not as much as others. In my opinion what others spend is irrelevant and I think people will make better financial decisions if they look at what they are spending and how it affects their own financial situation without comparing what they spend to what others spend. Everyone's situation is different and personal. Keeping up with the Jones is what usually gets people in trouble. If you've ever read, 'The Millionaire Next Door" its not the guy with the big house and expensive car that's well off (except for CEOs of course ). More typically its the guy who lives in a modest house, drives the 10 year old car, and eats at home, that has money in the bank. These people could care less about what others do with their money.

I'll always remember when I was a young financial planner I had a middle aged client. We input all of his data and his net worth was about $20 million. We brought him and his wife in to talk about his financial situation and how he should allocate his wealth for retirement. After 20 minutes of talking his wife looked at us in disbelief. She said that we were nuts because if they were worth $20 million why were they living in a modest 1,500 square foot house and why were both of their cars 10 years old. The husband just smiled and explained to her that those were the reasons they had built their wealth and anyway he didn't really need more than a modest house and simple transportation to be happy.

OntheEdge wrote:I think people use it as a crutch to spend more money than they can afford by essentially saying I spent a lot but not as much as others. In my opinion what others spend is irrelevant and I think people will make better financial decisions if they look at what they are spending and how it affects their own financial situation without comparing what they spend to what others spend. Everyone's situation is different and personal. Keeping up with the Jones is what usually gets people in trouble.

Very true and not just with hockey but houses, cars, boats, everything. As I said below, "each player/family needs to evaluate the available options, factoring in the costs, what they can afford...there is no simple solution/answer because every situation is different." Unfortunately, way too many do a very poor job with budgeting, saving, finances in general. With off season hockey, there so many opportunties out there - so many choices to make - the costs certainly can add up very quickly. For most families, especially those with multiple hockey players/athletes, it's impossible (or at least unwise) to sign up for every venue that comes along. The point I was trying to make is at least with high school hockey here in Minnesota we get about 3 1/2 months off from the real expensive stuff!

MNHockeyFan wrote:The point I was trying to make is at least with high school hockey here in Minnesota we get about 3 1/2 months off from the real expensive stuff!

I know the point you were making MNHockeyFan and it is a very good point. We should all be thankful that we have girls high school hockey. Its what makes Minnesota special. I wasn't attacking your point. I was just getting something off my chest regarding spending overall. No offense.

trilogy wrote:Can someone help me out?

Is my logic flawed? Help me before I write another check

Trilogy, I would guess none of this really set you any better off than you were at the start. Best advise might be that this is an individual decision. In all my experience, for my kids it was worth every penny, for my financial well being none of it was worth it. For all the good times, friends my kids made, let alone the friends we made, priceless. That is for AAA as much if not more than anything. I know, sounds like a visa comercial, maybe that's more to the point, can you afford the visa payment.

hockeyrube7 wrote:

trilogy wrote:Can someone help me out?

Is my logic flawed? Help me before I write another check

I know, sounds like a visa comercial, maybe that's more to the point, can you afford the visa payment.

trilogy wrote: AAA? It seems like the 'bridge to nowhere' to me. Not that it's always been that. Probably was the best way to get that exposure a few years back. But today? I'm doubting it. Is my logic flawed? Help me before I write another check

Well, as a scout, I feel that there are more opportunities for girls then there are for boys.

I scout for a Junior A team for boys here in the U.S. and I scout for a Pro League in Europe for girls. Oh, don't get me wrong, I could place guys on pro teams in Europe, but right now the priority in Europe are for more girls.

Being said that, I have been looking for girls that would be willing to play in Europe, but it's kind of like pulling teeth. No one wants to go!

I have read this post and everyone talks about...a bridge to nowhere. But maybe sometimes it's just a matter of crossing that bridge to see where it goes. Oh, it might look like it's not going anywhere. But, how will you know where it goes until you put one foot in front of the other and actually see where it goes.

So you have invested time and money. If you ask me...time is money! The one thing you will never get back is time. Once you have used it in what ever you have invested it in, you will never get it back.

If you have invested the time in becoming a better hockey player, the time invested is gone! What you do with the investment...well, that's the bridge you will have to cross.

Why do parents spend the time helping their kids get to the next level? Because they want to make sure that their kids have better opportunities then they did or had.

Have I spent money and time on my girl....yes, a lot! Why, so that when she leaves the nest, she will have all of the tools ready to use to help open up doors when she leaves.

Some of you write about wanting your child to have the opportunity to play other sports and not just hockey 12 months out of the year. Fine!

But I am here to tell you, the ones that do it 12 months out of the year, are the ones that end up being scouted!

Here's why......
If you go to a hockey evaluation camp in the Fall and you have taken the Summer off to go camping or play Baseball, the chances are really good that you will not have the stamina to keep up with the other girls that keep playing hockey thoughout the Summer. They will fly by you and you will get cut.

I always see this every year in late August or early September, during try-outs. So, I go to the parents and ask and they tell me that their kids decided to take a break this Summer and do something else.

Now, If you were in the stands and your child played hockey 12 months out of the year and is flying past the kid that took off in the Summer. Who do you cut? The kid that is up to speed and is ready to go? Or, the kid that will take 6 weeks to get back in shape?

What's the difference between a professional athlete and an amateur. Truly the difference between the two is only 6 inches between your ears.

One says, I can't and the other says...how far!

EuroScout

EuroScout wrote:

trilogy wrote: AAA? It seems like the 'bridge to nowhere' to me. Not that it's always been that. Probably was the best way to get that exposure a few years back. But today? I'm doubting it. Is my logic flawed? Help me before I write another check

Well, as a scout, I feel that there are more opportunities for girls then there are for boys.

I scout for a Junior A team for boys here in the U.S. and I scout for a Pro League in Europe for girls. Oh, don't get me wrong, I could place guys on pro teams in Europe, but right now the priority in Europe are for more girls.

Being said that, I have been looking for girls that would be willing to play in Europe, but it's kind of like pulling teeth. No one wants to go!

I have read this post and everyone talks about...a bridge to nowhere. But maybe sometimes it's just a matter of crossing that bridge to see where it goes. Oh, it might look like it's not going anywhere. But, how will you know where it goes until you put one foot in front of the other and actually see where it goes.

So you have invested time and money. If you ask me...time is money! The one thing you will never get back is time. Once you have used it in what ever you have invested it in, you will never get it back.

If you have invested the time in becoming a better hockey player, the time invested is gone! What you do with the investment...well, that's the bridge you will have to cross.

Why do parents spend the time helping their kids get to the next level? Because they want to make sure that their kids have better opportunities then they did or had.

Have I spent money and time on my girl....yes, a lot! Why, so that when she leaves the nest, she will have all of the tools ready to use to help open up doors when she leaves.

Some of you write about wanting your child to have the opportunity to play other sports and not just hockey 12 months out of the year. Fine!

But I am here to tell you, the ones that do it 12 months out of the year, are the ones that end up being scouted!

Here's why......
If you go to a hockey evaluation camp in the Fall and you have taken the Summer off to go camping or play Baseball, the chances are really good that you will not have the stamina to keep up with the other girls that keep playing hockey thoughout the Summer. They will fly by you and you will get cut.

I always see this every year in late August or early September, during try-outs. So, I go to the parents and ask and they tell me that their kids decided to take a break this Summer and do something else.

Now, If you were in the stands and your child played hockey 12 months out of the year and is flying past the kid that took off in the Summer. Who do you cut? The kid that is up to speed and is ready to go? Or, the kid that will take 6 weeks to get back in shape?

What's the difference between a professional athlete and an amateur. Truly the difference between the two is only 6 inches between your ears.

One says, I can't and the other says...how far!

EuroScout

Thanks for the post EuroScout. Its interesting talking of opportunities in Europe but can a girl make a decent living playing in Europe? I think there are two threads in this topic. First, should your daughter train year round and second should you spend exhorbitant amounts of money or be more efficient and smart with your spending based on personal finances. I think that year round is a must but I also think we can be a little smarter in our spending based on a individual family's comfort level. There are lots of training that can be accomplished in the summer in the back yard and skills training clinics and camps are generally more cost effective than most AAA tournaments. Personally I like summer skills training, the college league, Elite League, Two Nations, NDP, 3-3 leagues, etc better than some of the very expensive summer AAA tournaments.

OntheEdge wrote:
Thanks for the post EuroScout. Its interesting talking of opportunities in Europe but can a girl make a decent living playing in Europe? I think there are two threads in this topic. First, should your daughter train year round and second should you spend exhorbitant amounts of money or be more efficient and smart with your spending based on personal finances. I think that year round is a must but I also think we can be a little smarter in our spending based on a individual family's comfort level. There are lots of training that can be accomplished in the summer in the back yard and skills training clinics and camps are generally more cost effective than most AAA tournaments. Personally I like summer skills training, the college league, Elite League, Two Nations, NDP, 3-3 leagues, etc better than some of the very expensive summer AAA tournaments.

Oh, I agree. There are a lot of good coaches out there that can help your child get to the next level without you having to spend an arm and a leg.

As far as...can a girl make a good living playing Pro Hockey in Europe?

Well, lets look at that objectively and break it down.

This pro team offers.....
1. $125.00 Euros per game or, $172.49 USD. (26 game schedule)
2. Free Housing with all utilites paid. (Water, Gas Electric) Value est: $2,000.00 USD.
3. $100.00 USD A week for Food. Value Est: $2,600.00 USD.
4. If the player has coaching experience, they get paid an extra $100.00 USD. Value est: $2,600.00 USD.
5. Club pay for Healthcare. Value Est: $800.00 USD
6. Club pay for one way ticket...too for from country. Value Est: $1,400.00
7. Bonus pay if club goes to final.
8. Club pays for two sticks a year. Value Est: $250.00
9. Communication with family (internet, Phone) performed at Club Office.

Total Package Est: $19,500 USD for 6 months worth of work. Maybe higher if you add in the phone value. I have a 23 year old girl that has a texting bill that's off the chart. I had to switch to unlimited texting, but still, that's not free.

So that's $19,500 USD for 6 months worth of work, to play hockey, travel, and see the world...and get paid!

EuroScout