Fair Play at A Squirts...

[Neutron 14]

You can never buy beer, you just rent it. -- "Archie Bunker"

[stupidiswhatstupiddoes]

"shut your pie hole" --- unknown

[Can't Never Tried]

"shut your pie hole" --- unknown

Interesting slant to a Squirts thread

[elliott70]

"But is there no history that was successful?
Should we not try to repeat successful history?"

M Elliott, 9/2/2008

[stupidiswhatstupiddoes]

"shut your pie hole" --- unknown

Interesting slant to a Squirts thread

I thought it was appropriate for a guy that has over 3400 posts on a Youth Hockey website. Besides, it is a historical reference - I heard come out of a mouth a Squirt A coach 13 years ago. I think he was speaking to a parent that was questioning his decision not to include their little Jimmy in the lineup for the shootout.

[Can't Never Tried]

"shut your pie hole" --- unknown

Interesting slant to a Squirts thread

I thought it was appropriate for a guy that has over 3400 posts on a Youth Hockey website. Besides, it is a historical reference - I heard come out of a mouth a Squirt A coach 13 years ago. I think he was speaking to a parent that was questioning his decision not to include their little Jimmy in the lineup for the shootout.

Are you Jimmy ?

[stupidiswhatstupiddoes]

Interesting slant to a Squirts thread

I thought it was appropriate for a guy that has over 3400 posts on a Youth Hockey website. Besides, it is a historical reference - I heard come out of a mouth a Squirt A coach 13 years ago. I think he was speaking to a parent that was questioning his decision not to include their little Jimmy in the lineup for the shootout.

Are you Jimmy ?

No, I was Big Jimmy - that was Little Jimmy. Since we both had the same name, Coach McCracken had to come up with a way to differentiate us in the locker room and during the game. He would say stuff like, "Little Jimmy this isn't tennis! Until you start making it to practice and go out on the ice like you want to be there you are not going to be on the PP"...he would then say, "Big Jimmy (that was me), we need you man - do you have another goal in that stick?" I would then wipe the snot from my nose and say, "sure do Coach McCracken".

...went something like that.

[Can't Never Tried]

I thought it was appropriate for a guy that has over 3400 posts on a Youth Hockey website. Besides, it is a historical reference - I heard come out of a mouth a Squirt A coach 13 years ago. I think he was speaking to a parent that was questioning his decision not to include their little Jimmy in the lineup for the shootout.

Are you Jimmy ?

No, I was Big Jimmy - that was Little Jimmy. Since we both had the same name, Coach McCracken had to come up with a way to differentiate us in the locker room and during the game. He would say stuff like, "Little Jimmy this isn't tennis! Until you start making it to practice and go out on the ice like you want to be there you are not going to be on the PP"...he would then say, "Big Jimmy (that was me), we need you man - do you have another goal in that stick?" I would then wipe the snot from my nose and say, "sure do Coach McCracken".

...went something like that.

Nice.......... love it!

So you were both on the B team?

[H-E-doublehockeysticks]

"But is there no history that was successful?
Should we not try to repeat successful history?"

M Elliott, 9/2/2008

Sure, but you don't duplicate the results by doing things the exact same way. Would an accountant use an abacus today instead of a computer because his firm had a really good year back when they used to use them? I'll say it again - times have changed! Kids are being forced to develop earlier as competition becomes tighter. Like it or not that's the reality.

[SECoach]

To me it comes down to this......when a player hangs up the skates...whether it be after their first year of mites or after a long professional career....the only thing they are left with is the experience they had playing hockey.

The role of coaches and parents is to do everything possible to ensure that the kids gain a positive experience from their participation. However you define it....that is our role. Of course, it will be different for each player. We seem to have lost sight of that. Training, development, etc are by far the most commonly used words on this forum. To me, they are greatly overused and there is a great lack of focus on THEIR experience playing the sport. A great experience can be had by all players on a losing team (although it's hard for the parents to swallow). A horrible experience can be had by all players on a championship team (even more so by a 2nd place team pegged from the beginning to win it all).

Provided the coach's focus is on providing a great experience they will do the right thing when it comes to playing time. They will all have a different idea of what that is, but if they are not constantly questioning themselves on whether they are doing the right thing, they probably never will.

A good parent will find a way to support a coach whether they view them as doing the right things or not if they refuse to participate in creating a bad experience. A parent's focus is, rightfully so, on one player. Unfortunately the focus is not always on whether their son or daughter is gaining positive life experience or not. It's often focused on perceived inequities.

If you focus on what the KIDS want out of playing....the answers to shorten the bench or not just come to you. And when the wrong answer comes, you make a better decison the next time. If your focus is somewhere else the right answers rarely come.

The question of equal playing time at A squirts, or any level, is easy. Make sure you focus on a positive experience for all. Does that mean equal playing time or does that mean a short bench. Probably neither, but if the coach is always worried about dong the right thing, they will probably get close most of the time.

[DMom]

In fact, the best season's we've had with our kids, in any sports, happen when there is a strong manager. Someone who can take charge (in a happy way) of the parent's in the stands. Who gets them talking more about events we can plan for the kids, rather than talking about which kid is screwing up. I've never been a manager, but I think, in youth sports, that a coach who picks a strong people oriented manager saves themselves a lot of headaches. One that takes over as many headaches from the coach as possible. I've found that if that manager teams up with three or four others and sort of "demands" a positive atmosphere in the stand, than the parents are happier, and, in turn, their kids are happier. Which leaves the coach more time and freedom to do their thing with the kids, and the right choice becomes easier to make.

I stopped in a showcase AAA game this past spring because I heard that some local kids were playing. I talked to a parent from my home association that I don't know very well, but know that their son will be trying out for A squirts this year. They had a stopwatch and were timing their son's shifts and keeping track of how many he had, on a notepad. I gave them a little unsolicited advice, ditch the notebook and the stopwatch. The friendships they could have been making will help their son out so much more than an extra shift or thirty more seconds on the ice, instead they were alienating other parents and not making any friends. I have, what I hope, are lifelong friends from my son's first Showcase team, way back when. If not bosom buddies, at least they are people we know we can get together with at tournaments, etc. If the boys never play together again at least we've all had a positive experience.

[tomASS]

In fact, the best season's we've had with our kids, in any sports, happen when there is a strong manager. Someone who can take charge (in a happy way) of the parent's in the stands. Who gets them talking more about events we can plan for the kids, rather than talking about which kid is screwing up. I've never been a manager, but I think, in youth sports, that a coach who picks a strong people oriented manager saves themselves a lot of headaches. One that takes over as many headaches from the coach as possible. I've found that if that manager teams up with three or four others and sort of "demands" a positive atmosphere in the stand, than the parents are happier, and, in turn, their kids are happier. Which leaves the coach more time and freedom to do their thing with the kids, and the right choice becomes easier to make.

I stopped in a showcase AAA game this past spring because I heard that some local kids were playing. I talked to a parent from my home association that I don't know very well, but know that their son will be trying out for A squirts this year. They had a stopwatch and were timing their son's shifts and keeping track of how many he had, on a notepad. I gave them a little unsolicited advice, ditch the notebook and the stopwatch. The friendships they could have been making will help their son out so much more than an extra shift or thirty more seconds on the ice, instead they were alienating other parents and not making any friends. I have, what I hope, are lifelong friends from my son's first Showcase team, way back when. If not bosom buddies, at least they are people we know we can get together with at tournaments, etc. If the boys never play together again at least we've all had a positive experience.

great points - I could never understand the parents with note pads and stopwatches (there is more than you think), how do you even enjoy the actual play of game with your focus on the wrong thing.

[elliott70]

Agree, great points.

If you are coaching 9 & 10 year-old kids you have a responsibility to make them better:

Better players, yes;
Better citizens, yes;

As players, the number one development tool you need to teach is the desire to win.

As citizens, the number one tool is respect. For the game, for the team, for the other team, for teammates, for coaches, for officials and for parents.

The number one tool for a coach is communication. Tell the parents and players what you are going to do and then do it.
If the board (governing body) says otherwise, then follow the rules or quit.




I said follow successful history, but use your brain in application.

We all know that at some point the coach has to play for the win by doing anything within the rules. Is squirt A's that point?

Perhaps for some, but definitely not for all.

[elliott70]

Just my opinions.

[tomASS]

Agree, great points.

If you are coaching 9 & 10 year-old kids you have a responsibility to make them better:

Better players, yes;
Better citizens, yes;

As players, the number one development tool you need to teach is the desire to win.

As citizens, the number one tool is respect. For the game, for the team, for the other team, for teammates, for coaches, for officials and for parents.

The number one tool for a coach is communication. Tell the parents and players what you are going to do and then do it.
If the board (governing body) says otherwise, then follow the rules or quit.




I said follow successful history, but I use your brain in application.

We all know that at some point the coach has to play for the win by doing anything within the rules. Is squirt A's that point?

Perhaps for some, but definitely not for all.