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I'm seeing the same behavior exhibited on both sides of the fence in the argument over McBain Made hockey.

To the uber-competitive parents in Manhattan, it seems mandatory to get their child into the top preschool program. Why? Because if you don't you are shut out of the top kindgergarten when Little Suzi is 5.

Try telling them age five isn't a determination on where you'll be in life as an adult. You'll hear about how it is far worse than you can imagine because the top private colleges in the Northeast are much easier to get into if one attends the most prestigious high/prep schools. The only way to get into the 'good' high/prep schools is to be fed by one of the right private schools that handles elementary education. (And write a big check.)

Of course it is all absurd. But they are right, it may be the correct path for SOME of the Little Johnnies.

Isn't McBain offering about the same proposition? Of course there will be kids that develop a different way. Pond hockey in Brainerd or travel hockey in the Sun Belt. Detroit, New York. Wherever. To the reasonably affluent families living in the SW suburbs of Minneapolis, this pied piper of puck is offering something that must look quite similar to the vital education provided to preschoolers by the 84th St. Jewish School or whatever that thing is called. (Was the center of a big Wall Street controversy a few years ago when a stock analyst purportedly touted dog stock WorldCom in order to get Citigroup boss Sandy Weill to pull strings in order to get his 3-year-old accepted. Mark my word - you'll hear a scandal about someone trying to swap favors for getting a kid onto the AAA teams at Minnesota Made. Within five years.)

My sister went through this private school phenomenon with my nephew. Not in Manhattan, but another place has this just as whacked out as the Wall Streeters - if you can believe that. IQ test, closed-door interviews before kindergarten, rejection letters... the whole nine.

Some people are so deep in the forest they can't see the trees.

My only hope for the families that go the Made route is that they make sure their son enjoys it, don't hope for too much (the numbers are overwhelmingly against anyone earning a college scholarship no matter how hard they work as a Squirt), and be sure to provide balance to offset the drill sergeant mentality.

No celebrations for a goal? I can't wait for John Stossel to feature Made on his "Give me a Break" segment.

with out question my favorite post ever, thanks

O clown go to town- That's a lot of writing. Why not say.

A low percetage of these kids will never play college hockey?

Are you for real? Do you really think that all parents of MM players think their kids will play D-1 or pro hockey?

I'm thinking..................
Sports give players confidence in life?
Kids will learn to work and play as a team!
Learn how to interact with other kids?
Meet new people.
Overcome challanges.

You're pointing out the obvious.

Let me ask you something. Do you want your kid in the possible highest reading and math class? I do. As long as they can adapt to the challenges set forth. Why not? If they struggle to the point of frustration. Then the parent will need to do what's best for their child.

Like it or not Clown o town. Learning is a fact of life. All kids learn at a different pace. each situation is different.
Do whats best for your kid. I am.

PEACE!

BoogeyMan wrote:Let me ask you something. Do you want your kid in the possible highest reading and math class? I do. As long as they can adapt to the challenges set forth. Why not?

Easy answer, and your assumption is wrong.

When I was a Squirt (A travel, by the way, in the Edina program), my coach called me "The Professor" because he found me noticeably more intellectual than the average kid. I was taken out of the traditional math program in 6th grade to learn Basic computer programming. As a 7th grader I tested into an accelerated math program run by the University of Minnesota. Participants would finish all math through Calculus in two years.

My sister had preceded me through the program and I saw the commitment it took. She was a diligent student while I was equally gifted, but more rounded.

Realizing that I'd miss out on playing 7th grade football, I passed. (I wasn't any good at football, but it represented a fun activity and a chance to be with my friends.)

No, I had no interest in pursuing math at the highest level. Doogie Howser I'm not.

So here I am 20-some years later. For my son, it is very important that he have fun and grow into a responsible adult. If a higher level of reading and math classes comes with a price I may advise that he skip it. Later in high school I took all accelerated and AP classes, which was a mistake. Some would have been fine, but I didn't need all of them. Years later I have a Masters degree and earn a good living - just like TONS of people that DIDN'T brute-force fast tracks.

There are many paths that lead to the same destination.

Good luck. I wish your son well. He may THRIVE in this environment, just like some astrophysicist probably flourished in the math crud I skipped.

O-townClown wrote:

BoogeyMan wrote:Let me ask you something. Do you want your kid in the possible highest reading and math class? I do. As long as they can adapt to the challenges set forth. Why not?

Easy answer, and your assumption is wrong.

When I was a Squirt (A travel, by the way, in the Edina program), my coach called me "The Professor" because he found me noticeably more intellectual than the average kid. I was taken out of the traditional math program in 6th grade to learn Basic computer programming. As a 7th grader I tested into an accelerated math program run by the University of Minnesota. Participants would finish all math through Calculus in two years.

My sister had preceded me through the program and I saw the commitment it took. She was a diligent student while I was equally gifted, but more rounded.

Realizing that I'd miss out on playing 7th grade football, I passed. (I wasn't any good at football, but it represented a fun activity and a chance to be with my friends.)

No, I had no interest in pursuing math at the highest level. Doogie Howser I'm not.

So here I am 20-some years later. For my son, it is very important that he have fun and grow into a responsible adult. If a higher level of reading and math classes comes with a price I may advise that he skip it. Later in high school I took all accelerated and AP classes, which was a mistake. Some would have been fine, but I didn't need all of them. Years later I have a Masters degree and earn a good living - just like TONS of people that DIDN'T brute-force fast tracks.

There are many paths that lead to the same destination.

Good luck. I wish your son well. He may THRIVE in this environment, just like some astrophysicist probably flourished in the math crud I skipped.

Nice post

Boogey,

This is obviously your first experience with travel hockey.......There are many choices and everyone always thinks that their choice is the best.

If you want your child to play AAA hockey, find a competitive independant AAA team that allows for participation in all sports. These teams usually play in 3 - 5 tournaments and have several practices before each game. The practice to game ratio is much better than a Showcase AAA and the level of play is far superior. The kids play other sports and continue to be well rounded athletes. Believe it or not, there are several quality AAA teams that aren't named The Machine or The Deuce.

Find a few good off season clinics that work on the skills that your player needs to improve. Most clinics will work on skating (edges, stride, quickness, etc..) Dryland is usually ivolved with the good ones. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars either.

Continue to have your player work on his stick handling and shooting in the garage. If he has the passion, he'll improve his game.

If your player doesn't want to work the extra time on his own, it wont matter what Choice League, Association or Tier 1 team he plays on. There will be no next level.

One piece of advice....Listen to some of the good people on this forum who have already experienced many of these hockey experiences. You haven't even participated in 1 travel hockey game yet. You might not have everything figured out yet.

Your all nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

waylon wrote:Your all nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't argue that