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Amongst all of the debate about Minnesota hockey denying kids the right to play up to their full potential in Tier 1 hockey, what would happen if a kid attends tryouts, makes an A or B team, and than wants to play down a level? Is this unheard of? does it happen? should it happen?

DMom wrote:Amongst all of the debate about Minnesota hockey denying kids the right to play up to their full potential in Tier 1 hockey, what would happen if a kid attends tryouts, makes an A or B team, and than wants to play down a level? Is this unheard of? does it happen? should it happen?

We had this problem several years ago in Bemidji.
At the time, some kids wanted to play 'down'.
We (the board, me (as President and Hockey Director) and the coaches decided that we would post the list of teams. You played where you were assigned.

If a kids wanted to take a chance on skipping the A team and playing the B team he could always 'dummy down' in try-outs and hope he ended up on the B-1's and not the B-2's or lower.

If there were significant problems that were of just cause, the family could appeal.

elliott70 wrote:

DMom wrote:Amongst all of the debate about Minnesota hockey denying kids the right to play up to their full potential in Tier 1 hockey, what would happen if a kid attends tryouts, makes an A or B team, and than wants to play down a level? Is this unheard of? does it happen? should it happen?

We had this problem several years ago in Bemidji.
At the time, some kids wanted to play 'down'.
We (the board, me (as President and Hockey Director) and the coaches decided that we would post the list of teams. You played where you were assigned.

If a kids wanted to take a chance on skipping the A team and playing the B team he could always 'dummy down' in try-outs and hope he ended up on the B-1's and not the B-2's or lower.

If there were significant problems that were of just cause, the family could appeal.

This is exactly the way our association handled our situation last year at Bantam A. Upon appeal, there was great interaction between board (president especially) and our family that allowed my son to play down to B1 after reviewing all circumstances involved with the situation we faced.

Communication to reach clarity provide solutions for all involved.

tomASS wrote:

elliott70 wrote:

DMom wrote:Amongst all of the debate about Minnesota hockey denying kids the right to play up to their full potential in Tier 1 hockey, what would happen if a kid attends tryouts, makes an A or B team, and than wants to play down a level? Is this unheard of? does it happen? should it happen?

We had this problem several years ago in Bemidji.
At the time, some kids wanted to play 'down'.
We (the board, me (as President and Hockey Director) and the coaches decided that we would post the list of teams. You played where you were assigned.

If a kids wanted to take a chance on skipping the A team and playing the B team he could always 'dummy down' in try-outs and hope he ended up on the B-1's and not the B-2's or lower.

If there were significant problems that were of just cause, the family could appeal.

This is exactly the way our association handled our situation last year at Bantam A. Upon appeal, there was great interaction between board (president especially) and our family that allowed my son to play down to B1 after reviewing all circumstances involved with the situation we faced.

Communication to reach clarity provide solutions for all involved.

Communication - the key.

Our association wrote it in as part of policy that any player who does not want to play above a certain level can request PRIOR to tryouts to not be placed above a certain level. For example, a player who doesn't want to commit to playing on an A team can give a letter stating that they don't want to be placed above a B1 level. The only requirement is that they must give notice prior to tryouts so that the teams aren't formed and then a team is shorted a player due to movement. I don't think anyone has ever used it but it is there to be used.

tomASS wrote: allowed my son to play down to B1

Lemme guess . . . your son's name is Frazier . . . and THAT'S why you were yelling in the corner of the arena, right?!?!?

tomASS wrote:
This is exactly the way our association handled our situation last year at Bantam A. Upon appeal, there was great interaction between board (president especially) and our family that allowed my son to play down to B1 after reviewing all circumstances involved with the situation we faced.

Communication to reach clarity provide solutions for all involved.

Sounds like the "squeaky wheel got GREASED".

"He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee."

EagleGuy91 wrote:

tomASS wrote: allowed my son to play down to B1

Lemme guess . . . your son's name is Frazier . . . and THAT'S why you were yelling in the corner of the arena, right?!?!?

Absolutely my good sir! I'm always hoping he stays up a little longer on some attempts.

good luck come tourney time. Hopefully they don't make it too stressful on you this year.

RobRay wrote:

tomASS wrote:
This is exactly the way our association handled our situation last year at Bantam A. Upon appeal, there was great interaction between board (president especially) and our family that allowed my son to play down to B1 after reviewing all circumstances involved with the situation we faced.

Communication to reach clarity provide solutions for all involved.

Sounds like the "squeaky wheel got GREASED".

"He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee."

I float more like an anchor now days

no grease required. Just great solutions that benefitted everyone involved with good discussions prior and post tryout periods.

so when the kid grows up and goes to job interview for vp at the bank he /she tells they are not interested in it ,but do you have a teller job opening , to each their own i guess

whockeyguy wrote:so when the kid grows up and goes to job interview for vp at the bank he /she tells they are not interested in it ,but do you have a teller job opening , to each their own i guess

your comparative premise is not valid for many different reasons.

Just out of curiosity, what would the reasons be, that a parent/child would not want to participate at the level in which they were tagged?

Friends on other teams, no one near to carpool with, personal problems with coach or teammates, school issues, other commitments, etc. There are many reasons. I had a boy who had CCD every Wednesday night, he also had practice or a game every Wednesday so we moved him down a level where they had later ice allowing him to do both. Believe it or not hockey isn't the most important thing to many people.

goldy313 wrote:Friends on other teams, no one near to carpool with, personal problems with coach or teammates, school issues, other commitments, etc. There are many reasons. I had a boy who had CCD every Wednesday night, he also had practice or a game every Wednesday so we moved him down a level where they had later ice allowing him to do both. Believe it or not hockey isn't the most important thing to many people.

Well, I would assume that it has equal "importance" whether you are playing on an A or a B1 team. Practice/game schedules are pretty comparable between the two levels. I can understand the other criteria, though.
Also, doesn't movement down mess with the integrity of the rating system, a bit? The goal is to provide competition at as equal a level as possible, right? ("A" kids playing against "A" kids, etc.)