Oighir

Depends on the parent/coach, in my opinion. Non-parent coaches would be a welcome change, but most of the time, it comes saddled with their training/lesson business on the side. Or they bring in outside players. I guess my point is there are pros and cons to non-parent coaches. If you can keep out the extracurricular unspoken requirements, that's what will help keep things neutral. Unfortunately, it's not an easy thing to do. I'm just not sure it's worth it for AA programs to narrow the focus on coaching searches at this point. AAA should be able to sort out coaching without parents. The money is there, and typically, the resources, so presumably, you could get an outside coach without much issue. I'd argue that's a perk of playing AAA among other things.

Just trying to be polite. I've seen way more toxic forums in my life.

Thank you hockeyisgreat. It's nice to see a forum about the area that doesn't seem to be riddled with anger and constant bickering.

100% agree and it should be a decision made with the long term life goals of the kid in mind.

And it should be a very select few because that is more representative of Western PA. Accountability can be found at different levels depending on the organization's philosophy. That's not necessarily reserved for AAA. I understand why it might come off that way, considering the investment of time and money that goes into any AAA program. I guess for me, I'm more concerned that the business model is overtaking the genuine development of kids and putting them into positions to succeed. The manipulation of expectations should be considered a serious concern for the sustainable of hockey in Western PA.

I've heard similar from some sources too. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out. Hopefully it does for the kids sakes

I would think that means the Vipers are defunct. Unless they can procure ice at the Hunt Armory (if they can?) or another rink, let them come in.

Yes, there will certainly be a segment of parents who do not buy into the AAA "mystique," and I certainly do not want to paint a picture that somehow fanatical parents are the root cause of the current state of affairs. Nor do I want to suggest that only "AAA" parents act this way because we all know that isn't true. If you haven't seen some dad berating their child for a missed play or lack of scoring then you haven't been around the game long enough. They are certainly part of the demand for the product, but organizational leadership, directors, and coaches are the main drivers behind any hockey program. That's simply the nature of any youth sports organization. You drive traffic to increase engagement and numbers. It's a valid need, and ethical and non-ethical ways exist to produce the numbers required to field teams. If you are referring to the lack of AAA options for PAHL, that's never really been the point of AAA in our area and shouldn't be. If parents are just looking for a PAHL team that isn't AAA, then there are still options out there with no drive typically exceeding 30 minutes from a given location. Just depends on what your child wants and how you can best accommodate those desires in the short window of opportunity they get to play. Concerning PAHL, it is suffering from an identity crisis and lacks the leadership to effectively combat the evolving business tactics of organizations. Business savvy will almost always outmaneuver traditional values. Parents are bound because the wallet is the number one pushback methodology. The only other tools available are frequent and educated attendance of board meetings for the organizations. Individual advocacy to relevant stakeholders may help, but who really has the time these days?

ACHA and similar levels are a chance to continue playing at a meaningful and competitive level without expecting "what's next?" Leagues like these are for the players who stood out in high school, "AA" or "AAA" (if it's from one of the several sham "AAA" teams). It's not exclusive to those groups naturally and worth trying out depending on where you go to school. It's fun and satisfies our competitive nature. It's not bad to watch and gives collegiate kids something to do for a few years. Reading through these comments it's fascinating to some users overthink what it means to play ice hockey and what the end result should be. At the end of the day best case scenario is we're all watching on TV but for 99% of us it's just the memories and friends that matter most.

The state of youth hockey in Western PA is sloppy and bloated. Business decisions like these are evidence of the state of things in Western PA. Eventually, the bubble will pop, and the various organizations will have to reform, fold, or move. Without understanding the underlying details, it appears as though the consolidation was due to the crowded organizations leading to infighting, poaching, and a decrease in the focus on the development of children. We're long past the point where youth hockey is about the youth. It's a business first and an outlet for kids to make friends and develop second. The only population group that can hope to combat it are parents but they are too naive and/or living vicariously through their children to push back on these types of changes.

The standard for "AAA" is watered down in our area due to a variety of factors and the lack of oversight capabilities on defining "AAA." The only real defining factor is whether or not you have the finances to declare your program "AAA" and whether you can convince parents of the same. A reset is necessary across the board on what has turned into a bloated and convoluted leveling system in which predatory organizations take advantage of overly vicarious or naive parents seeking the next step for their son/daughter in the WPA area. The truth is programs declaring themselves as "AAA" will only drain their bank accounts and leave them wondering why their child isn't playing at the next level (juniors, D1, etc.) when all is said and done. The only hope is whether their child is enjoying the sport despite being dog walked or are they brainwashed due to the vicarious nature of their parents? "AAA" is supposed to be for the elite talent in the area, with "AA" being a suitable alternative for those players just a step below. It gives them an opportunity to play in a competitive setting while honing their skills. Instead, we see a number of teams getting obliterated by better-level systems in other states. WPA youth hockey feels like a mess because we've let it become a business first and an outlet for children second.

Remember, it's all about your child. Find a fun environment that focuses on developing enjoyment for the game and puts them in a position to succeed at a localized level. Do not drain your bank account for a youth sport. The extra "A" is the worst return on investment imaginable in youth sports. Talk to your child and know what brings them joy in the game and why they like a particular program. Most of the time, it's their friends that are why they have fun. You will eventually be faced with predatory organizations that make promises and insinuations that they can give your child an edge. The real question is, what edge are you looking for? Schools? Pros? Do not have ideations of cheering your son or daughter from the press box at PPG. Just enjoy the fact they get to play the game and help them along. Another user mentioned 14u/16u as when you can safely determine if an investment is needed. That's fair, and your wallet will thank you. Never lose sight of the fact that it isn't about you--it's about your child and what is best for them. If you enjoy reading, I recommend Mark Hyman's Until it Hurts. It's high-level, focusing on youth baseball, but the point is the same. These are children and not mini-professionals. As far as a program, start with the closest rink and go from there. See where his friends are and where brings him the most joy.