Macky85

Just want to thank everyone for their feedback. Its definitely helped me to step back and put things into perspective.

I spoke with the coach and discussed some of the concerns, which he acknowledged he is aware of but not sure how he's going to address them. I got the impression since the assistants are his friends, its an uncomfortable conversation he doesn't want to have.

With that said, its our sons decision where he wants to play. He thinks he wants to tryout for a couple teams where his friends play, including the current team. 

54 minutes ago, fafa fohi said:

No offense, but if you are this way being critical of coaches and decisions made on special teams, ice time, etc with your kid only being nine years old, I can only imagine how YOU will be in a couple of years.

You are concerned over the coaches putting lesser skilled kids on defense?  Hell most kids at that age are still figuring out how to pee let alone being set on a position.  If the coaches kid getting all of the ice time is a ten year old, don’t worry about it as he will move up to PW next year.

My advice?  Don’t be “that dad.”

None taken.

All the coaches kids are 2015s, they'll all be back, but its only the one coach that doesn't like to take his son off the ice. Actually the 2014s tend to be treated like unwanted children, which is an issue in itself. 

After seeing the kids battle every week and losing over 30 games we've become a bit jaded and cynical, especially since the team was represented to the families as being highly competitive.

35 minutes ago, sample39 said:

Yes, I am a coach.  I am trying to understand exactly what advice you are searching for.  Your original post asked the question if your player should move on.  That's a fair question, but the reasons are confusing.  You want a coach that will provide equal ice time and opportunity.  At this age and skill level, that is important.  And if that's truly an issue like you describe, then the team should meet with the coaching staff, civilly, and work it out.  Especially if the one assistant coach is putting his own kid out twice as much like you said. 

However, at the same time, you were being critical of personnel on defense, specific d-pairs, who goes out on the PK, not practicing special teams, and suggested hiding weaker players on the wings.  So it sounds like you WANT to shorten the bench in order to achieve better results since your team is "underachieving", because the "coach can't get them through".  Is that why you want to leave?

The great thing about amateur hockey is that you are free to go wherever you like.  If you want to hop from association to association every year, you are free to do that.  But understand while the team colors may be different, the team problems may be the same.  

I apologize if my message came across contradicting, that wasn't my intent. Myself and parents have met with the coach about many of the issues I mentioned but its fallen on deaf ears. Basically my team I will do it my way.

As for the the weaker players, I wasn't suggesting to shorten the bench. I was trying to point out some of the coaching short comings and his attitude of I am not changing. Splitting up weak d-pairs isn't shortening the bench, more so, strategy to not hang two players out to dry. They've struggled all season with out much improvement. They may have had more fun if the got to play some offense and not constantly playing on their heals.

Are these common issues with coaches that improve over time or all signs pointing to nothing is going to change and we should look elsewhere. What I am trying to ask is for those that have been around the block a time or two, is what I am listing as concerns enough to say, get out now or give it another year.

We really don't want to leave, the organization is great, but there's a potential to be stuck with this group for the foreseeable future. 

32 minutes ago, aaaahockey said:

If it is a mixed Birthyear team, a) I would expect your kid will move up a division or two next year and b) are all these coaches kids the younger Birthyear?  If not, they will be moving to Peewee and you will be staying at squirt.   

All the coaches kids are 2015s, so would will still be on the team.

1 hour ago, sample39 said:

I had a really long response to this post, but I'll sum it up with this - Your son is a 1st year Squirt.  Let him have fun playing hockey with his friends.  That is what matters most at this age. 

You will have the rest of his youth career to track shift length and be critical of coaches, d-pairs, line combinations, special teams, etc.  

Thanks for the response. To be clear, I don't track my sons playing time or stats. He definitely gets a lot of playing, but I would be pissed if my son did not hit the ice after 6 minutes into the game.

It concerning for the kids that are obviously not getting fair playing time and the couple that expressed quitting midway through the season. It wasn't exactly fun for them. 

I believe you are or were a coach. Is what we have experienced this season normal and acceptable coaching? I don't believe what has gone on is endorsed by USA Hockey. If its supposed to be fun, should there be drastic playing time differences? If kids want to try other positions, should they be told no, isn't this about development and exposure? Its just squirt hockey.

Its easy to tell parents, don't think too much into it, let them be kids and have fun, but what if it isn't fun for some of the kids. Is this bad coaching or what is to be expected? 

With tryouts around the corner, we are trying to make a decision if we should stay or go. I am sure this topic will produce many responses of differing opinions, but we need some guidance from families that may have experienced this in the past. Most of our friends that coach older age groups think we need to move on if the coaching isn't going to change for next season. Its not a personality issue the coaches are great guys off the ice, but more so, what seems to be coaching knowledge/experience and a group of dads running the bench. I know, we'll likely deal with dad coaches (which I have nothing against if they're doing it right) anywhere we go except for maybe AAA, which were not at that level.

My son is a first year squirt on a mix year team playing PAHL upper A. There's pretty good talent on this team, but their development and record do not show it. Their record is well below 500, but with the talent on the team it shouldn't be. They continue to fall apart in the 3rd period. Its completely understood they're kids and are learning but it appears the coach can't get through to them.

The following are some of the developmental concerns myself and other parents have expressed.

Its close to the end of the season and the kids still can't pass efficiently nor do they want to. Its a me first mentality. Even from the second year players. They can't change on the fly or change efficiently. Sometimes shifts are 2 minutes plus. Have never worked on PK or PP. Only two players have moved positions all season. They are two of the stronger players and they have been moved from F to D periodically. None of the other 5-6 top forwards have switched positions. Pretty much other than those two, no players have played another position.

The following are some of the concerns with the coaching decisions.

Putting lesser skilled players on defense, will not shift them to wing. Pairing two of the weakest defenseman and putting them out there on the PK. All season parents (who have coached and been through this a time or two with older siblings) and coaches (from other teams) have suggested not pairing the weaker players and to at least move the one to forward, it has gone nowhere. Majority of the goals are when these players are on the ice. There are enough solid players on the team that could play defense. 

Short shifting the weaker forwards, sometimes they're not even getting 10 minutes of ice time for a game. We typically have 2-3 full forward lines so they all should be getting at least 10 minutes. If we are down a center for a game, rather than spreading the double shifts amongst all the forwards and having a wing play center, one of the centers gets double shifted. That one player tends to be on the ice over 20 minutes in a 36 minute game. Do you think that player is even effective come the 3rd period. 

The dad running the forward door puts his son on the ice any chance he gets. He literally has his son parked next to him at the door, everyone else has to fall in line behind him. Even if there are 3 lines,  everyone else goes to the back, he stands next to the door. At times his some has come off the ice and puts him right back on. There are fresh forwards standing there. Putting all 3 centers out on the ice at the same time and then leaving one out there after already being on the ice for a full shift. Apparently this dad has a reputation of doing this outside of this team and other parents expressed they would not even consider playing for a team if he's on the bench.

I know the head coach doesn't always see what's going on, but its been brought to his attention and this dad is still on the bench. Some of the parents have tried to be respectful and have had meaningful conversations with the coach throughout the season and we have discussed our concerns with the manager, but nothings changed.

I know the grass isn't always greener, but should we ride it out another season and hope for improvement (providing my son makes the team), play down for one of the lower level squirt teams or tryout at another organization?

I should add, we really like the families on the team and my son has made a lot of friends, but are we doing him a disservice if we stick with the team and nothing changes. There's definitely more to life than youth hockey and we value the friendships we've made this season. 

I've witnessed the challenges of a goalie trying to skate and play goal on a higher level team first hand this year. I am going to echo what others have said.

It doesn't go over very well with teammates and parents when a coach has a goalie skate out and they are not at the level of the rest of the team. More times than not their goal tending got them on the team and they can compete at the higher level, but skating out they are the weakest player.

If you truly want him to do both, talk to organizations with multiple 10u teams. Most hold combined tryouts and they'll place him where he fits. They really need to place him based on his skating ability not just the goal tending.

Also ask the coaches what their plans are for goalie playing time. If your son would end up #2 goalie on the team he may not see much game time between the posts and end u skating out most of the time. 

42 minutes ago, HockeyFan6687 said:

You are correct!  Was so focused on the kids and the coaching I forgot that but it’s definitely part of the process.  The education must begin in Little Pens.  Weekly communication throughout that program and a pizza party/certificate awarding where you can discuss next steps etc is where is has to start and orgs must follow through on and upward from there. 

Can't agree more with you. It really starts at Little Pens. I consistently see at the organization we are with at least 50% of the kids at each Little Pens season can't skate. Little Pens ends and the organization is pushing the parents to sign their child up for the ADM. It's all about the money and numbers. There are so many kids in the organization that should not be out there until they can proficiently skate, but isn't it great, we have 4 blue teams! 

They need to start with educating parents how important skating is,  then discuss youth hockey in general ( where to start, age groups, tiers, etc.) I consistently hear parents complaining that's there's no communication. It's appears coaches either don't want to be bothered or are scared to give parents feedback. A brief conversation with each players parent would go a long way.

I can't tell you how many parents with kids moving up to 10u this year were in the dark on what level team to sign up for tryouts.

There's a lot that do.

The main point of this post appears to be tryouts were approaching and no cost info had been shared with families.

The estimated 2024-25 fees are now posted on their website.

Based on everything that has transpired at Alpha and the merger of SCIR/PV, I can't see how their prices aren't going up. With the other organizations that played out of there now playing elsewhere or being absorbed, Alpha will likely raise their rates which will trickle down to the teams still calling it home. Combine that with the reality of year over year cost increase, the Tier 2 program fees have to increase. 

I hope they don't, so they can stay competitive with the other nearby organizations! As was already stated, if their mixed year fees increase much more, are you really getting what you're paying for?

Do organizations typically wait until after tryouts to post their upcoming season fees? I've previously not paid much attention.

Little information is being shared with families.