BeaverFalls

and then NIL…

We’ve gone way too far to the extreme of skills and drills and not enough of teaching the game. Not x’s and o’s but truly teaching the importance of and thoroughly how to’s on faceoffs, backchecking, supporting the play, getting open, decision making etc.

There is no perfect solution to it and every change is going to have its own set of consequences. In my utopia, they move checking back to 12u, increase non-checking divisions/leagues for those who desire. But that isn’t feasible for the most part. I have heard discussion of them eliminating checking in anything below juniors in the USAH realm. Driving force is long-term liability for lawsuits etc. That’ll be very interesting. Who knows.

Some of it is intentional just either not really understanding the game or to appease a rabid fanbase, who also doesn’t understand the game but just saw little Yanni get yardsaled trying to hit someone, poorly. More often it comes from not seeing the play from having small crews, inexperienced or having difficulty keeping up. Just the nature of the beast. Not bashing officials; there isn’t enough to go around so you get what you get.

its called officiating the results, not the act.

Does someone have them at gunpoint?

Everyone complains about faux AAA until their kid is bumped down to A minor pink from AA if those kids go back down lmao.

This is year 43 of “more emphasis on head contact, hits from behind etc” that still rarely gets properly enforced

All these rules lead to is a slower, choppier game.

Yay, new jerseys.

Is it even worth playing Altoona, State College, Jets and Warriors anymore? Long trip for bad officiating and horrible competition.

I think at one point, maybe 15 years or so, it was in Johnstown.

I heard they had a Zoom meeting to notify the players, but word never got out so only a couple were told first hand.

I don’t disagree with you. My point is that just mindlessly playing higher levels doesn’t make someone a better player. Most would be better suited and better players for investing in more lessons and camps and playing at a lower and less expensive level.

if that is your goal, then great!

You’re absolutely right. People want games. My thought process is for the average person, if you really want to get better, play whatever level, with a good program and coaches, keep it to 1-2 (eg a travel and a scholastic) teams, and instead of loading up on games, tournament teams, spring teams, summer teams, take lessons a few times a month, a few camps, invest in and use home training aids and you’ll get a ton more bang for the buck.

The one point that often gets overlooked is that quality practice, lessons, camps etc is paramount to development. I shudder when I see teams or kids playing 60-80 games a year and only on the ice for practice maybe 1:1 game to practice at best.

I am of the viewpoint that it’s people’s prerogative to play whatever level they want/make. Obviously it waters it all down though when it’s illegitimate but to each their own. No different than travel baseball etc.

no. thats not true. it’s that noone wanted to play for the coach.

this had zilch to do with these two. they weren’t the advertised coach for this team.

Quite a few were less than impressed with the coaches.

It would be foolish to state PPE isn’t the top dog AAA program around. Esmark a moderate 2nd. These pop-up teams otherwise? Not so much.

I do see them from Esmark.

my point is caveat emptor

A AAA team that plays a mostly AA schedule and goes .500 against them is not a good investment