| 1) The Decision | | | | So the parents go off to another association or winter |
| The decision of parents putting their kids in hockey is | | | | club to try out. Some quit hockey all together, because |
| usually a simple one. Either the mom, dad or family | | | | the superstar is too good to play house. It's the first |
| member has played in the past or the five or | | | | year, don't sweat it, there is always next year. |
| six-year-old really enjoys the game. There is plenty of | | | | By the way, did I mention, open your wallets if you are |
| opportunity out there to put your kids into hockey at a | | | | playing rep. Extra games, practices and travel |
| young age. Please consider your decision carefully. | | | | tournaments all financed by Mom and Dad or a lot of |
| Hockey seems to be a little different than most sports. | | | | fundraising organized by the parents of each individual |
| You still have to drive your kids to practice, games, | | | | team. |
| tournaments and other activities, like other sports. | | | | 6) Time for contact |
| However, it seems that morning practices late night | | | | Well this one is sometimes scary for the players, but |
| games and missing school for tournaments is very | | | | even scarier for the parents. The first year players |
| common. Hockey, if you decide is now a year round | | | | have to attend a hitting clinic before they try out or get |
| sport. Kids are playing in the winter and spring as well | | | | evaluated. Great, one hour of hitting instruction before |
| as doing additional training at a very young age. | | | | they get clobbered into the boards by a second year |
| So, there is the time commitment, Mom and Dad. Be | | | | kid that is twice the size and weight of your little |
| prepared to give up your weekends, long weekends | | | | speedy superstar. Yes some kids played spring and |
| and holidays. Why, you ask. Well the winter season | | | | had some exposure to it, but the second year monster |
| usually starts at the end of August. We will get into | | | | has over a year of experience on how to put your |
| that later, but be prepared for all your long weekends, | | | | superstar right through the boards. This is a whole |
| Christmas break, Spring break and even summer | | | | other level of hockey and just because your little |
| vacations to be based around hockey. If you have | | | | Johnny played rep in Atom doesn't mean he will play |
| thought about all that sign your kids up and go. | | | | rep in peewee. It's not only the contact; it's the speed, |
| 2) First time Hockey | | | | the decisions and positioning that's a whole different |
| What a great feeling it is to put your kids skates on, | | | | level above. A lot of really fast skaters make it in the |
| the equipment, gloves and hand them a stick, give | | | | first two years of rep, but struggle in Peewee. You |
| them a push and encourage them, "You can do it". | | | | have to be a quick learner to avoid the Monster, the |
| Wait, did you remember to maybe put them in some | | | | kid that grew a foot and gained fifty pounds and is |
| skating lessons first? Take them to the ice rink and go | | | | now thirteen, coming at you at full speed. It takes a |
| out on the ice with them. I believe this is very important. | | | | while for your superstar to think that he can do the |
| The kids need to know the basics first prior to | | | | fancy dandy toe drag move before a second year |
| showing for hockey evaluations. The people coaching | | | | Monster defense man will put him on his behind. The |
| in minor hockey are usually volunteer parents, who | | | | coaching staff will then have to scrape him of the ice |
| don't necessarily have the training on how to teach | | | | and the nice kid next door, Monster, that your |
| your child how to skate. There are a lot of community | | | | superstar plays street hockey with, says, " Welcome |
| as well as private programs out there. | | | | to peewee". |
| This is a great age to start. These kids are all there to | | | | This is the first year that your rep teams can qualify |
| have fun and enjoy learning the skating, shooting the | | | | for the provincials. If you have a chance to go, GO it |
| puck and starting to build little friendships. Parents are | | | | may not happen again. Enjoy the experience and |
| getting to know each other and the ins and outs of | | | | congratulate your kids for playing hard to get there. |
| hockey life. So far this is easy, since there is no | | | | 7) The WHL draft here we come |
| morning practices and not too many games or | | | | It's so important to get on the AAA team because |
| tournaments. This is the beginning of your commitment | | | | that is where the scouts are. Yes, this is where the |
| and you are in for six months. | | | | scouts are watching, but do you remember when |
| 3) Year two | | | | Johnny was six years old and wanted to play hockey |
| So you survived the first year and now you are ready | | | | for fun. Don't put so much pressure on your |
| to go again. September comes around and you are at | | | | thirteen-year-old first year Bantam player that he no |
| the rink in your shorts. It's still nice and sunny out and | | | | longer has any fun playing the game. This is a big year |
| you are enjoying it and prolonging the sun as long as | | | | for these guys, first year high school, puberty has hit, |
| possible. You are visiting with all the people you haven't | | | | girls are starting to call and they think they know more |
| seen all summer, catching up and just enjoying the kids | | | | than you do anyway, so why do you push so much. |
| out on the ice having a great time. People are starting | | | | What you need to remember is that all this has to be |
| to notice how some kids stand out and talking about | | | | up to the player, you can guide them and give them |
| who is going to be on what team. After all you get to | | | | suggestions, but you can't make them. Better yet, find |
| play some games against other associations and even | | | | someone that has gone through to at least junior A |
| enter into some tournaments. This year you will be | | | | hockey and what it takes in today's world. You may |
| introduced to fund raising or simply writing a cheque | | | | be surprised, two games a week minimum, two to |
| towards the team funds. This is still an awesome year | | | | three practices every week, dry land hockey specific |
| as the kids love to learn and the skating is coming | | | | at least once a week and also the possibility of |
| along famously. | | | | strength conditioning depending on your players stage |
| 4) Now you are 7 | | | | in physical development. Oh, and did I mention |
| Year three and you are ready to get to those | | | | homework. |
| evaluations. Now you may be introduced to a little bit | | | | Now let's discuss the second year Bantam. |
| of craziness where some kids might stand out and | | | | Congratulations you have made the AAA team in |
| that kid apparently wants to play up with the older age | | | | your association. Now the scouts will be there. Well, |
| group. He may skate fast enough, even look like he | | | | take into consideration what Tier you will play. Most |
| can, but in all reality in a month or two it will be closer | | | | scouts will only watch the top tear. Ok, let's presume |
| to even. You have to remember, some kids go to | | | | that the team is in the top tear. Depending on the |
| spring hockey, summer camps and some just | | | | coaching staff, kiss every night of the week and all |
| unpacked their bag the other day, and just to make | | | | your weekends good buy. You will be spending a lot |
| sure everything still fit. Never the less some kids will | | | | of time at the rink. You could play upwards of 70 |
| stand out all year long and score a lot of goals. They | | | | games going all over the country for tournaments. All |
| may not be liked because of all the goals. Parents will | | | | you will need is an additional source of income. Don't |
| be talking about this kid either positively or negatively, | | | | worry, the player will pay you back once they sign a |
| but certainly talking. The positive talking will be good | | | | contract in the big show. Ok, let's get back to the WHL |
| and encouraging, just have to pay attention on how | | | | draft. Your player is fourteen years old; he is being |
| you talk about that special someone in front of your | | | | drafted to a specific team in the league. Let's realize |
| own kid. | | | | what this actually means. If he is drafted in the first |
| The negative will be determined on the special player's | | | | round or second, maybe even third he may actually |
| PARENTS attitude. By this I mean how are the | | | | play in the WHL. He now belong to that team and can |
| parents talking about the other players? "Oh you are | | | | not decide to play for another WHL team, he would |
| the best, even when you try to pass, they never get | | | | have to be traded. Unless the team drops them from |
| it". You should be playing up with the older better kids. | | | | their protected list, did I mention this could be done any |
| Where is the rush Mom and Dad? There are a few | | | | time the team feels it found an unprotected player |
| more years before the Bantam draft. | | | | somewhere else? |
| 5) Last year novice | | | | 8) Major Midget |
| Are you ready to go again? The two minute buzzer is | | | | Let's pretend that your player has been drafted. The |
| gone, hopefully offside has been introduced and that | | | | team wants him to play Major Midget. Great, but the |
| special player wants to try out for Atom Rep. Some | | | | Major Midget isn't always the best team put forth. This |
| parents are saying, yes let him go, we don't want him | | | | is unfortunate, but the best players don't always |
| on our team, he never passes anyway. His parents | | | | choose this route. This may be due to the financial |
| are trying to convince anyone who will listen to let him | | | | commitment or it may be the choice of coaching staff |
| try. | | | | on either team. You have a choice. There has been |
| This year should be about learning more of the same | | | | AAA Midget a team that had better players on it than |
| as prior years, individual skills. Skating, passing and | | | | Major Midget. This was not the plan of BC Hockey, but |
| shooting. Some time will be spent on learning more | | | | it happens. Major Midget is supposed to be an Elite |
| about the game, like the basic breakout and the | | | | Midget program for BC kids. |
| importance of a back check. You will be taught more | | | | 9) Junior |
| as a team and what a team is and the important part | | | | So you have been invited to the Prospects camp in |
| of community. When you go to different rinks and | | | | the W. Good for you. Do you have a back up plan? |
| tournaments, coaches will be discussing appropriate | | | | You might want to consider this, since most first year |
| behavior at the restaurant you will have lunch at | | | | players don't play. Or you may be on the fourth line, |
| between games. You will also learn more about the | | | | feeling things out and all of a sudden in November, |
| respect for the game and everyone involved referees, | | | | bang, the coach sends you home. Now what. You |
| all coaches and all volunteers. How about the hotel you | | | | may want to make sure you have a place to play, like |
| stay at while traveling around to different locations for | | | | Junior A or B. This can happen. |
| that weekend tourney. | | | | If that decision was made for your player at training |
| This is only your fourth year playing and there is a lot | | | | camp, have a Junior A or B team that you are |
| to learn still. | | | | working with. Junior A in the BCHL is a great program |
| 6) Welcome to Atom and Rep Hockey Tryouts | | | | as most teams want to get you to the next level, not |
| Please parents realize that it takes hard work for your | | | | all but most, remember it is also about winning. |
| child to make rep. If you think your child is that special | | | | 10) Undrafted players |
| player, please remember that there is always a better | | | | Hey, don't worry about it. If hockey is what your player |
| player somewhere. Some of these kids have worked | | | | wants than YOUR player needs to prove the scouts |
| all spring and summer long towards making a rep | | | | wrong. It wouldn't be the first and won't be the last |
| team. They might still not make it. You, as a parent will | | | | time they made a mistake. Improve the player's skill |
| have your own opinions on who should or shouldn't be | | | | and try out for Junior A or B teams. This a great place |
| there. The evaluators and coaches are doing the best | | | | to get some awesome coaching from ex NHL payers |
| to their ability to pick a team they believe will be a | | | | and sometimes-even coaches. |
| winning team. You will not agree with them about all | | | | 11) Juvy |
| the decisions whether your superstar makes it or not. | | | | If your player is playing at this level in your minor |
| After all he was the best kid on last years team. Well, | | | | hockey association, you should be a proud parent. This |
| welcome to a reality that the kids they are currently | | | | is the toughest one to be motivated for. The player |
| competing against are a year older with more | | | | has to drive himself to every practice and game. |
| experience. Nothing wrong with your kid playing on the | | | | Practices are usually at a convenient time of 10 PM or |
| second or third rep team if house. | | | | later on a weekend. These kids are committed to the |
| Is the kid there to learn the game of hockey, have | | | | team and skip on that awesome party happening in |
| some fun and learn some life skills or are they fulfilling | | | | your neighborhood. And also remember that most of |
| your life dream of playing in the show. This is a tough | | | | are either in college or working a full time job. Hey, they |
| year for some to overcome. Some thought their | | | | still get a chance to play in the Provincials. Be a Proud |
| superstar should be on a rep team and didn't make it. | | | | Parent. |