OT - Cheryl OK Update

I want DD to do both for 2 more seasons - no specializing until PeeWee's

I can ALWAYS pick the goalie parents at any rink at any time of day! LOL I remember watching DS's games last Xmas, especially the "championship" game at Blizzards. Medford had stacked their team (where did all those 6 footers come from, I saw the first Medford game) and DS was a wall. But at the end of the game, I had little bruises from where I had been clenching my fingernails into my palms.

Who's he skating for? Nashua? Some one else. It might be time for a rec league rather than a travel/competitive team. To bad Manchester is too far away for you - MYRHA runs a nice house program..

Cheryl

Could it be the coach? My ds, who really is a baseball player, is also a decent swimmer, and it would be great for him to do in the off season. But won't do it anymore because if he does, he has to swim with a particular coach that he doesn't like (and neither do most of the parents, frankly). We joke that Coach J is the test of a true swimmer - if you can swim with her and still want to, you're dedicated. DS is just not that into swimming. DD, on the other hand, is and will survive any coach, no matter how bad.

Linda

On 11/22/06 7:58 AM, "Cheryl Isaak" wrote:

That's a good idea.

*snip*

LOL - you can always tell the new goalie parents, or the over-involved ones, as well. As in the dad down at the corner glass screaming constantly at the poor kid. Hmmm - y'think maybe he has enough to concentrate on - and maybe listening to the coach and communicating with his teammates. And then the stricken looking parents. The worst are when it's a new goalie parent in the scorekeepers box - need I say more. My favorite goalie story. I was goal-judging at Nationals - this is about 8 years ago. Tier I, Bantam Majors. Local Tier I team vs some team from either NJ or Philly. A friend in armbands, don't remember the linesman. I was standing on a chair - way the rink is - and wearing a 2 piece knit kind of skirt/tunic suit - with opaque hose and not big heels. The end of the rink is cordoned off - though I have my back to the lobby/snack bar area (big glass wall). Many coaches at the corner - by the barrier rope. Close game. Guy comes down from home team, snipes a shot, goalie goes down - lovely picture from the front - the one leg to the side - glove up to right. Ref hauling ass - and gets to the line essentially looking at me as he points - I've put the light on From the front looked like a save. But, the goalie's leg wasn't firmly pressed to the ice, and the puck had gone under the pad and kept on going, slowly - but steadily across the line. Our friend who was reffing said it was the rare occasion for him to look/note the goal judge - we did the subtle nod thing to each other. About 3 min later suddenly there is some middle-aged guy, average to short size - carrying a tote bag - standing next to me - came thru the ropes. And he proceeds to start whacking me on the leg with the tote bag. Yelling about "it wasn't a goal - why don't you just give the game to the home team?" followed by a stream of similar invective about hurting the kids, being blind, cheating, being paid off, etc. Of course including - the "my son made the save" . Duh. It was clearly the goalie dad. So, I calmly at first told the guy to settle down and I'd tell him what happened. As I try to explain, the guy blowes up again, and starts swinging the tote bag - at which point I have to instruct him that he will be removed from the facility if he doesn't settle down. In the meantime, the ref has stopped the game to skate down and see if I'm okay - while the supervisor at the scorebox has sent for rink people to escort the guy out. Finally he calmed down, they took him out - made him wait in the lobby - under threat of another outburst and out of the tourney. Game restarts - and I'm yelling - kind of humorously - at the group of coaches hanging at the corner who saw the whole thing. Worst part - one of them was the head coach for the prep school where I was an asst coach.. The guys there replied -"you can take care of yourself" and then amidst much laughter -which they'd been holding in - "besides - it was too funny to stop - and we wanted to see how you'd do in the skirt" . Yup. Goalie parents. Hockey guys. Got to love 'em. The post script - back in the ref room getting some refreshments post game - the ref and other crews are in there - and our ref says "what the heck?" = there was more action down at your goal judge spot than on the ice"

If he's finding it not fun, then it may be a combo of an over serious coach

- which happens a lot - so that it's not fun. For most hockey players that we know (self included) any time on the ice is great - cause you're on the ice. Even sweating up a storm, or skating the nets around. But, if the coach/team attitude - especially for younger kids - is out of proportion, way too serious - then it can sour the kids. Cheryl's suggestion to do a house program - or rec may be the answer. Or, maybe just taking a year off will help him decide. But, given what it costs, I can certainly understand wanting him to finish the year's commitment - for many reasons.

Good luck.

ellice

On 11/22/06 9:53 AM, "lewmew" wrote:

I feel that pain. The summer before 10th grade I was still swimming, and playing tennis. My second season on the serious tennis track - which meant I spent many hours on the courts, worked in the pro-shop, taught the "ladies" clinic (to pay for my coaching). Etc. I was swimming AAU in the summer, and it was my 2nd season with this particular team. They added a coach - a guy who lifeguarded at the club - and was kind of obnoxious. I swam backstroke as an individual - along with others. In those days you had to do a particular turn for backstroke (not like now when you can twist then turn). I broke both my armes at age 11, and one of the wrists doesn't have full mobility. So, I can't bend my hand back to get a full flat or beyond touch. This guy drove me crazy - would get in the pool with me, making me turn and turn and turn - and actually physically hurt my hand by pushing trying to force it. Then, to make it worse - I'm not much of a diver. A bunch of us were goofing around during lunch break, and he came out on the springboard to help me do a back dive. Yup. Had me completely arched out - and let go. Big splat. Very red bruised back. I quit the team. It was too much (though I did fill in a couple of times when they were short that summer). I figured that it was enough I was in the pool from 6 - 7:30 or 8 every morning, then on the courts til- 4:30, then went to work til 9 pm, and so forth. Not being a gifted swimmer I just couldn't deal with the horrible coach. I think my parents were ready to get him fired after my backsplash. But they didn't.

Coaches do make a big difference.

ellice

Especially given the cost of goalie gear! YIKES

The mother of "trying it out" goalie looking like murder at her husband as people shot pucks at her little girl! LOL

OH NO!!!

(snip and SPEW)

What she said! C

He plays on the Chelmsford Squirt 3 team. I think it is a combination of things. They haven't been wining much (they seem to come up against teams with bigger players a lot of the time), and practices are pretty much all drills instead of fun scrimmages. His team plays in both the Dual State league and also in the Middlesex league and there are many games. The coach wants them to play better and so coaches them telling them to play hard, along with drills and a lot of instruction on how to improve and what they are supposed to do. DS works hard at hockey, but he complains of feeling pressured at hockey like he is at school and that it isn't fun. Maybe he just wants more down time in his life. He already has long days at school and extended day afterword. I think the coach, and league is a little over serious for him. Not sure what type of rec league options we have we have for hockey. The main town hockey league is travel for kids his age unless they are beginners. I could ask around.

I like the exercise hockey gives him. And he doesn't completely hate it. But I hate to rush from work, to pick him up at extended day and take him to practice only to have him complain. Not to mention the early morning weekend games.

Maybe without hockey we'll all have more time to go skiing. Also middle school starts in 5th grade in our town. So next year he'll be dealing with that. Actually he could do intermural sports after school with the middle school program. Maybe that will be enough next year.

I wonder if he takes a year off if he could go back to it if he wants. I think next year he'd still be a squirt.

-Evelyn

You're a good mother to understand that. I've seen too many trying to force the kids to be what mom always wanted to be.

I'd hate to try and keep either of mine off the ice these days.

Cheryl

From the coach perspective - it's better to have a lot of drills. But, you have to make them fun and toss in a little scrimmage time ocassionally. With squads that lack skill, they just don't get much from scrimmaging - though it's hard to get anyone not a coach to believe that. We always have some fun drills in our practices - 3 on 3s or passing and moving, or things that are like playing but aimed at developing movement, etc. Then we would scrimmage at the end - unless the head coach was pissed - and well - we've done lots of "climb the mountain" - remember from Miracle when Brooks is pissed at the team and makes them skate post-game? Thought for us not so extreme.

Sometimes the year off is a good thing. And skiing - well, who could complain.

Doesn't sound that way. Squirts are 10 & Under. He'd probably go into PeeWees - which is the first checking age group. Is he thinking about that and getting anxious? USAH age groups are:

6 -Under - Atoms 8- Under - Mites 10 - Under Squirts 12- Under PewWees 14- Under Bantams 16-Under - Midgets 18-Under Midgets

In the first vs second year of the age group, in Tier I programs they're referred to as Minor or Major - as in 1st yr PeeWee is Pee Wee Minor, 2nd year Pee Wee Major.

If you have any questions - check out the USAH site. I think the guidebook, which has all the player/team info is on line.

Sounds like you have the right idea, regardless of what path you choose.

ellice

*snipping details*