Keebler
Nov 28, 2007, 10:35 AM
Before i rant, please understand I am a big hockey fan. I think it's a fantastic sport that unfortunately, most of the world doesn't get to see. Not saying it's the best sport, but worth watching or at least, try watching to understand. the link to the article that has me so p*ssed is below.
BUT, in Canada, the competition is getting ridiculous. I remember hearing about hockey politics YEARS ago and thought that was brutal at the time.
Fast forward to recent years when I had kids. I never played hockey....family didn't have the money or resources. Still, I played on the outdoor rinks and loved it. Now onto my kids....I thought, "hey, would be nice to get them involved". I have some money so i thought it might work.
Then i heard about hockey for 5 year olds. yup. how dumb is this? 6 AM practices on the weekend, sometimes 2 practices a week and then a game (I have nothing against practices b/c i think they are an integral part of sports). btw, i know why practices are so early - not enough ice time. that i get, but the older kids (teens) should get up that early then. Then i heard some 6 year olds start TRAVELLING for tournaments where they play up to 4 or 5 games in 3 days. um..... DUH! I can't see the value in that. really?! Oh...and let's not forget the cost. up to $700 just for frackin' registration!?!?! then equipment, which for ever growing kids, is not cheap. then money for hotels and snacks. not trying to sound like a scrooge, but really, for 5 and 6 year olds?!!?! talk about setting high expectations.
then, here it is:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071127/hockey_brawl_071127/20071127?hub=TorontoHome
some are angry about this (as I am - 8 year olds in a brawl???) and some are surprised.
i'm not.
what can we expect with putting so much pressure on kids and the coaches!?
can you fault parents for putting pressure on coaches when they spend hard earned money on gas, hotels and meals to travel every weekend or so? Sports is to be for fun and then we strip that away for competition. it's just a sad ridiculous state.
I probably come across as a pacifist, but i'm not. I like competitive activities, but i just think hockey in Canada is getting a tad stupid. Others will not agree of course and that's probably b/c they are sucked into it with 1 or 2 kids on teams.
To date, my boys have not asked to play and i hope to God they don't. I'll get them skating so they can play on the outdoor rinks. There are plenty of other activities which give the same benefits as hockey. Oh, except the 0.000000001 % that they might make the pro leagues some day.
Whew. now i feel better :)
Cheers,
Keebler
BUT, in Canada, the competition is getting ridiculous. I remember hearing about hockey politics YEARS ago and thought that was brutal at the time.
Fast forward to recent years when I had kids. I never played hockey....family didn't have the money or resources. Still, I played on the outdoor rinks and loved it. Now onto my kids....I thought, "hey, would be nice to get them involved". I have some money so i thought it might work.
Then i heard about hockey for 5 year olds. yup. how dumb is this? 6 AM practices on the weekend, sometimes 2 practices a week and then a game (I have nothing against practices b/c i think they are an integral part of sports). btw, i know why practices are so early - not enough ice time. that i get, but the older kids (teens) should get up that early then. Then i heard some 6 year olds start TRAVELLING for tournaments where they play up to 4 or 5 games in 3 days. um..... DUH! I can't see the value in that. really?! Oh...and let's not forget the cost. up to $700 just for frackin' registration!?!?! then equipment, which for ever growing kids, is not cheap. then money for hotels and snacks. not trying to sound like a scrooge, but really, for 5 and 6 year olds?!!?! talk about setting high expectations.
then, here it is:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071127/hockey_brawl_071127/20071127?hub=TorontoHome
some are angry about this (as I am - 8 year olds in a brawl???) and some are surprised.
i'm not.
what can we expect with putting so much pressure on kids and the coaches!?
can you fault parents for putting pressure on coaches when they spend hard earned money on gas, hotels and meals to travel every weekend or so? Sports is to be for fun and then we strip that away for competition. it's just a sad ridiculous state.
I probably come across as a pacifist, but i'm not. I like competitive activities, but i just think hockey in Canada is getting a tad stupid. Others will not agree of course and that's probably b/c they are sucked into it with 1 or 2 kids on teams.
To date, my boys have not asked to play and i hope to God they don't. I'll get them skating so they can play on the outdoor rinks. There are plenty of other activities which give the same benefits as hockey. Oh, except the 0.000000001 % that they might make the pro leagues some day.
Whew. now i feel better :)
Cheers,
Keebler
