How Do You Handle the Hidden Fees Associated with Travel Hockey?
Last week we asked you to provide input regarding how you handle the hidden fees associated with travel hockey. The individual who provided the best answer would win $150 worth of NHL BladeTape from BladeTape.com. Congratulations to Scott Winokur for providing the following winning response:Scott said: Our son is now in his 6th season of travel hockey as a PeeWee Major. It’s hard to believe that it's been that long, but here we are....... again.
Being a returning travel parent has made it easier to anticipate "hidden fees" because of prior years experience. However, as a first year travel parent, it can be a little overwhelming in the beginning. My advice to new travel hockey parents is to stay very involved with your team manager prior to the onset of the season.
They are usually the ones who are responsible for making all the arrangements for tournaments, scrimmages and camps that are usually not included in your team fee. With the exception of scrimmages, most of these activities are planned very early, usually well in advance of when league play commences.
We have had the same team manager for the past four seasons, so she is a pro at estimating the additional costs. It has been customary for our team manager to collect money at the beginning of the season to prepare for these “hidden fees.” For example, we write a check for $500, which goes into a team account (usually an escrow checking account). The manager uses these funds throughout the season to pay for the "little things" that come up.
For a parent, it's an easy way to handle extra costs up front and not leave you with sticker shock later. Occasionally, we need to put in a little more in the pot, but usually, we end up with money left over in the team account at the end of the season.
Last year we had money left over, so we decided to have an end of the year party for the kids. The bottom line is, be prepared for hidden fees before the season starts. If your team manager is on the ball, there won't be any surprises later.
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Scott Winokur for winning this week's contest. As a thank you for his answer, BladeTape.com is giving Scott $150 worth of NHL BladeTape. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
What is the Most Memorable Thing a Coach Has Taught Your Child?
Last week we asked you to provide input regarding the most memorable thing a coach has taught your child. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. We received many great responses regarding the coaches in your lives. Congratulations to Tammy Shults for providing the following winning response:Tammy said: My child has learned the value of helping others. When my daughter was four years old, she played one year of Mite A hockey. She was the only girl on the team and was very unsure if she liked the sport the way her older brother did. She stuck it out, learned how to skate, and developed many friendships with all those "stinky" boys.
Throughout the season her shyness held her back from playing during games and scrimmages. Several times the coach would "plant" her in front of the net so she could try to score a goal. The most amazing part was that her teammates (mostly five year old boys) willingly and selflessly passed the puck to her several times hoping to help her get her first goal. In her very last game of the season with less than three seconds remaining and after many failed attempts she scored her first and last goal.
As the coach picked her up and spun her around, I had to wipe away a tear. I knew that she had just experienced the true meaning of team. This group of little boys and my daughter were led by a coach who knew that it was important for all the kids on the team to score a goal and that "getting one" for my daughter would mean something to all of them.
Last night my son had a game at the rink where my daughter scored her goal. As we entered, her eyes sparkled and she looked up at me and said, "mom this is where I scored my goal!" I know she will never forget her first hockey goal or what it felt like to be part of a team that was led by such amazing coaches.
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Tammy Shults for winning this week's contest. As a thank you for her answer, HockeyShot.com is giving Tammy a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
How Do You Encourage Your Player After a Tough Loss?
Last week we asked you to provide input regarding how you encourage your child after a tough loss. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. We received many excellent responses and encouraging ideas. Congratulations to Laura Shovein-Brown for providing the following winning response:Laura said: Tough losses can be difficult for kids (and adults). The main focal points of the game are to have fun and win. Yes, I said win. Who plays a game to lose or to hand over a trophy? Let's be real.
When a player experiences a loss, it is important to ask him/her what they thought of the game and what they might change about it, if anything. And, most importantly, what did they learn from the experience? Don't let players get side tracked with blaming others (including the refs). Let them have time to reflect and talk about it, if they choose. Additionally, it is important not to criticize your player's performance. Let your player come to you or the coach for critique or advice if they feel it is necessary. If your player does want to talk about things, be sure to highlight positives, along with discussing what they might want to improve upon.
I also pass on my motto to soften the blow... "one who never loses anything, never understands or truly appreciates a win." This is a fact and applies to many things in life. Losses are learning experiences for all of us.
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Laura Shovein-Brown for winning this week's contest. As a thank you for her answer, HockeyShot.com is giving Laura a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
How Do You Keep Your Hockey Player Motivated During the Season?
Last week we asked you to share your tips to keep players motivated during the season. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. You provided an abundance of great ideas. Congratulations to Laura Jaramazovic for providing the following winning response:Laura said: Keeping a hockey player motivated during the long hockey season can be a challenge. After all, there are no six to seven digit incomes prodding them on, only the love of the game. Since the love for the game is their primary motivation, parents must bear this in mind.
Once it becomes a chore, work, or something associated with parental nagging, the love is soon gone. This is why kids are usually more motivated at the beginning of the season and are worn out by the end. Somewhere between tournaments, travel and practice drills the “fun” aspect of hockey soon fades away and it can become a job – and, as adults, we know how fun most jobs are.
To keep a player motivated patience is required. The temptation to nag must be kept in check or going to hockey practice becomes synonymous with “go do your homework.” Here are some tips to help keep things fun and avoid nagging:
- Get hockey bags ready the night before to avoid the rush and stress that usually accompanies the trip to hockey practice.
- Make sure your player gets enough rest during the season. We all know how important rest is to keep them from getting sick. The same thought also applies to keeping them from burning out. Sometimes they are just too tired.
- Try and keep outside activities in balance with at home family time. Our kids' social calendars are busier than a CEO's at times, which can lead to burnout.
- Take them ice skating as a family.
- See if your team will have some play time such as broom ball or baseball on ice with hockey gear, etc.
- Give the player ownership. If they won't get their gear ready, you don't go. At some point you have to put it in their hands to want to play.
- Most importantly, be involved and cheer them on. It's supposed to be fun, right?
I hope this helps some desperate hockey parents out there. Remember it is ok to let go of the battle and get back to having some fun.
Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Laura Jaramazovic for her winning answer. As a thank you for her input, HockeyShot.com is giving Laura a $50 gift certificate. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
How Do You Deal with a Negative Coach?
Last week we asked you to share how you deal with a negative coach. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. You came through with flying colors, offering such great advice, we couldn’t narrow the winner down to just one. As a result this week’s contest has two winners! Congratulations to Deb Gonzalez and Jeremy Colarelli for providing the following winning responses:Deb said: My answer to your question is to change the focus. Unless you happen to live in a town with only one team, hockey players can generally choose which teams they want to try for (or in the case of rec., sign-up with). If you already know a certain coach's demeanor is not a good fit for your child, don't try for his team. Let me also point out, we are not talking about abusive coaches here, just one with a negative personality. I propose that what may be a "negative" and non-motivating approach for one child may be exactly the style another child strives under.
We like to talk about hockey as being a fun game that teaches life skills to kids. Could there be a life lesson in learning to cope with a negative coach? I say, “Yes!” After all, as adults we have to deal with all kinds of personalities, including the “negative” ones, in our daily lives whether at work or in our neighborhoods. I suggest parents maintain open lines of communication with their kids to help them to learn to deal with the disagreeable personality.
None of us wants our children to be stuck in uncomfortable situations, but with encouragement from you, it could be a real boost to the emotional development of your child. Help him to recognize that people have different temperaments and, as long as certain lines aren’t crossed, it is just all a part of what makes life interesting. Help them to look for the things that give him joy at the rink, such as the friendships, the skillful plays, the thrill of competition, the physical training and more. And, reassure them that if the coach remains a bad fit after the child has met his team commitment for the season, he may try out for a different coach the next time.
As for your own dealing with a negative coach, we do not always know what other people are going through. When possible encourage and thank your coach for their efforts, show concern for his troubles and try to find something to praise in him. Most importantly, keep a genuine smile on your own face and it might just become contagious!
Jeremy shared: Communication FIRST! If your player's coach doesn't understand the situation, they cannot fix it. It is also imperative that you remove your emotions from the situation before you communicate with the coach. Going into a discussion with a level head will give you the answers you need, anger and other strong emotions will only cloud your better judgment.
Once you have communicated with your coach, there is some self-evaluation that needs to occur within your family. Does the solution meet your satisfaction? What can we do as our player's support to better the situation? Is the coach's solution to your problem good for your player and good for your team?
Hockey is a very unique sport in that it is as much an individual sport as it is a team sport. Everything your player does contributes to or hurts the team. Prepare to ask yourself "Is this sport really for us?" If there is any confusion, I would suggest sitting with your child and asking what they really want to get from their hockey experience.
The important thing to remember is that every family has options. Unfortunately, some of those options are not pleasant. If there are multiple teams in your age division, moving teams is an option. If your child's age division has no other teams to move to, your options are to either tolerate the "bad coach" for a season, or leave hockey for a season, or for good. I am not one to start my child into a season only to pull them out because of conflict. I personally think doing so would send a horrible message.
Board members are always interested in hearing from their members. What Board members do not want to hear is petty complaining, but well thought out ideas and objections to the direction their organizations are headed. There definitely is a chain of command and each club is different. Be sure to ask questions first, complain after listening to the answers, and remember that we are all here for our children first and our teams a very close second.
Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Deb Gonzalez and Jeremy Colarelli for their winning answers. As a thank you for their input, HockeyShot.com is giving both Deb and Jeremy a $50 gift certificate. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
Tell Us About Your Most Successful Fundraiser
Last week we asked you to share your most successful fundraising effort. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. We received many great money making ideas. Congratulations to Amy Kowalski for providing the following winning response:Amy said: One of our most successful activities last season was a gift basket raffle. We had businesses donate a variety of items (some big, some small) and we assembled them into 14 different baskets.
We had several sports-based baskets with tickets to upcoming games, shirts, hats and other items and we had some with other themes like coffee and chocolate, pets, car care, spa items, etc. The baskets ranged in value with some baskets worth over $500.
In order to raffle the baskets off, tickets were sold - 2 tickets for $5, 5 tickets for $10, or 20 tickets for $20. The event raised well over $1,000 for our team which gave us the ability to reduce the last payment for everyone on the team.
Editor's Note: To increase your earnings on this fundraiser, consider raising ticket prices, basket value or number of baskets included. Congratulations to Amy Kowalski for her winning answer. As a thank you for her answer, HockeyShot.com is giving Amy a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
What is the Best Way to Improve Youth Hockey?
Last week we asked you to provide input regarding the best way to improve youth hockey. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. We received many excellent responses and ideas. Congratulations to Luis Vargas for providing the following winning response:Luis said: To "grow the game", we need to take a few steps to insure the sport is "popularized" and is available for the masses. We often miss excellent athletes simply because they cannot afford the game. Also, at the higher levels, opportunities to expand beyond youth years are typically limited to those willing to invest greatly in the game - Jr. Hockey fees of $6000 plus are not easy for everyone to pay. The system is, in some ways, broken and we need to work hard to fix it. Here are a few things we can do to start:
- Partner with private rinks to promote hockey in a way that will enhance their business model - youth hockey needs to be a viable business opportunity for the rinks to invest time and resources.
- Promote and showcase alternative technologies such as synthetic ice to lower overall cost of playing the game.
- Resuscitate roller hockey programs to promote a more inexpensive way play and provide additional opportunities to experience the game.
- Establish programs geared toward the retention and recruitment of players (including financial assistance) at all levels.
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Luis Vargas for winning this week's contest. As a thank you for his answer, HockeyShot.com is giving Luis a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
