http://www.coloradoavalanchecares.com/columns/player-development/how-to-help-your-child-become-a-lifelong-athlete/ Partnering with Youth Sports Families Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:27:57 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.coloradoavalanchecares.com/columns/player-development/how-to-help-your-child-become-a-lifelong-athlete/comment-page-1/#comment-91 lab Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:27:36 +0000 http://www.coloradoavalanchecares.com/columns/player-development/how-to-help-your-child-become-a-lifelong-athlete/#comment-91 I was involved and my kid is still probably going to quit hockey. Not because of pressure but because of no t being wanted at a level he wants to play at. I am not talking AAA or AA hockey. When you are 4'11" and 84 pounds and you have to play travel at the Midget Minor level because of where your birthday falls the chances of you making a team are slim and none. Almost every year when my son is a first year player he gets sent to house hockey where development is little to none. The committment of the families on the team is not there, and for us it is just not the experience we want. He has good skills but frankly he is worried that someone twice his weight is going to cream him into the boards. Since age rules are determined by the National and Districe levels there is no way to change this. USA hockey talks about wanting to grow the game but their actions are driving people away. Wish I would have listened to the doctors that said to get out of traditional youth sports when he was 8 and diagnosed at being 4 years behind his peers in growth. As far as USA hockey goes - I think I will be rooting for Sweden in the upcoming olympics. I was involved and my kid is still probably going to quit hockey. Not because of pressure but because of no t being wanted at a level he wants to play at. I am not talking AAA or AA hockey. When you are 4'11" and 84 pounds and you have to play travel at the Midget Minor level because of where your birthday falls the chances of you making a team are slim and none. Almost every year when my son is a first year player he gets sent to house hockey where development is little to none. The committment of the families on the team is not there, and for us it is just not the experience we want. He has good skills but frankly he is worried that someone twice his weight is going to cream him into the boards. Since age rules are determined by the National and Districe levels there is no way to change this. USA hockey talks about wanting to grow the game but their actions are driving people away. Wish I would have listened to the doctors that said to get out of traditional youth sports when he was 8 and diagnosed at being 4 years behind his peers in growth. As far as USA hockey goes – I think I will be rooting for Sweden in the upcoming olympics.

]]>