The OHF posted this message yesterday. Sure sounds like they are exploring open borders at all ages and levels. How's everyone feeling about this if it does happen?
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2024/review- ... -movement/
Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
Based on a 21-1 win in Gthl AAA tournament game releases should be clamped down on to make leagues more competitive.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:26 am The OHF posted this message yesterday. Sure sounds like they are exploring open borders at all ages and levels. How's everyone feeling about this if it does happen?
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2024/review- ... -movement/
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
Forcing a few good kids to stay with their lousy home center teams isn't going to make those teams any more competitive. It's only unfair to the one kid who can't go play with players more like themselves.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:47 amBased on a 21-1 win in Gthl AAA tournament game releases should be clamped down on to make leagues more competitive.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:26 am The OHF posted this message yesterday. Sure sounds like they are exploring open borders at all ages and levels. How's everyone feeling about this if it does happen?
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2024/review- ... -movement/
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
The release doesn't say that boundaries will be dissolved. It mentions they are reviewing to make it simpler to make transition seamless. It could mean less paperwork which is more stringent. I really hope they get rid of boundaries which will make the centres to raise their game. Let it be an open market..else there will be more initiatives like Klevr, BCHL that will eat their lunchGuest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:50 amForcing a few good kids to stay with their lousy home center teams isn't going to make those teams any more competitive. It's only unfair to the one kid who can't go play with players more like themselves.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:47 amBased on a 21-1 win in Gthl AAA tournament game releases should be clamped down on to make leagues more competitive.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:26 am The OHF posted this message yesterday. Sure sounds like they are exploring open borders at all ages and levels. How's everyone feeling about this if it does happen?
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2024/review- ... -movement/
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
They are already wiping the floor with the OHF and the fix is so simple, get rid of half ice hockey and open the borders. Maybe I am just stupidGuest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 1:00 pmThe release doesn't say that boundaries will be dissolved. It mentions they are reviewing to make it simpler to make transition seamless. It could mean less paperwork which is more stringent. I really hope they get rid of boundaries which will make the centres to raise their game. Let it be an open market..else there will be more initiatives like Klevr, BCHL that will eat their lunchGuest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:50 amForcing a few good kids to stay with their lousy home center teams isn't going to make those teams any more competitive. It's only unfair to the one kid who can't go play with players more like themselves.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:47 amBased on a 21-1 win in Gthl AAA tournament game releases should be clamped down on to make leagues more competitive.Guest wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:26 am The OHF posted this message yesterday. Sure sounds like they are exploring open borders at all ages and levels. How's everyone feeling about this if it does happen?
https://www.ohf.on.ca/news/2024/review- ... -movement/
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
Hockey needs to be treated like a product that we buy. I don't have to buy my car/groceries or a golf membership in my hometown. Why is kid's hockey any different? I get that some families are looking just to make super teams and are willing to drive thousands of km's to do that, but I think the vast majority of us want our kids to be happy, playing at an appropriate level with nice families and learning some life lessons along the way.
There are lots of reasons why a kid might not want to play in their hometown. When my kids were little we chose the local league that was closest to their grandparents. It made the most sense for us, Grandpa could come and watch all his games or give him rides if needed. Then when he got good enough to make rep and made the choice to play rep, we had to go to a center that was 40 minutes further away from his grandparents, we lived in the middle of the 2 centers so it didn't make a difference where he played, but for my parents it was a lot harder to make all his games. My son had a great time at both centers but I could only imagine if he struggled to make friends, was bullied or the coach didn't treat him well. We would have been forced to choose between leaving to go to the lower level or maybe even quitting hockey. Let's face it, locking kids into one center creates the perfect storm for abuse as well. A kid would be so conflicted about choosing between an abusive coach or teammates or the game that they love. It's a disaster and no wonder hockey has been the center of countless scandals over the years.
I'm sure there are hundreds of ways to fix the problem, but to me it would make the most sense to have relegation like they do in soccer. Every year if a coach can find the kids and an organization that will allow them to play they could put together a team, doesn't matter what center. They would be forced to start at A. Every season the top team from A moves to AA the top AA moves to AAA and the bottom teams move down a level, The lowest A team leaves the loop and can re-apply after a year. There could also be a super league, like the Champions League for soccer, where the top 4-6 AAA teams all play each other while still playing in the local AAA loop. Imagine the excitement of a small town could get their team to the top league. After a few years, everyone would be playing at the proper level. You wouldn't have teams constantly losing and by huge scores, and you also wouldn't have that many teams dominating as well, and if they did it would only be for that season. And if someone wants to drive from Kingston to Barrie for practice/games that would be the family's choice. The top players would eventually find their way to the top teams, and everyone else would be playing against equivalent skill levels.
There are lots of reasons why a kid might not want to play in their hometown. When my kids were little we chose the local league that was closest to their grandparents. It made the most sense for us, Grandpa could come and watch all his games or give him rides if needed. Then when he got good enough to make rep and made the choice to play rep, we had to go to a center that was 40 minutes further away from his grandparents, we lived in the middle of the 2 centers so it didn't make a difference where he played, but for my parents it was a lot harder to make all his games. My son had a great time at both centers but I could only imagine if he struggled to make friends, was bullied or the coach didn't treat him well. We would have been forced to choose between leaving to go to the lower level or maybe even quitting hockey. Let's face it, locking kids into one center creates the perfect storm for abuse as well. A kid would be so conflicted about choosing between an abusive coach or teammates or the game that they love. It's a disaster and no wonder hockey has been the center of countless scandals over the years.
I'm sure there are hundreds of ways to fix the problem, but to me it would make the most sense to have relegation like they do in soccer. Every year if a coach can find the kids and an organization that will allow them to play they could put together a team, doesn't matter what center. They would be forced to start at A. Every season the top team from A moves to AA the top AA moves to AAA and the bottom teams move down a level, The lowest A team leaves the loop and can re-apply after a year. There could also be a super league, like the Champions League for soccer, where the top 4-6 AAA teams all play each other while still playing in the local AAA loop. Imagine the excitement of a small town could get their team to the top league. After a few years, everyone would be playing at the proper level. You wouldn't have teams constantly losing and by huge scores, and you also wouldn't have that many teams dominating as well, and if they did it would only be for that season. And if someone wants to drive from Kingston to Barrie for practice/games that would be the family's choice. The top players would eventually find their way to the top teams, and everyone else would be playing against equivalent skill levels.
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Guest
Re: Did the OHF just hint at possible Open Borders?
This is well overdue. OMHA is rife with stories about coaches targeting children to show the parents they don't like how much "power" they have, or complacent organizations providing nothing to kids for development while redirecting benefits through family members or suppliers.
It will also eliminate a lot of the GTHL address cheating that happens because families are trying to escape bad situations.
Provide competition and choice and the product will end up being better at all levels. Not all conversations are about building "super-teams", its about families being able to choose a supportive environments that appeal to their individual values and competition preferences.
Good for OHF - obviously there are still some smart people in hockey.
It will also eliminate a lot of the GTHL address cheating that happens because families are trying to escape bad situations.
Provide competition and choice and the product will end up being better at all levels. Not all conversations are about building "super-teams", its about families being able to choose a supportive environments that appeal to their individual values and competition preferences.
Good for OHF - obviously there are still some smart people in hockey.
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