As a first timer, this was my thoughts on it.Guest wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:51 amI also have an older kid and don't completely agree. Spring hockey is a fun time for the kids and a chance to play with some kids that they don't always get to play with and meet some new people. What I dislike is the organizations that want to lock you into a 4-5 tournament commitment and charge you a $1,000-$1,500 for it. Best way to approach spring hockey for us is to do a few weekend tournaments, couple hundred bucks a weekend and call it. Some people want to go to the Brick because they think there is prestige to it and that's fine, if you have $10,000 to blow in a spring more power to you.Guest wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:44 pmListen to this guy, he knows what he's talking about.Guest wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2023 9:11 amAs a parent in this group with an another player several years older, I recommend not paying some bs coach anything for spring hockey (unless it's part of your winter teams program). It is nothing but a cash grab. These professional coaches make it seem like your kid needs to play spring hockey to be successful but that is nothing but a lie. They want your money and nothing more. The hockey is awful, the coaches don't really coach and are usually running 3 or 4 teams at once and the price is astronomical for hockey that means absolutely nothing. Take half that money and put your kid in a good, reputable hockey school one or two days a week for training, and/or put him/her on a Canlan pickup team spring team for $300. If you don't believe me ask any parent with an older kid on a successful team what their summer routine is and you will hear the same story; they got suckered for years paying for spring, and now, in retrospect, they see how pointless it was.Guest wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:39 amI got an email yesterday, looked like I was BCC'd asking if we would accept a spot. We did.
If you are doing spring for a few skates, to play with some new people and generally to have some fun there is not a single thing wrong. If you think it's a path to stardom then you are going down the wrong path.
Let my kid extend the season a bit, but with much lower commitment levels. I asked him, he said he wants to do it. At U8 I don't just blindly allow him to do anything he wants, but it wasn't going to interfere with his spring/summer sport that he plays. Its lower requirements so we can wind down slowly. Plus it gives him the opportunity to play with some new kids potentially.
but I agree, I've heard there are some "tournament teams" that charge an absolute fortune to play with them.
I was hoping it would be $1000 or less. With one practice a week at most.
