AAA Hockey

[snova4]

In the interest of not putting anyone really on blast, or specifically identifying myself, I'd like to get some input from those that have navigated this before. 

I have one kid playing AAA Spring Hockey and other(s) that would really be interested in it. We've done several camps in the area, traveling for them, even some from former UND players, and have had good experiences at nearly all. We live in an area that doesn't have enough kids to put forth a team on it's own, so we need to travel to do spring hockey, which we're currently doing, and it's our first year of it. I can't say the experience has been good. We went with a program I had a ton of respect for because we've attended other aspects of their offerings, and were quite pleased, but the travel team has been the exact opposite. We're nearly at the end of everything, and there's been zero improvement as a team, nothing but "me" hockey, which is incredibly frustrating as you can see the team is talented, but the coaches seem to be more interested in swapping stories with parents than getting anyone prepared for the game. I feel like most of the problems the team has been facing with the lack of playing as a team could be fixed in the locker room prior to the game. 

I guess my main question is, is this worth it? Does AAA help in the long run, or is it more of a money grab? Or is it better just to save our money for a couple camps in the summer and take the kids on a vacation. I'm under no impression that I think any of them will be the next big star. They're talented, but I'm also realistic that advancing to anything outside of high school is something that only a small percentage of players ever do. I just thought that playing in this would give them exposure to some higher end skills and some advanced coaching, but I feel like my kid has actually gotten worse picking up some terrible habits. 

Any and all thoughts are appreciated from anyone that's navigated this in the past. I'm not a hockey player myself, nor is my wife, we've been referred to as a 1st Generation Family a few times, and that's pretty fitting. 

[JakeLove]

I assume you are talking about off-season teams? If so, they can be a good way to spend time with like-minded parents as a means to enjoy some hockey comraderie but are not generally focused on development. 
 

these teams are generally not going to be focused on player development, unless they are getting explicitly focused individual skill development during practice.

if there is no way to practice and if there is no skill development and only games, save your money unless you are doing the team for comraderie amongst friends. 
 

for development you would be better off playing another competitive sport during the spring. 

[siouxweet]

As noted Spring hockey is not for development unless it comes from the coaches.   Spring hockey is textbook checkbook hockey.  You spend a lot and outside of socializing you don't get much out of it except a big credit card bill.

[Frozen4sioux]

Uffda.... could write a book, as could others here. Lots of thoughts but no time right now to lay them out. So I'll just put a few points in now.

AAA hockey is the best worst undetermined decision we ever made.

Is it worth it... maybe.   Does AAA help or is it a money grab.... Yes.    It is that easy and complicated of a question and answer.

I'd say I may have been exactly where you are now at a time in the past.

Everything you think you know is completely wrong.  You either have to listen to rational advice or pay dearly to enroll in the class of 1st Gen Hockey Dad 101.

Are they a dominating talent among their regional (Midwest) aged peers?  Yes? 

 -Do you live west of Casselton?  Yes?  Then AAA is mandatory until they can leave for a legit program.  

 -East of Casselton, you have options and there will be good advice along the way. Enjoy the ride. And try to avoid the leeches trying to drain your bank accounts, Jr hockey and maybe college is a legit goal.

If you can't actually say they are a dominating talent among their regional (midwest) aged peers.  Play for fun and enjoy any AAA teams or tourneys you want, High school hockey should be your goal.   If they become an uber talent along the way there will be time to make many more decisions, and even more sleezier scumbag leeches trying to drain every last penny.

Before you do anything else have someone else talk to your kids and find out what they actually want to do. They won't give you an honest or unbiased answer, they'll tell you what they think you want to hear

[Wilbur]

A former coach in North Dakota High School hockey that I respect a lot refers to it as "checkbook hockey."

The age groups I see a lot of kids in the Fargo metro for these AAA tournaments is scary.  Much too young to be specializing.  Golf, track, baseball, lacrosse, tennis. Get them using different muscles and get their thinking differentiated a bit as well. 

 

 

[siouxweet]

1 hour ago, Wilbur said:

A former coach in North Dakota High School hockey that I respect a lot refers to it as "checkbook hockey."

The age groups I see a lot of kids in the Fargo metro for these AAA tournaments is scary.  Much too young to be specializing.  Golf, track, baseball, lacrosse, tennis. Get them using different muscles and get their thinking differentiated a bit as well. 

 

 

Specializing in this area begins at age 8 as parents think their kid is going to play D1 hockey at UND.   

[snova4]

Appreciate the feedback, we are definitely West of Casselton. As much as my kids like playing, this might be something we pass on in the future. If they want to pursue this type of stuff I'll leave it up to them and shoot for a Team ND or something similar. 

[siouxweet]

20 minutes ago, snova4 said:

Appreciate the feedback, we are definitely West of Casselton. As much as my kids like playing, this might be something we pass on in the future. If they want to pursue this type of stuff I'll leave it up to them and shoot for a Team ND or something similar. 

Team ND is a bit of a joke as well.   Even amount of kids from the east and the west where some really good kids get left off because of equality. 

[sioux rube]

My daughter played AAA from 10 years old until she was 15. This was 15-20 years ago. It was well worth it in my opinion as she had good coaches and they took it serious. I’ve coached AAA teams myself up until a couple years ago. It is really watered down now. If my daughter was that age now I’d probably pass or keep it to maybe 1 tourney in spring and one in late summer 

[Frozen4sioux]

1 hour ago, siouxweet said:

Team ND is a bit of a joke as well.   Even amount of kids from the east and the west where some really good kids get left off because of equality. 

This has been said before, it is not anywhere remotely close to true at all.     I can assure you that the teams are in no way "even amount from east and west".  Simple scans of the rosters for the past 10 years can verify this if you need to review. Geez there's been teams with like 1 or 2 kids from the west. 

Nobody has been "left off" for equality. This isn't DEI hockey. 

I won't rule out kids being the victim of being left off for politics at times, and there's probably been some kids whose parents didn't help them break a "tie" with other kids....

but equal numbers of kids from east and west is an absurd assertation. And it's just false.

[Johnny Five]

AAA hockey is not for development.  It's strictly for fun.  Same as Team ND hockey.  None of it is good for actual development.  As long as you know that, you're free to decide what you want your kid to experience. 

Camps are fine, IMO, depending on what you're doing.  It obviously depends on what city you are closest too and who is running the camp. 

Sometimes it's best to just put the gear down for a few months.    

[sioux rube]

20 minutes ago, Johnny Five said:

AAA hockey is not for development.  It's strictly for fun.  Same as Team ND hockey.  None of it is good for actual development.  As long as you know that, you're free to decide what you want your kid to experience. 

Camps are fine, IMO, depending on what you're doing.  It obviously depends on what city you are closest too and who is running the camp. 

Sometimes it's best to just put the gear down for a few months.    

If camp is in play I can’t emphasize Shattuck St Marys camp enough. Yes it’s a bit spendy but in my opinion well worth it. Place reeks with history 

[UND1983]

12 hours ago, snova4 said:

Appreciate the feedback, we are definitely West of Casselton. As much as my kids like playing, this might be something we pass on in the future. If they want to pursue this type of stuff I'll leave it up to them and shoot for a Team ND or something similar. 

Your situation sounds the same as the new wave of "AAU" basketball that parents fall for. It has nothing to do with AAU and they are simply weekend tournaments for kids, no different than they have been for 40 years.  But they get wrapped up in a fancy label so parents think the tournament and the players are better than they are.  

Save your money and let your kid do something else for awhile.  Lift weights, shoot pucks in driveway, stick handle, whatever.  

[snova4]

2 hours ago, UND1983 said:

Your situation sounds the same as the new wave of "AAU" basketball that parents fall for. It has nothing to do with AAU and they are simply weekend tournaments for kids, no different than they have been for 40 years.  But they get wrapped up in a fancy label so parents think the tournament and the players are better than they are.  

Save your money and let your kid do something else for awhile.  Lift weights, shoot pucks in driveway, stick handle, whatever.  

See, now this is the realm I could understand. Played high tier basketball for several years. 

[yzerman19]

The label "AAA" is just that, a label.  There are varying degrees within that label.  I would break down the thinking in terms of competition, coaching, and exposure as the main goals of any spring hockey.   If you are looking for what should truly be a top end experience against top end competition, there are only a handful of tournaments to play in:  Brick and Brick Series for the Squirts, Clash and Triple Crown for the PeeWees, Triple Crown and then WSI 15 for the bantams.  I think Toronto just started a 15 tourney as well last year (Kwench or something) that is also high end.    The rest is just fun tourneys. 

If its coaching that you need, well you need to really take a long look at who is coaching and what they are coaching.

If you are looking for development, save your money unless the team runs real practices a couple days/week.  

If your child is good not great, I would recommend saving the tourney expenses and investing in skating and skills instead.  

Remember the best players in the world have the puck on their stick maybe 2 minutes in a 60 minute game.  At young ages you are far better practicing than you are playing organized games.  

[yzerman19]

one more thing.  If you are really good with a future beyond high school in hockey, you will know it by 2nd year PeeWee.  be honest and don't get seduced by bs that just drains your bank account.  

Most important of all however is to listen to your kids.  Do they love playing hockey or do they just love being with their friends? Do they hate to lose or is it just a game?  Do they shoot pucks on their own without being asked?  Do they talk hockey when nobody is around?  Do they want to play hockey or be hockey players?