COMMUNITY BASED HOCKEY

JAMIE RICE @RICER18

WARROAD MINNESOTA It is critical, hockey officials say, that except

for selling a few $100 raffle tickets and having their parents volunteer at the

concession stands, children skate free in Warroad. In other places, it might cost $25

an hour.

“Our sport nationwide is contingent on whether you can afford it,” said Mike Marvin,

Gigi’s father. “Here, the rink is open to anyone who wants to be there. You can

skate all day at whatever level you want. If you’re 10, you can skate with 7- or 12-year-olds. Girls can skate with boys. It allows the

average player to be good and the good ones to be great.”

Minnesota’s Olympic Hockey Cradle (Pop. 1,781) NY Times By JERÉ LONGMANFEB. 4, 2014

INTRODUCTION TO YOUTH SPORTSMY TWIN DAUGHTERS 7

• U8 Soccer Walpole MA 12:00 PM Sunday Afternoons• Little League Walpole MA 5:45 Weeknights (2), some SAT AM practices• 2nd Grade Basketball 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 1 hr Sat-Sunday• Walpole Swim Team 9:00 AM Weekdays, Meets 5:30 PM• Milton Field Hockey 5:30 – 7:15 PM 6 Wednesdays• ADM Hockey KPW 6:00 or 7:00 AM Sundays-FRANKLIN

5:00 Wed Foxborough3:00 – 5:00 Saturdays Norfolk

We have 2 ice sheets in Walpole and had ZERO practices thereWe use four rinks for our practices (Norfolk, Foxborough, Franklin, BOCH)

What would you choose?

TRAVEL/COST/TIME Private Hockey Pee Wee Minor$3500 Tuition1440 Miles for Practice (WALP-DED) 3 x week3200 miles - 46 Games/Tournaments 5 nights in hotel, 4 missed school days28 weeks Town Hockey ADM Mite$1200 Tuition2044 miles season (2 practices + game-Franklin, Foxborough, Norfolk)25 weeks Little League Baseball Majors$225 Tuition384 miles for Practice/Games 4 x week12 weeks U8 Soccer$200 Tuition40 miles for practice/games 1 x week8 weeks

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Why is there a boom in backyard rinks?• Why do we have such a high drop out rate?• Are other sports catching up to the “hockey model” in

MASS? AAU, Select etc.• Why don’t we have more community based hockey?• What’s wrong with privatized hockey?• Better players/parent coaches/leave behind what?• Does the abundance of private schools add to this

dilemma?• What are the key decision factors?

ARE WE AND ELITIST SPORT/FOR THE WEALTHY ONLY?

• Cost of Equipment• Cost of “Necessities”• What is your time worth?• Spring/Summer Showcase

“opportunities”• Added costs that have become the

norm:» Lake Placid, Montreal, Toronto etc.» Weekend tournaments » Jacket/bag/hat/sweatshirt etc.» Skills coaching/camps

WHAT DO YOU PLAY FOR?

900 players per class (Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior)

60 % Forwards (540), 30 % Defense (270), 10 % Goalie (90)

110 DI players and 369 DII/DIII From MASSACHUSETTS

Approximately 3,600 Men’s College Hockey Players-DI, II, &III

479 players / 13% approximately 120 / year

Most rosters span 6 birth years (FR to SR)

Why you play NOW is all that matters

THE MINNESOTA MODEL

53,935 Players

*based on 2012-13 season numbers as reported by USA Hockey

268 Ice rinks, approximately 90% community owned

30 PRIVATE

Over 125 Communities with

Mite Teams

Learn to play

through HS same

community

FULL HOURAVG $225/HR

THE CURRENT STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

47,716 Players

Less than 60 publically owned/operated out of

more than 160

Over 60 private organizations

As many uniforms as possible

$275/Hr Ice

50 MINUTE HOUR

COMMUNITY BASED HOCKEY STARTING POINTS

RINKIce

Time

Volunteers

COOPERATIONHS

TEAM

Cost

DREAM BIG

COMMUNITY BASED ATHLETICS

Youth Sport

Friends

Exercise

Game

In Season

Character Developer

Educational Compliment

Social Growth Opportunity

Fun/Win

SPORT

PRIVATE BASED YOUTH ATHLETICS

WINEXPOSURE

NEXT LEVEL

MORE/BETTER

DEVELOP

GAME

“Professional” Defined Outcome

Financial Investment Better Chance to

Succeed

PERCEPTION VS. REALITYThe

Players/Teams/Competition are Better at the Private Level

THE MORE PLAYERS THAT DEPART AND REASSEMBLE

ACROSS MORE TEAMS FURTHER DIMINISHES THE

TALENT POOL

Players at the private level are better “players” and in

this environment will develop quicker

KIDS DEVELOP AT DIFFERENT RATES PHYSICALLY-MENTALLY-EMOTIONALLY AND THERE IS

NO LINEAR PATH

Town/community players (families) are less serious and/or committed to their

sport

THERE ARE MANY REASONS PLAYERS AND FAMILIES CHOOSE EITHER ROUTE

(FINANCES-CONVENIENCE-LOCATION)

Town coaches are “only” fathers/volunteers & do not have the knowledge~skills

PAID OR NOT THE EFFORT, TRAINING OF COACHES AND

ATTITUDE VARIES EVERYWHERE

My kid will get left behind OPPORTUNITY-PASSION-ENCOURAGEMENT

Wins and Losses Matter FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES

The better the rink-the better the snack bar

YOU’RE IN FOR AT LEAST $10 SOMEWHERE

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO REACH THE FINISH LINE