Clean up your mess. MSU is putting on a party for you and this is how you thank them? Show some pride for your school and team. I hope you had a good time, it ain't gonna be around much longer. The fastest way to end a good time is to trash the place.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeyplayers/s/Nk7s32hog7 original post
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeyplayers/s/Tqlr56piRp first update
TLDR After five failed try outs last spring and grinding this summer, my 14yo has made a 16U A team!
My 14yo son has been playing house hockey for the last 5 seasons. His first couple he had fun, but last season things started to click on the ice and he really started to love hockey. Admittedly, as parents, we were not prepared for what happens after house. We thought there would be a place for him to play through high school. However, in our area house/rec stops at 14U. After that, the only options are high school and 16U. In our area, there are 2 high school teams for 18+ schools, it's extremely competitive. Black Bear also has sunk their teeth into our only sheet of ice. I'll save my thoughts on them for another day.
Last May, he tried out for the local team and another half an hour away. By the end of tryouts he had tried out for five 16U teams and was cut from each one. The fifth coach sat down with him immediately after the tryout and lit a fire. He told my son he was a no, but if he worked hard this summer he can try out again this fall.
We sat down with my son and let him decide. He could wait until he's 18 to join Beer League or he could work hard this summer, try again this fall and he might make a team. He chose to grind this summer. Over the last 12 weeks, he has had 45 small group sessions with multiple trainers and coaches, attended 12hr of ITrain hockey camp, had 18 - 2hr off ice sessions with a personal trainer and built a gym in the garage. His improvement has been significant, both physically and ability.
Last week, I contacted the coach that lit the fire and two other teams that my son wanted to try out with. A local team and a team his buddies play with. The local team was a no, but offered to let him practice with them for the season. Both of the other teams offered him a spot. We sat down with him and weighed the pros and cons of each team. He slept on his decision overnight. He could join a team with a few buddies he has, or join the team with a coach that pushed him to be a better player. Ultimately, he chose to play for the coach that challenged him.
My son is learning a valuable lesson and is developing a strong work ethic. His confidence on and off the ice has taken off as well.
Thank you /u/West_Bookkeeper9431 for recommending we expand our search radius and hit the weights.
Thank you to everyone else that took time to provide feedback to help him grow.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeyplayers/s/lphGe1evmR
It's been 3 months since my post about my 14yo son and I wanted to share an update.
Last spring after being cut from 5 teams, we sat my son down and talked about his hockey future, asking him what HE wants to do. He decided to hit the gym and the ice to get stronger and become a better skater. We told him we would support whichever direction he wanted to go.
He has been grinding. Over the last 12 weeks he has had 45 small group sessions with multiple trainers and coaches, attended 12hr of ITrain hockey camp, had 18 - 2hr off ice sessions with a personal trainer and built a gym in the garage. He has been putting in the work. Physically, he's gone from a thin, lean frame to a cut and toned frame. Also, His skating has improved significantly.
This last week I contacted coaches on 3 teams and told them about the work he has put in, asking for a 2nd try out. Today and tomorrow he skates. I'll update later this week.
We are going through cuts right now. My son (2011) is stuck in purgatory. He's too old for house hockey, not quite good enough for travel. At 14 years old he's losing what he loves and can no longer play organized. Of the two teams he tried out for, BOTH coaches comments included, "If I were picking players based on attitude and being a good teammate, he'd be the first on the team. We love the kid." Then the BUT he's not quite there. I hate the direction youth sports has taken in todays society. A 14-year old that absolutely loves Hockey, is a great teammate and has a great attitude is shut out of the sport because he's not quite there. He can't join a league until he's 18. All his buddies are playing high school or travel. My heart is broken for him.
UPDATE: I appreciate all of the feedback and will sit down with him and mom tonight and come up with a plan. Thank you for helping me digest this. This doesn't have to be the end of all things hockey, it just hurts right now while he watches his buddies make the team.
UPDATE 2: I've talked to a few coaches from teams an hour plus away. Tonight we are heading an hour west for a tryout with an 18u JV/Prep team. We found another an hour in the other direction for tomorrow night.