Well, in my experience, putting three weaker kids on a line together does them absolutely no good. whatsoever. Putting one better kid on each line will allow the puck to at least get out of your zone and into the offensive zone, thus creating a way for all three to play both ways. If the three are weak, and go up against a strong line, they will never touch the puck. If the two weaker ones are with the stronger one, the puck will find them as well.
- hscesq

yes this is what I'm thinking. last game the 4 dmen were the ones constantly carrying the puck into the offensive zone, problem is I'm not supposed to assign permanent positions until at least after Christmas, so I won't have that luxury this time.

Ed Zachary.
- pete26

Pete 26

That's great in theory, but the parents of the other kids will be calling for Dan's head because their kids are always out there watching the other team fill their net.

There is no winning (for the coach) when it comes to minor hockey.
- 3M

they can (frank)in have it

yes this is what I'm thinking. last game the 4 dmen were the ones constantly carrying the puck into the offensive zone, problem is I'm not supposed to assign permanent positions until at least after Christmas, so I won't have that luxury this time.
- dt99999

Switch their jerseys around

There were always poopty players on the team who sometimes didn't touch the puck for weeks. It happens at that age. A lot.

I wouldn't sweat it too much; just get the kids in an equal rotation and hope they get better as the season moves along.
- 3M

Sorry pal. Hope they weren't too hard on you.

yes this is what I'm thinking. last game the 4 dmen were the ones constantly carrying the puck into the offensive zone, problem is I'm not supposed to assign permanent positions until at least after Christmas, so I won't have that luxury this time.
- dt99999

How old are these kids? Are they still in the "chickens chasing a breadcrumb" mentality of playing hockey?

Sorry pal. Hope they weren't too hard on you.
- hscesq

Thanks man. One year on a really poopty team, I won the MVP. That's saying something.

Well, in my experience, putting three weaker kids on a line together does them absolutely no good whatsoever. Putting one better kid on each line will allow the puck to at least get out of your zone and into the offensive zone, thus creating a way for all three to play both ways. If the three are weak, and go up against a strong line, they will never touch the puck. If the two weaker ones are with the stronger one, the puck will find them as well.
- hscesq

yup

Maybe the good player can improve the weaker ones on top of that ( if you leep the same mindset of hoping the lines gets O time)

yes this is what I'm thinking. last game the 4 dmen were the ones constantly carrying the puck into the offensive zone, problem is I'm not supposed to assign permanent positions until at least after Christmas, so I won't have that luxury this time.
- dt99999

We still don't have positions, and won't until the start playing Squirt (Atom).
Just put them out there. Doesn't really matter becasue (YW) they rarely play positional hockey anyhow.

How old are these kids? Are they still in the "chickens chasing a breadcrumb" mentality of playing hockey?
- 3M

They're 19.

They're 19.
- hscesq

Thanks man. One year on a really poopty team, I won the MVP. That's saying something.
- 3M

"Matty, Matty he's our man; if he can't do it, nobody can! Yaaaay Matty!!!"

- Fountain-San

Not nice to laugh Geoff.

How old are these kids? Are they still in the "chickens chasing a breadcrumb" mentality of playing hockey?
- 3M

half half, some of them are, some of them are actually starting to develop hockey sense

(novice so 7)

It's Novice C, problem is that about half of them are Novice B caliber but they were squeezed out becasue of numbers and a requirement for B teams to have a certain amount of 1st year players so it makes a very uneven team.


another problem is that mine and the asst. coach's kids are probably in the top 3 of the team and it will become apparent real quick if we try to use them together too much

We still don't have positions, and won't until the start playing Squirt (Atom).
Just put them out there. Doesn't really matter becasue (YW) they rarely play positional hockey anyhow.
- hscesq

Because.

Because.
- pete26

he's a mess

half half, some of them are, some of them are actually starting to develop hockey sense

(novice so 7)

It's Novice C, problem is that about half of them are Novice B caliber but they were squeezed out becasue of numbers and a requirement for B teams to have a certain amount of 1st year players so it makes a very uneven team.


another problem is that mine and the asst. coach's kids are probably in the top 3 of the team and it will become apparent real quick if we try to use them together too much
- dt99999

Please ban cowbells from the arena, ty.

My son's team kills and gets killed. Played Miroslav Satan's kid's team Saturday afternoon, and lost 15-4 I believe. Then yesterday morning, they won 8-1 against a team from Brooklyn. At that age, win some lose some and learn hockey, at least at the travel level.
- hscesq

They never win...I don't even think they had a shot on net last game. I remember one game it was close for a bit, then they got scored 3 quick goals in a row, and heads started to go down, and they gave up.

At this point, I don't think they enjoy hockey very much.

Because.
- pete26

You didn't see the "(YW") after it?

he's a mess
- dt99999

you dont even try anymore
- DoubleDown

I'm saving my A material for the inevitable collapse.

Your first line is Patches, DD and Parenteau?
You have Markov and Gonchar on D? What is it 2001?

Plan the (frank)ing parade.

half half, some of them are, some of them are actually starting to develop hockey sense

(novice so 7)

It's Novice C, problem is that about half of them are Novice B caliber but they were squeezed out becasue of numbers and a requirement for B teams to have a certain amount of 1st year players so it makes a very uneven team.


another problem is that mine and the asst. coach's kids are probably in the top 3 of the team and it will become apparent real quick if we try to use them together too much
- dt99999

bro just make sure he wears a different number every game

They never win...I don't even think they had a shot on net last game. I remember one game it was close for a bit, then they got scored 3 quick goals in a row, and heads started to go down, and they gave up.

At this point, I don't think they enjoy hockey very much.
- stinger67

I can understand that. Tough to "just have fun" when you can't even get a shot on net.

they can (frank)in have it
- dt99999

The last year my boy played hockey (I think he was about 8), I wasn't part of the "coaching staff" at all. There were 3 coaches as is typical. I would chat with the coach sometimes, and he told me once that he had a parent in the stands "counting shifts" because some parents were complaining that their kids weren't getting enough ice time.

So, I paid attention. There was one kid who played D, who would go out every other shift. No big deal, because they all double shifted on D. But, this kid would go out for 3-4 minutes, come to the bench for 45 seconds, and on the next whistle, was back out there for 3-4 minutes again; he would just never change, despite the coaches calling him to the bench. I counted this kid at about 8+ minutes in a 10-minute period once. So much for "equal ice time".

I told the coach about this disparity, and I didn't even care about the ice time, I was just pointing it out to him so he could be prepared for the inevitable griping by the hockey moms.

bro just make sure he wears a different number every game
- DoubleDown

(frank)ing brilliant bro. Nice job.