When coaching Mighty Mites, 5-6 yrs old… after our season, I had a Dad come ask me what I was doing with my son for his hockey over the summer? I said, “nothing”, just running around with his friends, riding his bike, just being a 5 yr old! (No video games, no motorized cars, but that was easier 20 yrs ago!).
Early specialization is the ruination of many promising athletes. Ask Cal Ripken. They miss out on other muscle skills. They, as you mentioned, get overuse injuries, lifelong injuries! And worst of all, they burn out. Turning away from what could have been a lifelong passion.
Unreasonable dreams of parents that their kid will be “one in a million”, is one cause. Acceptance of the bs that if my kid isn’t on “this team” or “that tournament” he won’t get noticed. Again, utter bs. Jamie Benn got noticed. Played 2 sports until Major Junior. Talent will get noticed… and it will rise even without the extra coaching, the extra exposure, oh yea the extra cost$$$.
People making money off the unrealistic dreams of children are NOT in it for the love of the game, if they perpetuate unrealistic expectations for $.
When coaching Mighty Mites, 5-6 yrs old… after our season, I had a Dad come ask me what I was doing with my son for his hockey over the summer? I said, “nothing”, just running around with his friends, riding his bike, just being a 5 yr old! (No video games, no motorized cars, but that was easier 20 yrs ago!).
Early specialization is the ruination of many promising athletes. Ask Cal Ripken. They miss out on other muscle skills. They, as you mentioned, get overuse injuries, lifelong injuries! And worst of all, they burn out. Turning away from what could have been a lifelong passion.
Unreasonable dreams of parents that their kid will be “one in a million”, is one cause. Acceptance of the bs that if my kid isn’t on “this team” or “that tournament” he won’t get noticed. Again, utter bs. Jamie Benn got noticed. Played 2 sports until Major Junior. Talent will get noticed… and it will rise even without the extra coaching, the extra exposure, oh yea the extra cost$$$.
People making money off the unrealistic dreams of children are NOT in it for the love of the game, if they perpetuate unrealistic expectations for $.
We just did our first year of 10U and I think it’s crazy that they go from the 8U n
Nets straight to the big nets.