The dilution of AAA and the impact it is having on all levels of competition

[Guest]

The problem with AAA at any level than maybe 18U, calling kids "elite" is a farce. Players aren't fully mature until 18, and divvying them up in to good, better and best any time before that is for the most part just limiting the future pool of talent, with early birthdays and early bloomers getting picked for size and then getting more development attention -- although, not really, because true development would mean being on the ice 5-6 times a week for practice and a short competition season that preserves health.

That's not what parents generally want: they want meaningless 14U trophies and tearing kids down physically by 16 years old with 365-training and tournaments up and down the east coast. What this system of AAA or AA or any letters at squirts, peewee and bantam does is cherry pick a few savants and early bloomers and discourages any real development. Calling any kid under 18 "elite" is a travesty. And along with weeding out potential late-blooming talent, any travel level prices out the rest, something no league can afford to do these days.

You'd get better development overall by requiring two years of pure skating skills 4-5 days a week (watch the elite figure skaters at your rink, those kids are on the ice 5-6 days a week, 2-3 hours a day, 52 weeks of the year) before even getting a stick, and then putting names in a hat, divvying up players in a rink that way, remove levels and even travel leagues and continuing to offer 4-5 practices a week over a shorter season. Games and statistics should be meaningless before 18.

Anything other than that is a commitment to beer league and losing great potential players to whatever youth sport is cheaper than ice hockey, which is almost everything.

[Guest]

The problem with AAA at any level than maybe 18U, calling kids "elite" is a farce. Players aren't fully mature until 18, and divvying them up in to good, better and best any time before that is for the most part just limiting the future pool of talent, with early birthdays and early bloomers getting picked for size and then getting more development attention -- although, not really, because true development would mean being on the ice 5-6 times a week for practice and a short competition season that preserves health.

That's not what parents generally want: they want meaningless 14U trophies and tearing kids down physically by 16 years old with 365-training and tournaments up and down the east coast. What this system of AAA or AA or any letters at squirts, peewee and bantam does is cherry pick a few savants and early bloomers and discourages any real development. Calling any kid under 18 "elite" is a travesty. And along with weeding out potential late-blooming talent, any travel level prices out the rest, something no league can afford to do these days.

You'd get better development overall by requiring two years of pure skating skills 4-5 days a week (watch the elite figure skaters at your rink, those kids are on the ice 5-6 days a week, 2-3 hours a day, 52 weeks of the year) before even getting a stick, and then putting names in a hat, divvying up players in a rink that way, remove levels and even travel leagues and continuing to offer 4-5 practices a week over a shorter season. Games and statistics should be meaningless before 18.

Anything other than that is a commitment to beer league and losing great potential players to whatever youth sport is cheaper than ice hockey, which is almost everything.

I couldn’t agree with you any more.  My kids took skating lessons for YEARS! Best thing to help young players. BTW, Minnesota did away with splitting players by levels (AA, A, etc.) through PeeWee. Results were all of the kids made huge improvements.

[Guest]

A simple solution is just to classify all teams as AAA

[Guest]

Its still as bad then as it is now.

[Guest]

your data is wrong.  the Mid-Atlantic has produced more impact players in the USHL than any other region in the country.  The great thing about the mid-atlantic is it allows for a lot of kids to keep playing a high level and as hockey is a late development sport, you see a tremendous number of kids who were not good at 10 who go on to greatness at the Midget level and beyond.  And moreover, why do you care?   Let people make their own choices.  There are no shortage of elite teams, mediocre teams and low level teams.   Pick what works for you

[Guest]

AAA shouldn’t start before Bantam.  It is the biggest money grab before that!  Spend your money on power skating instead!  Even now there are too many AAA teams watering it down.  It is truly sad that the Atlantic district allows it to happen but they like money.  Sadly parents will pay the outrageous fees just to say their player is AAA.  The higher ups in the district and even USA hockey need to focus a little better!

[Guest]

This post should be pinned to the top of the page

[Guest]

I am sure there are parents that want the AAA status, but most want it for the increased time on ice and off ice training. AA and A have 2 practices a week plus maybe 1 off-ice training. AAA is 4 days a week plus multiple off ice trainings.

[Guest]

This post should be pinned to the top of the page

this is the most accurate statement on here

[Guest]

AAA shouldn’t start before Bantam.  It is the biggest money grab before that!  Spend your money on power skating instead!  Even now there are too many AAA teams watering it down.  It is truly sad that the Atlantic district allows it to happen but they like money.  Sadly parents will pay the outrageous fees just to say their player is AAA.  The higher ups in the district and even USA hockey need to focus a little better!

this should be the cover letter for anyone signing a child up to play hockey