Coaches rewarding youth hockey players for wins

[Youth Hockey Info]

We received a message on Tuesday with a question regarding the aforementioned.

Had we ever heard of rewarding players with high priced equipment for winning games? The rest of the message that followed, (most of which has been amended) in the email is about a discussion the parent had recently been privy to regarding hearing of a current coach offering rewards to his players for wins.

The short answer is yes and no, parents offer rewards all of the time but now the coaches too?

----Original message
This could be a first, at least that we've heard of and we're wondering, is it legal by youth hockey guidelines?

Parents, including the ones who pulpit they would never reward for such things as goals, saves or wins are often the main offenders. They'll tell you they'd never give their kid money or some other form of incentive for all of the above. The kids themselves don't lie, they normally tell their teammates what their parents or other family members are paying them. Which of course always contradicts what mom and dad say.

In this case what we were told was not of parents offering rewards, instead it's the coach with rewards of custom gloves or high end hockey sticks. Because proving the authenticity of this message is almost impossible without the coach stepping forward to offer his opinion, we've chosen not to share the league, or team suggested.

Perhaps this is something some would consider to be normal, which is why we're messaging. From our past experience, it is not. Normal is a game puck, a hardest worker helmet, a belt. Novelty items which kids can take home based on merit. But it comes back and gets reused by the team throughout the season. ---- End

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[Guest]

If a bribe has to be made to get your players interested in playing then maybe the coach is the reason they aren't playing? In NHL terms thats called quitting on the coach.

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[Guest]

It goes on more than you think but it won’t be talked about because parents want their player to play ncaa level.  Gifting would ruin that.

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[Guest]

This is sad that coaches revert to this.  I hear that the coach of Blazers 16 aa submitted to league to give his team a third jersey for their hard work.  It will be interesting to see if the league allows this.  The league needs to see this as a problem as it attracts players to that organization.  Money talks in youth hockey and the clubs with money lure players in with free equipment. 

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[Guest]

You are complaining about third jerseys? Most of the teams in youth hockey have thirds now. That coach offers gloves and sticks for wins.

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[Guest]

Once Had a Bantam coach give us a six pack for a big win. These days some bedwetting snowflake’s head would explode if that happened now. 

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[Guest]

Oy, that went over your head junior.  Not complaining about third jersey.  It’s the fact the coach is gifting them to play better.  Wake up!! 

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[Guest]

You’re just jealous your kids not on that team. Who cares?

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[Guest]

So you’d prefer participation trophies instead? 

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