Spring Hockey Tryouts?

Remember a few weeks ago when I talked about my wish for a ‘rule’ that would let you punch (might have said pinch – but what I meant was punch) someone as hard as you can without any repercussion?  So there would be a list of circumstances when you could punch – just once and then go on about your day.  Need examples….

• Trainers who have clients stand on Stability Ball
• ‘Famous’ strength coaches who are shirtless in every single one of the photos they post on their blog/facebook.
• People who stop with their humungous cart in the middle of the aisle at the Costco to chat with their friends
• People who get to the front of the line at Starbucks and go “uuuuuuhhhhhhh gimmmeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa……’ WHAMMO!!

Well, I am thinking of adding a new one to the rule, but this is a serious decision and one that I do not take lightly, so I thought I would ask your help.

What is the deal with spring hockey try-outs?  What is the purpose?  What is the benefit?  And if you come back and have some financially motivated reasoning, I might use the rule on you.  The job of the NHL is to make money; the job of minor hockey is to let kids play the greatest game on earth.

I am hoping there is a rational reason that I just have not thought of.  Paul and I don’t have any kids, so I am not a hockey Mom – I ask parents all the time and none of them know – they just shrug and say “I know, isn’t it dumb?

I see a lot that is wrong with spring hockey tryouts:

• Kids are just coming off a full season where there may be unresolved injuries, not to mention the fatigue.
• Undersized kids to not get the benefit of a few extra months to grow.
• Kids have no chance to work hard all summer toward the goal of moving up to the next level.
• Kids who make the team in spring tryouts pretty much know they are on the team, so no reason to really work hard (some will, but many will not)
• Kids who don’t make the team at spring tryouts don’t need to work hard during the summer, cause they know they are not on the team.

I am sure there are others, but this is what pops into my head right now.  Could you imagine if the NHL had their training camps right after the season and picked their team?

I know that there are many kids out there who are striving to be the best they can be and will do so regardless of when the tryouts occur.  I just think spring tryouts puts the kids who are small, fatigued and injured at a big disadvantage.  What is the advantage of spring tryouts that counteracts the downside?  Am I alone in thinking this is less than ideal?  Let me know in the comments section below…