From The Stands

January; an Auspicious Month

January can be such a beautiful winter month or a puzzling
one, if you are a hockey parent.  The days are cold and short, while the 
nights are hot and tempered if you are at a rink. This is a time of the year
when teams are participating in tournaments for fun and enjoyment, ya right!

Tournaments start out being for fun, but then parents get involved blowing 
off steam on referees, coaches, and even their own players. So much for 
team bonding when parents have their own agendas for their kids.

January, now that two thirds of the season is over and a lot of teams 
are gearing up for the playoffs or else a lot team are already out of 
the playoff hunt. As a hockey parent, I ask myself how this affects my 
club. Does he/she still receive a regular shift or does he/she get 
overlooked for the betterment of the team?

Hockey is supposed to be fun, ya right.

January also brings on another uncertainty, coaches and player changes.
Players are exposed to the uncertainty of who their coaches maybe in
the oncoming season. Their expected to put out for their present coaches
not knowing if they will be back to coach next season. Players are
uncertain if they will be asked back, hockey is fun, ya right.

January is a month when you see other coaches coming to watch your 
games, why? What are kids suppose to expect, changes, uncertainly or 
surprises? Teams on the playoff hunt start playing as individuals to
expose themselves to these coaches/vultures, sitting in the stands 
picking from the carcass.

January should be dedicated to the hockey parents. Allow the to 
enjoy watching their kids enjoy the game they love. Hopefully they 
have developed throughout the year if not, to bad. Parents should 
just sit in the stands and observe their kids and encourage them.

Finally, January should be a month just like every other month, let’s 
face it, bottom line it's only hockey!

P.S. I can't wait for February and the playoffs.

Signed: A Hockey Parent

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