AA vs. Mite 1/2

Question
We need help :)  Our son recently started playing hockey and has taken to the game quickly.  He tried out for a Mite AA team in the new EHF league and made it.  Many details of the new league are vague which causes some concern.  The greater question is though which is a better starter league a Mite AA RHF team or a Mite 1 or 2 town team?  Thanks in advnace for any insite you can give!

Answer
Thank you for the question.  Sorry for the late response, I have relocated to the Philly area.  As for which one is better...

It all depends on what level your child is at and whether you want to challenge him or not, or whether you want him to be the star of the team.

Some parents want their kids to be challenged so that they will grow and other parents feel that their child should play down with their friends so they can be the super star of the team, and have fun.

For me as a hockey director, if your son was in my program, i would have him play up!  I have seen to many great hockey players play down and they just blow everyone away and then you get parents complaining about how this kid should play up.

If your son doesn't have the skills, then keep him down until he has good skills.  but, if he is at a point where he will get better development playing up, and he can keep up with the rest of the kids or is equal to the other kids, then play up!

The other thing you have to really take into account is the financial end of playing travel.  Most kids playing down don't play as many games as an elite program.  Your son should be getting about 50 to 60 games a year if he's going to play travel.

Where as house, he might get about 25 games a year.  This is why there is an added expense with travel.  If you can afford it and he good, then I recommend playing up.  But, there are a lot of people out there in the hockey world that think mites and squirts shouldn't even travel.

But, that's for another day.  I hope this helps.

Head coach
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