Any of you ever put your tots into a private club for a sport?

[CoCo]

I can only say that as a kid who grew up in Canada that i, and any of my friends of similar ages, would have killed to have the opportunity that your son has been given.

Others in this thread may be right, perhaps your son may find that he drifts from the sport due to excess pressure, or expectations or whatever, however, in Canada, unless things have changed dramatically since i left, kids getting a chance to get accelerated coaching, summer power skating, hockey schools etc.. is simply outstanding. Eight years old or not.

When we were kids all we thought of was hockey, i'm serious, nothing else. I'm not sure our American friends have quite the same connection to their favorite sport here as we do with hockey in Canada. When i grew up almost every single person we knew was involved in hockey in some manner. All the kids played, parents coached, or they helped at the rink, or they raised money for equipment, or they billetted players for travel teams etc.. Its kind of amazing really, particular in smaller cities and towns.

Anyway back to the point, i think its a great idea. If you have the money go for it. The experiences your son will enjoy, particularly if he becomes skillful, will be fantastic. Travel teams and leagues, high school, provincial teams, junior, all rich experiences for any kid.

Another great post that I think captures the essence of the opportunity. People rag on competitive sports gone bad but I would venture to guess the vast majority of situations do NOT go bad but rather very good. One size does not fit all. You've got to find the right situation for your family.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I have coached youth sports for upwards of 20 years now. I have seen it all, ... and have seen many many changes over the years.

This is one of the changes I have witnessed.

Some parents seem to have the illusion that their child is going to be a pro at whatever sport they are involved in.

So they sink unearthly amounts of money into the child's "grooming".

Now I don't know the odds of any child making it to the pro's, but it is slim I know.

I do know this: If your child is good enough, they will find him/her, ... if he/she isn't, no amount of money will change that.

But if money is not an issue, then to each his own.

 

[YosemiteSam]

There are three questions you have to ask yourself ..

1) Do you have the money to do this without any regrets no matter what happens?

2) Is this completely his idea? Meaning is he the one wanting it?

3) Would you be completely okay with it if he decides after one season he never wants to play again?

These are all serious questions that I strongly urge you to consider and ask yourself. You don't need to answer them in this thread because that is irrelevant.

#reality

This, This, and This. Above all, it definitely needs to be his idea. Don't be a ****head parent like those ones who force their children into stuff like that idiot beauty pageants for 5 year olds.

All of our son love playing sports. The second oldest one was ice skating like a pro at four years old. We didn't send him to anything like that because of how young he was. We did on the other hand send him to the New York Rangers hockey camp. (about $1,200 for six weeks) All the kids were much bigger than he was, but he was one of the best skaters on the ice. He enjoyed it and it wasn't so far away that he could be driven there each day.

I would start small before throwing a chunk of change of that size at it. You are in Canada. There has to be tons of hockey camps out there that don't cost anywhere near that much to go to.

 

[bbgun]

The problem is that kids are notoriously fickle. One week they want to be a pro hockey player. The next week they want to take up the guitar and be in a garage band. If you have enough $ to withstand these changes of heart, more power to ya.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Due to repairs at the club, we have only had three practices so far but I knew five minutes into the first practice that I did the right thing.

One practice with this club is worth five at his old organization. He is being taught the game, passing to the open guy, and he is getting excellent coaching. The boys are all focussed, no buttheads dancing around on the ice and I can see my son has improved his passing, shooting and overall skill/desire. I was afraid he would be a little out of place but he fits in well.

He is doing drills he has never done before.

Of course the locals from his old organization don't want to talk to me or their kids to CCF jr anymore but who cares. They didn't have any issue setting up a spring team and not inviting CCF jr to play on it and then insist on telling me all about the team all the time and asking if I watched the video of them winning their tier in the spring league.

My son hopes to play his old team in the league (might or might not happen) and as he said, "showing them who is best" because he was hurt by not being invited to the spring team last year even though he is better than at least half that team.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Of course the locals from his old organization don't want to talk to me or their kids to CCF jr anymore but who cares. They didn't have any issue setting up a spring team and not inviting CCF jr to play on it and then insist on telling me all about the team all the time and asking if I watched the video of them winning their tier in the spring league.

My son hopes to play his old team in the league (might or might not happen) and as he said, "showing them who is best" because he was hurt by not being invited to the spring team last year even though he is better than at least half that team.

I've seen that happen, I hope he smokes'em!