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B2 • THE'LETHBRiOOE HERALD - Saturday, Sapltinbar 13,1966CAHA WANTS TO PUT FUN BACK INTO GAMEToo much pressure in minor hockeyKyJOKN'KOKORAKlK The Caiisidbii PressWhen Gordie IS owe, Bobby dull, Maurice Richard and Jean Gellvcfiu were ulaying minor hockey, Ihc season lasted lHut four or live Jiioi^lhs. They still had lime Ic pursue other sporU or interests.Today, minor hockey begins In Sep* temher-before some children arc even back In school - and \m'\ cod In many pads of tlie ccKmtry unUJ May.During (hose nine months, says the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, there s/e too ninny games vihkh leads to too much pressure and not cnougli fun for Ihc players.President Murray Costello said early this week (ho CAHA wants fun to again beccmoa major part of minor hockey.The fun part got tost somewliere among the in creasing luiinlKT of games — some 10 and ll*ycar*otds play more than ao games a scuson — and the prevailing win*at*dlt*cols aditude*'Vm asking (he quesLioj, dues the hockey nrcna today provide «i worth* whileemnronment in which Lu bring upa kidV Hob Kadin, CAHA referce'in* cJiictsayi.Based on Hie aclion on the ico — the nghlirg, the brawling, the stickwork, uiehlUing from bell ilia - and the act ion in the stands, Nad in answers his question the spme as many parents.I feel personality that It’s not a good enV ii 01 un e nt T'iio you ng k ids see a fol of lighting and brawling on the ico. It's nol good thot they're exposed to the profam Ity from the fans. K’s not good that lliey see parents berating officials/'Has minor jujckey really changed ihai raecli?Well. hH‘0'8 a few examples to pea der.Tv^’cnly j oars ago, many jurisdictions had a rule teams had to have more practices than games. Today, the cailo runs as high as Jive games to oite practice.I'll at created whal Costello called Hie “survit^l skills hockey'* evident In mmor l»ekey rinks. Children wlio can*[ skate arc lhrov.'n into game slluattomwhere (hev are ridiculed by oiipunenls, humiliutcd by insensitive fans, berated by I lie coach and then olien tmbar* rassect Ijy being benched,How is a youngster supposed to Jearc ill those eircumslances?it oseJ to be said iiockcy laugik 5 por Ij man sfi ip. di scip line n nd ca ma rad-crio, Todays we sec lO-ycar-old opponents fighliiig after gomes and team-males blaming each oilier tor mis takes. Aiul discipline? Hoes that s^vcn uxist in hockey?Hockey used to be a ixirl of a boy's grow ing up. Toria y, with Iwckcy five, six' ' ' ' .-‘Jm- ^MGRflAY COSTELLOor ovcji seven limes a week, the joys of growing up is scinehow lost for many youngsters.Virtually from the lirst day children arc pul on a team I here Is pressure lo be better than (lieyare.And (tie uiurc iiressure you got the more things happen, says Nadiii.Usually tl)o things tliat happen are dctrinichtal to (lie game.It begins with slx-yeor-oids being laugh! to trip or slosh opponents, especially Oiose wIki are better skaters or puek handlers. We all know the saying about bad habi Is.Were coiiccnied wiih certain aspecis creeping more and more into (he game, said Nad in. That's one reu* soj] tor llic stricter guidelines, to give I lie skill placrs a cliancc to use their skills, rather than be Imeked at.”The CAHA is seeking change IKrough its various programs and by trying lo convince adulls lo lot kids have fun and learn to enjoy Ihe ga me while lliey can. Wilh (he blilislTirst phil050{iiy of Spojt Canada ami otficr govern! bodies, yourgslcrs will face cnou^ dccision-makiiig pressure when theyTC 14 or 15.So wiiy foKC W\m at nine or 10 to chose bclwccn hockey ujid other interests, which is wlut a nine-month seanon do€^?Minor hockey season used lo be short and full and it still produced some of the game's greatest pla)crs. Arguably today’s system maj' produce better pro-fesfuoQ)s, but is it worth the price children have to pay?
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Sat, Sep 13, 1986
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason P.
USA 29 Jul 2018
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