Sad Day For Children

When i was a child my parents never said no when i wanted to play any sport, they payed my registration and aquired any equipment that was required and i just assumed every other child had the same. I guess i may have been blessed as my older brother took no interest iin sport and i never used hand-me-downs, when i looked around the locker room i would see a guy using his older brothers equipment however it was no big deal as nobody cared as long as he could play.

As i became an assistant with my father i soon discovered that there were families that were having trouble because i watched my dad quietly purchase skates, equipment and even sticks for boy's who required but could not get. As i got older the scope broadened over time and after my father passed i continued the practice, as an example i chose my roster after 3 weeks of tryouts in may for the fall schedule i discovered 5 single mother's are part of my roster. When my staff and i met for pop & wings and discuss my choices they chuckled that single coach and 5 single mothers (HA-HA).By the end of season things went relaticely smooth however by my calculations due to funding it cost me about $2400.00 and felt it was worth it especially when those 5 boys had a ball and never knew a thing.

This week i was saddened to learn of a study done that revealed that 1 in3 children don't play organized sport with hockey leading the way because their parents couldn't afford the cost.. In hockey it requires an investment of about $1000,00 minimum every year as children out grow their equipment and of course a new stick and sharpening of skates every week and god forbid your kid developes and gets promoted from house league to elite level your costs will likely triple. I used to think it was wrong to sell ads on the boards but with ice costs approaching $300.00 for 50 minutes it's now more agreeable to me and maybe selling the rights to coke or pepsi for exclusive access in the rink and if it means drinking pop you don't normally so be it if it helps hold the line on ice costs. When an organization host's a tournament sell the naming rights to generate funding to hold the line on registrations and since i was part of the elite levels i know that individual clubs raise any where from $20,000,00 and $46,000.00 the league should demand 10% and with 8 to 10 teams raising large sums this could generate $11,000.00 or more i know because my last year we raised slightly over $50,000.00.

Some will tell you that organizations will absorb your child's registration however having been on the board of 2 organizations i can tell you no i must warn you that you had better be prepared to loose your dignity as you must prove that your broke. The mistrust is not their fault as many a parent has tried in the past to cheat the system. I'm glad i'm not around now as it's heart breaking to see what is going on now.

See you soon....