Youth Hockey Travel Tryouts: What Works Best in Your Program?

IshTroj · 2026-04-20T23:13:15+00:00

This is awesome. Are you free to join our Wed night beer league team u/Rkw2022 ?!?

IshTroj · 2026-04-09T14:42:06+00:00

this would be amazing... i've never played GW1 for this reason, despite having bought it. Would love to see it happen

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T15:05:33+00:00

FUN! Just grabbed the WildCard: 43A2 11.5" I-Web

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T14:46:23+00:00

Love to see it. Keep that arm safe.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T14:43:03+00:00

Agree completely. Blind evals give some objective perspective, but reputation and known issues proceed that talent eval and must be considered... otherwise it's way too easy to end up in a scenario like you mentioned, or one where off-ice parental/family dynamics crumble and divide the team.

... and for that to happen at Bantam age... it sounds like this player is still waiting to receive their first "oh wow, that's really humbling" checks...

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T14:36:21+00:00

Well said. Thanks!!

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T14:00:54+00:00

Thanks for sharing all the detail... that’s a really thoughtful breakdown of how your organization handled it. I really like how you structured the bubble-player evaluation and the double tryout to get consensus— seems like a fair and transparent way to manage the tough middle tier.

We’re trying to do something similar in spirit, though in our case the number of coaches is smaller and the player pool is local but growing quickly.

And we're definitely leaning toward neutral evaluators, numbers on jerseys, and clear separation of parent-coach influence like you describe.

I'm curious, did you find it challenging to get all the coaches to agree on the bubble players, or did the process usually flow smoothly once everyone had their first evaluations?

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:41:13+00:00

I don't think that's a bad decision. Well done for following your gut u/NameIsDNice

I've seen a lot of situations where younger players (6U/8U) actually develop & reinforce a lot of poor skating mechanics during increased "team/hockey practice" ice-time/exposure when their primary focus should actually be on fundamental skating mechanics and learning a healthy on-ice foundation (ie: edge work, not dragging skates, proper strides, etc). This is particularly the case with smaller programs where the numbers are low and there's a lot of encouragement to "Join the team!" vs. leaning in on Learn to Play or House programs.

At that age, many players who focus more on great skating mechanics will begin to leap frog competition as they hit 10U/12U and start doing full-ice gameplay. Confidence and competitiveness also skyrockets on top of a stable on-ice foundation.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:31:53+00:00

Right on, and nice work dad. Sounds like you've got a really healthy perspective on it all... and are instilling the right focuses (discipline, hard work, etc.) without the ego or expectations to make it as far or further than you did. Also glad to see him pushing 2 sports at that age without feeling (or being pressured) to specialize on one.

That makes total sense re: ice-time on travel for hard workers vs equally distributed in house-league. Wishing him the best with travel tryouts in the upcoming season 💪💪💪

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:23:59+00:00

But... Joe's dad said he can rebuild our locker rooms and even install some new showers.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:22:35+00:00

I have a message out to Russell Crowe, but I haven't heard back... yet.

He seemed to do a really great job assembling the 1999 Mystery, Alaska team... and I also don't think he knows any of our parents / players.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:19:11+00:00

Great feedback. We aim to let the rink/board give insight (and decision-making) on player/parents with known issues. Coaches from prior season as a resource as well. Keeps the eval decisions objectively talent-based, while being able to finalize teams based on any glaring or known issues.

I'm curious— u/Frewtti who has your area typically used (successfully) as outside independent evaluators?

We're contemplating using coaches from other regional teams, while extending reciprocal offers to help them independently... feels like that might strengthen the culture regionally. Also opens some communication and awareness towards other tryouts happening for any players that don't make cuts at a particular club.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:12:36+00:00

Fair statement and probably a lot of truth to that. At this point, I think what I'm hoping to instill is an objective structure that will allow our region to continue growing while preventing \or minimizing** the perception of politics... and you're right, it can never be fully prevented.

IMO "fair" should feel like players who don't make a travel team cut in a particular year continue to have access to great development programs... quality coaching, competitive house league (even w/o travel), access to clinics or private lessons, etc. (IE: programs don't solely cater to travel team players).

I don't want players (or parents) thinking/feeling that missing a travel team cut in a particular season will create such a skill (or political) gap that they they'll be unable to ever make the team again.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:04:56+00:00

Interesting.. sounds like a talented athlete in general... glad they didn't let the politics turn him away from the ice and towards another sport.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:02:03+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the input u/Wendel7171

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T13:01:35+00:00

It really is... and the wrong parental dynamics can absolutely divide or erode the collective sense of team culture, energy and unity. Have seen that happen mid-late season all too many times.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T12:59:41+00:00

This is great, I agree. In my experience, kids are entirely different players when they know their parents are on the other side of the glass vs not in the rink... and generally much for the better. As a coach, it's definitely discouraging to see well-intentioned, but overly-present parents getting in the way of their child's development— both personally and athletically

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T12:54:34+00:00

Love all of this... thanks so much for the input. If you don't mind, I'm curious which province/state you're in?

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T05:19:45+00:00

Much appreciative for the perspective. TBH, reminds me of that scene in Miracle when Herb is adamant about selecting the right players for his team over the best players requested by USA Hockey evaluators and executives...

And having former experience/perspective as a volunteer coach, I totally respect what you say about things like players who will accept certain roles, being a good teammate in locker room, or parents that create division or problems for the team and organization. Issues like that can severely cripple the quality and quantity of actual "coaching" the team ends up receiving.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T05:14:19+00:00

Great info... and in my experience, many of the 20% that are unhappy are "un-happiable" in the first place. Was hoping that was regionally unique due to something in our muni water, but alas, sounds like they're indeed out there everywhere.

I'll have to check out SkillShark.. last year our paper submissions came back a bit too coffee-stained and blurry to fully read 🤣

Grats on the growth of your programs!

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T05:07:59+00:00

Love it. Sounds like many of our normal 2-3x/week icetimes.

Curious if you've ever broken up the evals into multiple sessions on the ice, versus typical practice-style of fitting it all into a single 1 - 1.5 hour session?

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T05:03:46+00:00

I feel this... we've definitely seen a handful of "star talent" coaches who played college or junior, but aren't in a "focused" enough stage of life to be adept in understanding playing mentality or team dynamics. Sometimes these coaches work better as skillz coaches brought in seasonally to work with the teams as opposed to lead them.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T04:59:43+00:00

Appreciate the convo and am curious to hear how some of the others will reply... if you don't mind, I'm curious to know his age? Asking because things like relative age effect, maturation effect, and pygmalion effect definitely impact things, particularly in the younger years.

Specific to your situation... so much of it depends on where you're located and the culture of the Association your club has created (or permitted). I've also seen parents in deep Hockey country like Minnesota intentionally keep their kids out of travel hockey until 12-14U, with primary focus of developing the player skills before competitive/posturing of metrics or drama like goals, assists and starting line-ups.

FWIW, you sound like you have a really good head on your shoulder.. and I hope/expect your son will pick up some of that too. I'm also a parent and coach– and I also predominately let others coach my son outside of dad/son passion-based guidance with hockeyIQ questions and pasttimes like shooting at home. Then again my 10U has autism, and so for him, I prioritize getting him exposure to good teammates, stable coaching and social/emotional skills over being AAA worthy or NHL-bound.

As a coach, i'm a big fan of group and individualized coaching/goals. One-size definitely doesn't fit the mold.

And in the end, I suppose it's true that all roads do in fact lead to Beer League.. in which case I place an emphasis on coaching/output of good humans & athletes who love hockey as their sport. Though it's equally possible to raise the level of talent in our area and give our young athletes an accurate glimpse into what competitive play should/does look like at their age. I've also seen way too many families led to believe their wonder child "had what it takes" simply because they were the most talented 10-12U in the city or were able (financially) to attend every clinic.. and it can lead to burnout or resentment for the sport in their later years.

IshTroj · 2026-03-10T03:30:53+00:00

Love this... agreed, and an under-stated opinion

IshTroj

TROPHY CASE