Is it too late for 9 y. old boy to learn hockey? (Eden Prairie: credit, club)

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by golfgal

And the 100 kids that get cut from the Apple Valley wrestling program and the 1000 kids that get cut from the Apple Valley soccer program and the 400 kids that get cut from the Stillwater football program and the 800 kids that get cut from every sport except football at Eden Prairie. The only sports you don't usually find cuts are cross country and track--which is why we love those sports. Not getting cut and playing, however, are two very different things (except in Cross Country).

When our oldest was 4 we had him in a little soccer program in our town. There were 1500 kids in that program from ages 4-14, the roster at that high school for boys soccer carried 20 kids on the varsity team. What do you think happened to the rest of those kids??

I'm still looking for that 15 year old MN boy who put on the skates for the 1st time and was competitive.

If Kid's in Apple Valley wrestling have a traveling program starting at age 8 and over 250 kid's show up for 70 spots, then I suspect there might be a lot of Kid's going home. Does Apple Valley have 6-10 year old's that have been in wrestling camps for years before age 9? Are their Wrestling camps where Apple Valley Kid's spend several thousand dollars a year for training? If so, show me the link. That's one competitive program!

To answer your question about the large soccer. Not a lot of them are playing.

[Laggard]

And always remember that ice time at your local pond or outdoor rink is FREE.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Laggard

And always remember that ice time at your local pond or outdoor rink is FREE.

How are the flooded skating rinks doing this year?

[Laggard]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

How are the flooded skating rinks doing this year?

I don't think things are all that great this year. Last year (and most years) the situation is better.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

I'm still looking for that 15 year old MN boy who put on the skates for the 1st time and was competitive.

If Kid's in Apple Valley wrestling have a traveling program starting at age 8 and over 250 kid's show up for 70 spots, then I suspect there might be a lot of Kid's going home. Does Apple Valley have 6-10 year old's that have been in wrestling camps for years before age 9? Are their Wrestling camps where Apple Valley Kid's spend several thousand dollars a year for training? If so, show me the link. That's one competitive program!

To answer your question about the large soccer. Not a lot of them are playing.

Apple Valley has the number one rated wrestling program in the NATION. They have people moving from other states so their kids can participate in their program. They took 13 of the 16 state titles last year. Feel free to look that up.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Laggard

I don't think things are all that great this year. Last year (and most years) the situation is better.

Then it seems that the Kid who was relying on outdoor ice fell behind another year.

[Laggard]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Then it seems that the Kid who was relying on outdoor ice fell behind another year.

I wouldn't rely on it. My point was that to play with peers you don't necessarily have to rely on indoor rinks. So many outdoor rinks go sadly unused when the ice is perfectly fine.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Apple Valley has the number one rated wrestling program in the NATION. They have people moving from other states so their kids can participate in their program. They took 13 of the 16 state titles last year. Feel free to look that up.

If people move in from other States to wrestle in Apple Valley, it sounds like those Kid's who started at age 6 wrestling (and born in Apple Valley) won't be too competitive in that program. You are supporting my point. Are you saying any 15 year old that decides today that he wants to wrestler is going to be competitive in Apple Valley?? It's never too late ya know!

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Laggard

I wouldn't rely on it. My point was that to play with peers you don't necessarily have to rely on indoor rinks. So many outdoor rinks go sadly unused when the ice is perfectly fine.

When I was young, I walked to the ice rink 4 blocks away. I remember going up to the rink 5-7 days a week. Sometimes I was at the rink for 12 hours on the weekend. Outdoor ice is the place to try all of those new moves!

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by burgler09

I started hockey when I was 12 years old, ended up flying circles around all the other kids. Some people are good at sports, some aren't. Whether your kid starts at 9 or 5 isn't going to make a difference, what is going to make a difference is his athletic ability. If he's gonna suck he's gonna suck, if he's gonna be good he's gonna be good.

And if you were in Michigan, it's a fairly competitive hockey state in its own right. Of course, the local programs makes a difference, too. Was your local area competitive?