Looking for some solid advice. When is the right time to cut a kid. Should I tell the kid or Dad and Mom first.

Do what most spineless coaches do, totally avoid communication with parents throughout the tryout season and then they simply never hear from you again after tryouts. If you were already open and honest about the situation with each player before tryouts (should be a requirement), you wouldn't be asking this rediculus question.

Hey New Coach - take it from me, most parents absolutely suck. Especially squirt minor to peewee minor. They all think there is a better deal. Reality is their kids are not good enough. Can you think of another relationship where so much is given for so little return. It is a thankless job. Parents are owed nothing. F- them. Sorry little Jerry is cut! If he would have done what was taught maybe he would be on the team. I am here to teach and win! Ba-bye. Ba-f'n bye!!!

Definately talk to the mother first. They tend to willing understand the situation at a deeper level.

My experience has been that they definately have a deeper understanding of the position they find themselves in...

Let them know after the last game. That is the classy way. After the last tryout is a scummy move.

Other sports I've had kids in the coaches sit down with the parent and the kid and let them know where they stand at the end of the season. "These are the areas you need to improve in...." and "a) we look forward to having you back; b) It's going to be tough to make the team next season but you're welcome to try-out; c) you should be looking at other programs where you will be better challenged...."

Why are hockey coaches so different?

Because hockey parents are absolutely insane. But I agree, you should let the kid know after the last game and before tryouts start.

Because typically the coaches kids including assistants wouldn't make the team so they avoid the discussion all together.

It depends on the league.

EHF elite teams are picked well in advance of tryouts.

E9 finishes playoffs 3 weeks before the FED.

Some E9 teams had tryouts before playoffs.

This creates a tough situation for families and coaches. If I am an IHC or TG coach and I know I am going to cut a player, but want to give him a chance to tryout for BJR or VJW I clearly cannot wait until the end of the season.

I have to risk that my parents won't be a-holes about it and completely disrupt my whole team right before playoffs. If I want to be a good guy and give them a head's up, I have to trust they can and will handle it professionally. The problem is they won't.

It doesn't mean I shouldn't do what is right. It just makes it hard.

Plus in the FED if Elite parents don't get contracts on Feb 1, they flip.

Hockey tryouts are just different. The business aspect of it is competitive.

A few years back an E9 team in NH had ( Squirts) tryouts the week before playoffs. Coach cut three or four of his kids and then wished them luck in the playoffs. To make matters worse, he was making offhanded comments in the locker room before and after the game that made it clear that those cut were already seen as second class citizens and not part of the team. Kids were teary eyed the whole weekend! What a guy!! Not great with kids but if you like skating around cones and being barked at from Sgt Hulka like you are Private Pyle, you can sign up for one of his skills camps. Only problem is you gotta go up to Maine... and as we all know, nobody goes to Maine for Hockey!!

Reminds me of a Sgt Hulka story from years ago. Kids were on a pretty good tournament team which he coached and the last day after try-outs he cut a couple pretty good kids (maybe Squirt Major or Peewee minor). One kid had multiple offers to go to a better program but Sgt Hulka promised him a spot so the kid turned down the offers. Now the kid was cut and the other team was all filled up so the parent called Sgt Hulka and said "WTF." Sgt Hulka explained to the dad, "I had to put this kid on because his dad put a roof on my dad's house last month, and I had to put this kid on so his younger brother would stay with the program, I had to put this kid on because he has been with the program since we started it..." and the list went on-and-on. Laughable.