My son is an '08 currently playing Tier 1 in the EHF. He is one of the better players on his team and I've been told recently that he should move from T1 to Elite. I'm fairly new to all of this and was hoping someone on here would know more about the T1 vs Elite levels. He really likes the team and coaches he has now, but we don't want to hold back his development. Is there a big difference between T1 and Elite? Is it better for him to play for a good T1 team than a crappy Elite team? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

If he really likes his coaches and his teammates, why consider moving him at all? He's only a Squirt, he will continue to develop if he continues to enjoy going to the rink. Give it another year or two and see where's he's at. If he's still clearly one of the better players look at moving him then.

I would say it depends on the coaching and the team he's on. Are they currently successful? Are they willing to better the team? I can tell you, the competition gets better in T1 as they get older. Especially t1 black. There will be less and less blow outs as the years go on. If your considering a slumping elite team, it could cause frustration with getting blown out every week and you'll be regretting your decision. While winning isn't everything, kids still like to win. Nobody wants to go winless in the season.

have him skate with the elite group in a practice or 2 and see how he feels around the coaches and players. Some players will not welcome him because they think he is there for their spot but the biggest key at this point is the coaches. If he likes them and the situation then go for it. people will argue but the talent level of competition is considerably higher once you make the jump up so if he has a strong desire to get better then he will be fine.

Yes, you don't want to leave a good team or coaching situation for a bad one (for example, going from Islanders Tier 1 to Top Gun Elite - that isn't a step up). But, if you like the coach on the elite team, I would move him if you have the opportunity.

It's amazing how fast coaches pigeon hole kids. If he spends his squirt years in Tier 1 it will be that much harder to get selected for an elite team by PeeWee.

Much more important than the closeness of games is the speed of the games. Won-lost records are SOOOO over-emphasized by parents. The quality of competition is way more important to development than wins and losses. It's your job to keep him motivated if he is in a tough situation. And, it will help him to be more mentally prepared later on, if he ends up in a similar situation. It's actually easier to stand out as a kid that busts his butt when losing 5 - 0 than in a close game, when everyone is (presumbaly) skating hard.

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It's amazing how fast coaches pigeon hole kids. If he spends his squirt years in Tier 1 it will be that much harder to get selected for an elite team by PeeWee.

Unfortunately this is true. Frankly, many of the Elite and Tier 1 kids could be interchangeable, especially at a younger age. The Elite are Elite and it cannot be argued, they belong.

The problem for the kid ( parents) on the outside looking in is that for their player to develop and reach their fullest potential it is IDEAL for them to play with and against the best kids in their age group. Ideal and preferable. Not the end of the world if not but really, really important. Many parents recognize this and that is why you see so many handy's being given out at the rink by these parents.

Coaching is equally important and should not be ignored at the expense of playing at a higher level.

Crazy, Crazy youth hockey world! Good luck and stay positive.

Throughout the country Tier 1 is considered the highest level of hockey, except in New England where it is considered a level below Elite Hockey, which throughout the country is synonumous with Tier ! Previously Elite was Elite and Tier 1 was called AAA, which is also synonomous with Elite throughout the rest of the country.

Once your player has reached the end of his youth hockey career and starts considering the next options, he needs to keep in mind that Elite is no longer, Elite! Premiere is Elite. Which must be really good because youth hockey doesn't even have a Premiere. Elite is now the equivalent of Tier1 here in New England but of course not so much the rest of the country. Actually the rest of the country ( in the world of Juniors) sees our Premiere as AA, which I haven't discussed because I have confused things enough for you. Elite would be a ( as not even a capital A like Intramural's ( Not even club, that would be Premiere).

So before you go and write a check for $3500 + for an organization that claims to be " " or whatever it claims to be, go watch a few practices and forget what they call themselves and decide yourself.

His currently team is successful and the Elite team option is awful, but supposedly getting a new coach who is re-stocking the team.

The best athletes are those who have confidence. They know without hesitation that they can and will beat you, no matter what.

Put your kid in the best position to build his confidence.

The difference is that Tier 1 is basically useless as no one cares .

Elite level NHL scouts are at all the games ....

No really each NHL team has separate scouts just for the EHF , they are at 90 percent of all the games at all age levels .

Face it there is no other league in the country that can compare , not even close and the NHL knows it .

Couple years from now the NHL will be about 75 percent FED kids ....

Don't let the cat out of the bag. That was the discussion about the super league in a back door meeting two nights ago between some FED owners and Gary Bettman. NHL scrapping it's current "farm" system. The new farm system will be EHF Elite. Starting at mite minor, kids will be drafted by NHL teams where the development will take place only at the EHF Elite level. Press release coming soon. Get that kid onto an EHF Elite team as soon as possible!

if you have a good coach and teammates then stick with it. You will find out how few players make it to college or the top junior leagues. Let your kid enjoy the sport.

And I'm sure his concern about scouts a his 8 years olds game is priority

Yeah, not my concern yet My only concern is that he won't maximize his development because he'll be playing against slightly inferior competition in T1 ... but, will he really develop more if he's playing on an Elite team with a group of average T1 talent players?

You can see the difference in the skating and how they see the game and how plays develop! At times it can be striking!!

Do everything you can to get him on the ice at a practice with the elite team. You'll see if he can hang, and it'll make your decision easier.

I agree in principle with the point that better competition/faster pace is better for development, but only if your player is good enough to actually maintain possession of the puck and make good decisions at that pace. If he's not a good enough skater yet to handle the pace at the elite level, keep him where he will be able to develop his hockey sense by actually possessing the puck, and work on improving his skating so that he can make the jump in the future.

Good luck. And don't forget the cardinal rule: don't leave a good coach for a bad one just to jump up a level.

Good post. If you feel that he's the strongest skater on his current team go for a practice with the elite kids. If he's a middle of the pack skater on his current team, keep him where he is and do some outside skating development. The game is a bit faster at the elite level, even at this young age. If he's not confident on his skates it will impact him.

The worse mistake you could make would be to bring him up to an elite team and have him in the bottom 3 his first year. If he get's cut, his confidence is impacted and he may not want to make the jump the next time. Just my thoughts but if you're not convinced he'll be in the top 6 F or top 2 D, then stay put. I know it sounds silly to say top 6 and top 2 at this age but the poster above is right - confidence is a big part of development and learning to love the game.

My kid played on an "elite" team a few years ago that had horrible coaching. Coaching is the biggest thing not the Elite tag. Parents get way too wrapped up in the Elite nonsense. Good luck

06 Flames are looking for kids

All offering advice are correct:
*The longer you stay at Tier 1, the harder it is to move to an "elite" team
*Skating with better players will help your player develop
*Playing against higher end competition will help development
*Coaching is more important than the elite tag or the organization badge
*Do your homework
I guess what I haven't seen offered & it's possible I missed it, if your child moves to the new team & he's the best on that team, he won't develop any faster and could develop some really bad habits as he tries to compensate for those around him, especially if the team isn't competitive.

If your current coach is good, your child gets along well with his teammates and they are competitive, I would probably stay if the elite team isn't squared away. If you really want to develop him & can afford the additional costs, get him some outside assistance, that will help make up for the lack of superior competition. If the elite team is squared away and he isn't 3rd line or bottom pairing and he fits in and the coaching appears good , than go for it.