Somebody please fill me in on the logic behind NOT offering player contracts prior to tryouts? By not doing so, you are basically inviting your top 5-6 players who you don't want to lose to go to other tryouts. This is senseless. Some organizations do not mention contract until tryouts are over, this seems far too risky to me. If I owned or managed one of the club teams, I would do the following:
1. Talk with each player/family by mid-February latest about the following season
2. Provide contracts to the top 6 players or so in order to prevent them from scouting other clubs
3. Let the next 5-6 players know that they are welcome but are waiting to hand out contracts until after tryouts in order to keep those kids working hard and to see how much they want to be on the team, basically a message that you will take them back but you expect a bit more out of them
4. Let the bottom 3 or so kids know by early to mid Feb that it may be difficult for them to make the team if solid kids show up at tryouts or outright demote them to a lower select team, if one exists
Why is it so difficult for coaches and GMs to be honest with people? Honesty is always the best policy and provides kids and families an opportunity to find teams with time to spare.
Why can't this be the norm because now it seems more of an exception........
Somebody please fill me in on the logic behind NOT offering player contracts prior to tryouts? By not doing so, you are basically inviting your top 5-6 players who you don't want to lose to go to other tryouts. This is senseless. Some organizations do not mention contract until tryouts are over, this seems far too risky to me. If I owned or managed one of the club teams, I would do the following:
1. Talk with each player/family by mid-February latest about the following season
2. Provide contracts to the top 6 players or so in order to prevent them from scouting other clubs
3. Let the next 5-6 players know that they are welcome but are waiting to hand out contracts until after tryouts in order to keep those kids working hard and to see how much they want to be on the team, basically a message that you will take them back but you expect a bit more out of them
4. Let the bottom 3 or so kids know by early to mid Feb that it may be difficult for them to make the team if solid kids show up at tryouts or outright demote them to a lower select team, if one exists
Why is it so difficult for coaches and GMs to be honest with people? Honesty is always the best policy and provides kids and families an opportunity to find teams with time to spare.
Why can't this be the norm because now it seems more of an exception........
This is the norm! Sorry you had to find out this way;)
Somebody please fill me in on the logic behind NOT offering player contracts prior to tryouts? By not doing so, you are basically inviting your top 5-6 players who you don't want to lose to go to other tryouts. This is senseless. Some organizations do not mention contract until tryouts are over, this seems far too risky to me. If I owned or managed one of the club teams, I would do the following:
1. Talk with each player/family by mid-February latest about the following season
2. Provide contracts to the top 6 players or so in order to prevent them from scouting other clubs
3. Let the next 5-6 players know that they are welcome but are waiting to hand out contracts until after tryouts in order to keep those kids working hard and to see how much they want to be on the team, basically a message that you will take them back but you expect a bit more out of them
4. Let the bottom 3 or so kids know by early to mid Feb that it may be difficult for them to make the team if solid kids show up at tryouts or outright demote them to a lower select team, if one exists
Why is it so difficult for coaches and GMs to be honest with people? Honesty is always the best policy and provides kids and families an opportunity to find teams with time to spare.
Why can't this be the norm because now it seems more of an exception........
Why would you think a contract makes a difference? On both sides?
In the FED it gives the owners all the leverage. You are stuck with that team for the year no matter what. Whereas, the owner will have to honor the contract but can bury the kid and still take your money.
Not sure how often this happens.
Hold off as long as you can. Problem is parents get so edgey this time of year they tend to get a little jumpy.
Why would you think a contract makes a difference? On both sides?
In the FED it gives the owners all the leverage. You are stuck with that team for the year no matter what. Whereas, the owner will have to honor the contract but can bury the kid and still take your money.
Not sure how often this happens.
Hold off as long as you can. Problem is parents get so edgey this time of year they tend to get a little jumpy.
We switched Fed teams mid-season a couple of years ago. If your kid is a good kid and you aren't a PITA as a parent, they will work with you. You just have to ask.
Youth sports contracts are meaningless in a court of law. Payment terms are only thing that would be applicable.
Not completely true. The EHF has league rules around playing for other teams and player movement. If you sign an EHF contract, and violate the rules, the contract will strengthen the league's ability to enforce them. Which I understand they selectively do when a parent shows blatant disregard for the league.
If a parent were to decide to file a claim, I'd expect the judge would look at the contract - after asking you why you are in his courtroom over youth hockey - and be forced to decide for the league since the parent did knowingly agree to be bound by the rules.
We have never had a contract before tryouts. Then again my kid is 10 so we have a life
Mine played both leagues. EHF the team's contracts were out in early February, his NEHL/E9 club waited until tryouts but we had the discussion beforehand. Probably varies league to league and organization to organization.