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About This Page: This is a discussion on Hockey Players Forum within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Question for you guys...
I don't have my son in any sports right now - he has played baseball, soccer, flag football, and even basketball. I want/need to get him
I don't have my son in any sports right now - he has played baseball, soccer, flag football, and even basketball. I want/need to get him in a sport, but I want to make sure it's what he wants. So I asked him last week, "if you could only play one sport, which would you pick?" And he quickly answered, "HOCKEY!" He's almost 8 years old , btw.
So here's my question for you guys...
How much is this going to cost me? Registration fees, ice time, equipment costs (used vs. new), etc... any hidden costs I need to be aware of...
I know hockey is an expensive sport, but I need to know what I'll be getting myself into before we commit. And it would be the rink in Aliso Viejo since it is the closest to where we live.
if you get him skating lessons a beginner 8 week class at Aliso Viejo will run you about $120-150. However, unless your kid can take to it quickly it's really just a free skate. If he can already rollerblade then he can probably get around the ice without falling down too much. In that case I suggest you call the Ice Palace and ask for the phones numbers of some private instructors. In one 30 minute session your kid will get more attention than he will in an 8 week course. So 3-4 private lessons at some $30-40 a pop will probably do him a lot more good.
New equipment for an 8 year old will run you about $400 if you keep it simple. To save money insist on wood sticks. No 8 year old needs composite and at Aliso Viejo he will feel a lot of peer pressure to go composite. Lots of entitled future douchebags skating around that rink.
Lots of entitled future douchebags skating around that rink.
I regularly see the results of this, and what OP says is dead-on
so many marginally skilled douchebags come out of that rink with an air of superiority, its amazing, then the first time you rough them up in the corner they cry. its awesome.
The skating lessons things is a good idea. For those of us who started playing later in life the hard part of hockey is the skating while stickhandling. Getting the skating down first will pay huge dividends.
Next-I would start with roller hockey. The Investment is going to be peanuts compared to Ice not to mention he can practice in the driveway. If he tries and gets bored your not out the dough you would be with Ice hockey.
I think Ill be down this road in a few years as well and trust me-hip jr is going to start on roller blades.
__________________ "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
OK, I just spent the last 5 minutes typing stuff up and hit the wrong couple buttons and lost it all.
SO, what OP said and this:
I have had one person here acting as my hockey parent mentor since she has been through it. You know who you are and I thank you thank you thank you for it.
you have a couple options to consider. Inhouse or travel. I just got the in house e-mail from the VIC and it's $390.00 for 10 weeks. not a bad price for 20 hours of ice time, a jersey and coaching.
option 2: classes. I would start here. Beginning classes and more ice time then move to a hockey 101 class weekly along with just going to public sessions. ice time ice time ice time. Stickhandeling is something he should start OFF ICE. it will come to him better on ice if he practices off ice.
option 3: if he gets good and really enjoys it then it's travel hockey time. only do this is you love being at the rink and love spending money. j/k Last year for mites it was $2,300.00 for the team and they had a developemental group they are preparing to play on the team next year. They payed $1,700.00 and did everything the team did except for played in the games. This is a very expensive sport and can get into the 10s of thousands as he gets older.
travel hockey=drama
Key to starting in this sport is ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time ice time.
If he decides he wants to be a goalie like my son then look to spend a hell of a lot more on equipment BUT a lot of places let goalies skate for free or discount rates due to not being as many goaltenders out there.
Good luck.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sticky
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to suck a dick while you have a hacking cough?
Some people are like slinkeys, they serve no purpose but bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Last edited by HOCKEYAHOLIC; April 2nd, 2008 at 04:11 PM.
I know this is out of the your way but at Toyota Sports Center they have a free Kids First program. My nephew just finished it. It's one day a week for four weeks (a saturday for ice and sunday for roller) and they let you borrow the gear. It's great. My nephew learned some basic skating, had fun and NOW I have to shell out the bucks for more skating lessons and gear. At least I know he likes it so I am not wasting cash. He is doing the roller first because as the guys mentioned, it's easier to practice and cheaper.
Waking up at 4-5am on saturday and sunday mornings, freezing your ass off on a daily basis, shelling out hundreds for gear and thousands to play travel, dealing with coaches and other parents at the rink.
That said, in retrospect of doing it from 1st to 9th grade I would say it was probably one of the highlights of my childhood and know that my parents found some considerable reward in watching me as well.
First things first, take your kid to the public skates where you can rent skates for him. see how he does with this. Not only his ability but his enjoyment level. Do yourself a favor and do this over the course of a good while to see if he even wants to stick with it. Don't go out and dish out the $$ for a full set of gear only to find he wants to play badmington next month.
If your kid takes well to the skating, then keep him skating. Skating is bar none the most important aspect of becoming a good hockey player. Establish good skating skills before even throwing a stick and puck at him.
If you and him decide you want to take it to the next level go down to the rink during a hockey practice for kids his age and just poke around, allow him to watch, talk with other parents. Find out whose got good coaches.
If you are still set, then go grab some gear. Get GOOD FITTING skates and good fitting protective equipment. You do not need to buy the top of the line, proper fitment is what you're looking for. Hockeygiant has a wherehouse of pretty well priced gear.
Toyota Sports Center has a program where for a $100 deposit they give you 4 weeks of lessons and loan you the equipment for hockey. Great way for him to try it and if he does not like it, there is no cost to you (you get the deposit back when you return the equipment)
Toyota Sports Center has a program where for a $100 deposit they give you 4 weeks of lessons and loan you the equipment for hockey. Great way for him to try it and if he does not like it, there is no cost to you (you get the deposit back when you return the equipment)
I was getting skates sharpened at TSC and saw this clinic about a month ago, it looked pretty awesome and though there were a good amount of instructors on the ice, it looked really awesome.
Also, testing your son's committment in roller hockey is not a bad idea. I can't really say the cost is that much less than ice hockey though. Kids go through roller pants pretty quickly. You can only duct tape them so many times. Skates are comparable in price, sticks get worn out way faster than on ice. But the league fees are going to run about $200 - 300 less per season...that is if you can find a roller league.
Start up costs aren't as bad as you'd expect. Go to Hockey Giant and let one of the guys there know you want to suit your kid up for a good price. They are really good about not trying to sell you higher end gear that a kid starting out doesn't really need. You don't need high end anything to start out. At your sons age, he doesn't need a real stiff boot on his skate because you'll be lacing them up for him and dads get them nice and tight. All the gear meets USA Hockey safety requirements, so don't be convinced to spend $80 on pants when you can get them for $30.
For an 8 year old, skating lessons are a good idea, but if hockey tryouts are before there's a skating class available, I wouldn't turn your son away. Unless you put him on the ice and he just can't move, he'll probably pick it up on his own. If you get him in your local in house league, he won't be the only Squirt who hasn't mastered skating. IMO, if you take him to free skate, or gear him up and take him to stick time to skate around, he'll be ready for Squirt.
In house leagues run anywhere from $500 to $800 depending on the rink. Someone mentioned using a wood stick instead of composite. I haven't found there'd be much cost benefit to getting a wood stick. You can get composite sticks that are not that much more than a wood stick. They're much lighter for the little guys. There's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a stick for in house hockey. Save that for club/travel hockey later. Then be prepared to give up your weekends, wake up before the sun comes up, freeze your butt of in ice rinks at all hours of the morning and kiss your money goodbye. But its all totally worth it and an amazing experience to share with your kid.
So my son says he wants to play hockey... 
fansince67
