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economist sunsuntribune oruklo saturday aug 13 2005 limit number of months players spend on ice coaches say too foun by mike hayakawa staff writer to play hockey during the spring and summer months or not to play its a question that has sparked concern and contro versy particularly in the case of youngsters who play at the rep level such leagues and tourna ments during the socalled offseason were once rare these days though they are in full view and there doesnt appear to be any sign theyre going away soon said paul titanic a markham resident who coached the markham wax- ers bantams and brother andre catholic high school cardinals senior boys teams last season jtlook at the newspapers these days and theyre full of advertisements for summer hockey for kids he said some hockey coaches including graham wise sug gest parents limit how much competitive action young sters face in a calendar year the 53yearold stouffville resident who has been head coach of the york university lions mens team since 1987 thinks the traditional rep win ter season is long enough maybe even be a little too long so many parents are banking on their kids making it to the pros theyre forgetting its about enjoying it now in being an athlete he thinks young players should only be on the ice from labour day through early spring between seasons he says youngsters should turn their attention to other recreational activities these days the kids are pushed enough from the third week of august until the end of march then you get the pressure of tryouts for the following season in april mr wise said of what players typ ically go through on a season he had firsthand experi- staff photosteve somerville stouffvilles graham wise a hockey coach at york university suggests parents limit how much competitive action young sters play in a calendar year he coached a team of youngsters during this offseason ence this year when he coached a group of soon-to- be bantams on a spring tour nament team although wise did it as a favour for his son who played on the team he vowed it would be the last time intending to field a team of players entirely from stouf fville a shortage of bodies forced him to seek prospects from markham and rich- rrfond hill during the first week of practice i had four kids drop out that was disappointing he said compounding the issue were practices including one attended by just four for wards and three defence- men during the late spring players are often involved in school activities including trips in some instances he detected some players were illegally practising with aaa rep teams for the following season that shouldnt be hap pening he noted of minor hockey rules that bar offsea son practices also catching mr wise off guard were some tournament teams that stacked their ros ters with the best aaacalibre players from an entire region this made disparity it goes against all of my principles he said of the competitive spring and sum mer leagues mr wise and others are critical of those who run sum mer schools and leagues just to make a quick buck theres so many people these days running private instruction or summer camps ifs a big business its everywhere these guys are making a fortune mr titanic said some parents are also to blame both coaches say the parents want more more and more people are ibcused on their kids and their development they try to make their kids the best they can be said mr titanic a former coach of the univer sity of toronto varsity blues mens team so many parents are banking on their kids making it to the pros theyre forget- ting its about enjoying it now in being an athlete mr wise has seen many burnedout youngsters drop out of the game because they were playing yearround its definitely not right he said what you want is a kid who is waiting anxiously at the front door saying to their mom and dad lefs go to the rink not a kid who might be playing video games and have mom and dad say to the kid lets go to the rink those 10 years of age or younger should take a sabbat ical during the summer mr titanic believes make ft a job they need a significant break from the game at least six weeks to a couple of months you dont want to make it a job for the kid he said mr wise doesnt have qualms with youngsters who play unregulated pickup hockey during the summer months such as the popular threeonthree or four-on- four versions played at mini rinks in the region provid ed theres no parental involve ment ive got no problems with that you cant deny what someone likes but some times i think its what the par ents like coaching players on his waxers bantam team who will be eligible for the next ontario hockey league prior- ity selection mr titanic has no objections to them playing in summer competitive leagues to keep an edge yet there are some individ uals who think competitive leagues and tournaments serve a purpose jim wells general man ager of the national train ing rink in newmarket and coach of the newmarket hurricanes of the provincial junior- a hockey league was quick to point out other sports such as basketball baseball and even gymnas tics place an emphasis on yearround competition so why not hockey look at any other sport nobody takes off six months of the year baseball in the us is done yearround the players in the major leagues play in north america during the summer and go to puerto rico to play winter ball bas ketball in the us is year- round thats what hockey is turning into he said mr wells also believes its not harmful for youngsters to be on the ice at least once a week during the offseason as a means to remain fit and enhance skills kids might get mentally burned out but they dont physically its fantastic for them to be on the ice during the summer it keeps their skills up and its great recre ation he said players who take to the ice in summer say ifs good fun i get more ice time and i get a chance to carry the puck more and it kind of helps my skating said teague thackaway a 10- yearold newmarket resi dent who plays in a three- onthree house league team at the ntr in newmarket when he isnt playing summer hockey hes taking part in other recreational pur suits including golf and skate boarding and playing in a cool indoor facility sure beats the august heat he says markhams steve stamkos played a variety of sports during the summer including lacrosse with the markham thunder and rep baseball with the markham mariners look at any other sport nobody takes off six months of the year baseball in the us is done yearround but the 14yearold for ward a member of paul titanics waxers bantams last season is focusing on hockey this summer with a tourna ment team of high calibre players hes expected to bea high pick in next years ohl draft steve has been limiting his ice time to once a week and says diversity is good its good to play other sports and take a rest from hockey he said sfsiicores