Like US youth soccer, Canadian hockey is seeing significant declines in participation largely because it's become cost prohibitive for many families. Obviously equipment and ice time are a huge factor, but so are families feeling their kid has to be in the top league
"But among the leagues that feed the professional ranks, cost signals elite status. Parents hoping to propel their boys’ professional careers are investing more money on training, seeking an edge in the competition for college roster spots and draft positioning. Hockey camps, power-skating classes and preparatory schools with elite hockey programs — like Hill Academy and the Canadian International Hockey Academy, both in Ontario — have risen in popularity. Current N.H.L. stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Mitchell Marner, among others, attended such academies, where tuition can cost as much as $40,000...
“When you see that your child is playing with a peer group and you don’t hear about all the other things they are doing on the side it’s easy to feel, ‘If I don’t do the same, my child is not going to continue in the next level,’” Compton said."
However Canadian hockey is trying to do more to keep kids in the sport
"In response to concerns about cost, some hockey associations have waived registration fees for new players. Hockey Canada and its equipment partner, Bauer, have also added introductory programs where children get equipment at reduced prices or for free. The N.H.L., through its newly expanded Learn To Play program, provides opportunities for kids in cities around the league to experience the sport. Though there is a participation fee of about $170, equipment is provided.
“We make sure that there’s equipment exchange programs available, we’ve gotten N.H.L. clubs involved,” said Rob Knesaurek, a league vice president in charge of developing youth hockey. The league, he said, also subsidizes renting ice time."
In Canada, the Cost of Youth Hockey Benches the Next Generation https://nyti.ms/38RogwC
Yes MLS has free to play for the top players, but most have to be geographically workable and it only helps a small portion of players. There's a few token scholarships at some clubs, but that doesn't include travel. Things need to change to get more players on the field, learning the game, developing a passion for the sport. Meanwhile all the leagues are battling it out over market share and parents keep writing big checks, worried their kid will miss out
"But among the leagues that feed the professional ranks, cost signals elite status. Parents hoping to propel their boys’ professional careers are investing more money on training, seeking an edge in the competition for college roster spots and draft positioning. Hockey camps, power-skating classes and preparatory schools with elite hockey programs — like Hill Academy and the Canadian International Hockey Academy, both in Ontario — have risen in popularity. Current N.H.L. stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Mitchell Marner, among others, attended such academies, where tuition can cost as much as $40,000...
“When you see that your child is playing with a peer group and you don’t hear about all the other things they are doing on the side it’s easy to feel, ‘If I don’t do the same, my child is not going to continue in the next level,’” Compton said."
However Canadian hockey is trying to do more to keep kids in the sport
"In response to concerns about cost, some hockey associations have waived registration fees for new players. Hockey Canada and its equipment partner, Bauer, have also added introductory programs where children get equipment at reduced prices or for free. The N.H.L., through its newly expanded Learn To Play program, provides opportunities for kids in cities around the league to experience the sport. Though there is a participation fee of about $170, equipment is provided.
“We make sure that there’s equipment exchange programs available, we’ve gotten N.H.L. clubs involved,” said Rob Knesaurek, a league vice president in charge of developing youth hockey. The league, he said, also subsidizes renting ice time."
In Canada, the Cost of Youth Hockey Benches the Next Generation https://nyti.ms/38RogwC
Yes MLS has free to play for the top players, but most have to be geographically workable and it only helps a small portion of players. There's a few token scholarships at some clubs, but that doesn't include travel. Things need to change to get more players on the field, learning the game, developing a passion for the sport. Meanwhile all the leagues are battling it out over market share and parents keep writing big checks, worried their kid will miss out
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