5 Things to Know a Before Starting a Men's League Team

[PlayoffBeard365]

http://blog.purehockey.com/five-things-to-know-before-starting-a-mens-league-team/


FUNNY, BUT TRUE???

Click to read more...

 

[STC]

That's a bleak, depressing and extremely cynical POV on Men's league hockey.

I must say I've been running teams for over 10 years and my experiences have been nothing like that.

 

[Blufreezy]

I've never run a team but a lot of it seems spot on.

I've witnessed on pretty much every team it's like pulling teeth trying to get people to pay the remaining balance of what they owe. My winter team rep started taking deposits last month - for next winter. Some people still won't pay in full on time.

The only time my teams haven't had enough people is in the summer, when my friend and I drop a division and play on an individual signup team.

My winter teams jerseys are legit with embroidered numbers/crest etc, but my summer teams are always those cheap mesh jerseys with a number and league logo ironed onto it

 

[Boot]

I've lucked out a bit on some of these. We pay per player rather than per team, so you don't have to worry about paying a huge bill and having no one pony up. I can't imagine how stressful that'd be otherwise.

I have gotten stuck on jersey duty for the last two teams I've been on. I think there's still a couple of people who never paid me, but it was only $35 or so a jersey...slightly less painful .

We've normally had a full bench the last few seasons but the last 3 or 4 we've been incredibly short handed. We had one where the goalie got the time wrong so we flipped the net down and had just 5 skaters vs the other teams full two lines. That was a fun one.

 

[mistrhanky]

Well, I am somewhere in between. First and foremost, this guy was clearly a lousy team manager. If you enter the team without having the money? Your fault. Let a guy play without getting his fees? Your fault. If you set your policies and stick to them it will eliminate most problems.

I do agree that nobody is committed to playing until they have paid you. Until then, it is just words. Even that guy who has played 5 seasons with you. Never trust a fart, if you know what I mean.

I do agree that you will get guys that bail at the last second on games, but you simply don't bring them back. Everyone has something come up now and then, but repeat cases are something you have to cut loose. Or move them to your sub list. I keep a big list of subs for our team and sometimes we still run short, but short is normally not more than 12 guys because we have cultivated guys that want to play... even at 11:40pm starts. I recruit guys when the team is full, get them playing as subs, and then I have a short list ready to go for the guys that can't make the next season. Also, you collect for next season 6 weeks early... that gives you time to fill spots.

Management is a bit of a headache and requires you to be a hardass at times. A labor of love kind of deal. But, not nearly so bad as the guy who wrote the article makes it out to be.

 

[STC]

yea as long as you know what you're doing its not that big a deal. Granted, money will always be an issue and there's always someone who comes up short or doesn't pay. As a manager you have to be prepared to either eat a few hundred dollars every season or ask the rest of the team to pay extra money at the end of the year. I always just eat the remainder. I'd rather do that then try and collect $18 or whatever from 15 guys.

It does get easier the older you are. At that point most of your teammates have jobs and income so getting them to pay isn't as hard as getting a bunch of 20 somethings straight out of college to pay.

I would say the key to any men's league team is to get a good and reliable goalie. Someone who is going to show up for 90% of the games and let you know well in advance when he can't. It is also imperative that you garner a list of emergency goalie contacts for those games when your goalie can't make it. At least 5-10 names or else you are playing with fire or more appropriately, forfeits.

Also, learn how to recruit. Go to drop in skates, rat skates and don't be afraid to ask someone if he/she wants to be on your team.

 

[Ozz]

I couldn't count how much I've spent covering for stupid *******s on my (ex) teams.

The best is when you have a team that alternates between too few and too many players. Goalies are never an issue for us, thankfully.

On my highest-division team, we have 2 other skaters who can play net as good as our main goalie. I have another team in lower divisions, with a couple different players (goalie included). Usually if one has to miss a game, the other can cover and fits right into the room. Great thing to have! And, thankfully, I know a couple other guys whom you can call pretty much any time and have them at the rink within an hour if needed. That has saved us more than once when emergencies arose!

 

[Pog Form]

Obviously hyperbole, but still pretty much true on all five points.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Im sure we all have been on teams where this is spot on and teams where none of this is true. That's why beer league is a beaut. Never know if it will be a gong show or not

 

[Goonzilla]

I haven't done hockey before, but a lot of those problems are relevant to any social team or sport. The biggest difference with hockey being it's more expensive than many other sports.

On the upside, grown ups do tend to earn more, but too often they also have family and other commitments that might not be as easy to get out of.

To be honest, if a guy wants to stump up with a few hundred dollars and then miss a heap of games, I'm happy for them to be subsidising the ones who do turn up.

Rec league hockey is way too short. Give me a short bench over a full bench any time, as long as you have a goalie and some sort of bench.

 

[SeenSchenn2]

Number 3.

Every. Damn. Year.

 

[leftwinger37]

Accurate. On paper you would think the ideal team manager would be highly organized with great communication skills. However, if you posess these traits, running a team will drive you crazy. The most important traits are having a long list of contacts and a no-nonsense approach.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Running a team isn't as bad as that article makes it out to be as long as you don't let the players (or jersey providers) run you over. If someone isn't paying on time, don't invite them back. If your jerseys suck do some more research before buying next time. If people don't show up for games start requiring email confirmation X days before a game for anyone to play.

It's a ***** sometimes, but thousands of people around the world do it, and the challenges aren't insurmountable.

 

[shoeshine boy]

#5 is 100% true.

 

[Brunomics]

That's the team I fill in with every once in awhile under reality section of jerseys hahahaha

 

[The Tikkanen]

#5 is dead on. Rec Leagues need to do a better job of regulating teams rosters for them or maybe USA hockey needs to tighten their guidelines. Guys playing below their skill level or guys playing above their skill level really ruin it for everybody. Get rid of ringers! Get rid of human cones!

 

[CanadaBacon]

#5 is dead on. Rec Leagues need to do a better job of regulating teams rosters for them or maybe USA hockey needs to tighten their guidelines. Guys playing below their skill level or guys playing above their skill level really ruin it for everybody. Get rid of ringers! Get rid of human cones!

Ya! You only deserve to play if you are average!

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think the key missing point is that this is how things will be at first. Building a team takes time, and you're definitely not going to have 15 players in matching uniforms who are all paid up with the league in your first season.

 

[leftwinger37]

Running a team isn't as bad as that article makes it out to be as long as you don't let the players (or jersey providers) run you over. If someone isn't paying on time, don't invite them back. If your jerseys suck do some more research before buying next time. If people don't show up for games start requiring email confirmation X days before a game for anyone to play.

It's a ***** sometimes, but thousands of people around the world do it, and the challenges aren't insurmountable.

I don't totally disagree with you. Someone with basic problem solving skills shouldn't struggle at running a team. Though it's not impossible, it's a hassle to say the least. You end up investing a lot of extra time (and often extra money) getting to a place where things run smoothly... if you ever get there.

The hardest part is playing the role of friend and/or teammate while still playing the role of bill collector and task-master. If you're lucky enough to have a group that polices themselves and holds each other accountable, it's not as tough. However, I find that to be the exception and not the rule. More often than not you're the sap that has to shake down grown-ass men for money and send numerous reminders to the guys who continually "forget" when it's their time to bring the beer.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Ya! You only deserve to play if you are average!

Haha, I guess I need to clarify my painfully obvious point you seemed to have missed. No ringers in average leagues, no cones in average leagues, no ringers in beginner leagues, no cones in advanced leagues. You go 0-10 your team gets moved down. You go 10-0 you get moved up. You average 6 goals a game, you get moved up, it's a pretty simple concept.