BTHL Survey - Return #53

Received: August 08, 2002 01:37pm

1. Your Position: Parent/Guardian
   • If other, please identify: No response
2. Your Association/Team: Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Assn
3. If representing a team:
   • Your age classification: Mite
   • Your level: AA
4. Overall, how would you rate your experience with the BTHL? Good
5. How would you rate the overall competition within the division during regular season play? Poor (teams poorly matched)
   • Additional comments:

     Four teams for a league is too few when one of the teams is nowhere near the caliber of the top two, and the season was not worth the league fees.

6. Scheduling:
   1. Overall, how would you rate the Scheduling, when games scheduled, length of season, etc? OK
   2. Did you attend the September 15, 2001 Scheduling Meeting in Dayton? No
   3. When are your team tryouts/selections held?

      May, June

   4. If there were a perfect date for the Scheduling Meeting, when would it be? Early August
   5. Other comments on Scheduling:

      Last July, there were about a dozen teams indicating an interest in playing in the Mite A/AA division. By the time the scheduling meeting came around, there were four. An earlier deadline for commitment would allow teams to seek alternatives if their respective division of the BTHL is inadequate.

7. Age groups/divisions:
   1. Our intent is to maintain our current system of allowing 6 "2nd year" players to roster with "A" teams for next year. We also intend to grant exceptions to that rule in situations where there is a limited pool of participants or if the team is 2nd or 3rd in line to select players. How would you describe your position on this rule? Strongly in favor
   2. Please provide us with your opinion, especially if you have strong feelings one way or another.

      I think that the current system is fine. Many teams choose to play at the A level when they don't have the skill level or coaching to compete, then complain when stronger teams dominate. It's not that the teams at the top are too strong, but that the teams at the bottom are too weak. A lot of those teams that dominate in either A or AA in the BTHL would barely qualify as average in other leagues. It should not be an insult to have your team play a "B" schedule. Ideally, the top teams in A and AA brackets for the BTHL should be competitive with A and AA teams from other leagues. This establishes credibility for the league, and ultimately creates more opportunities for the kids and organizations in the league. Some parents get too caught up in whether or not their kids win a "championship" at 9, 10, or 13 years old. I pray to God that, in adulthood, my kid never has to list a childhood "championship" among his greatest achievements.

   3. We have a tradition of seperating our given divisions geographically when we reach a total of 10-12 teams. Would you like to see that break point go: Unchanged
8. Tournament:
   1. How would you rate the end of season Tournament? Poor
   2. Plans are already underway for next year's tournament. One possible change being considered is the replacement of consolation games with a consolation bracket for 1st round losers. (Please refer to sample brackets linked from "News" section on our website) Would you be in favor of this change? Yes
   3. Consideration is being given to the addition of a "Bronze Medal" game for the two losers in the Semi-Final games. If your team were in that position would you want to participate in such a game? Yes
   4. Plans for the Tournament were discussed at the September Scheduling Meeting and were discussed at subsequent BTHL Board meetings. Updates were posted on the BTHL Web page with brackets, game times, hotel information, fees, etc.
      • Did you check the Web page for updates? Yes
      • Do you think you were sufficiently kept informed about the tournament? No
   5. Other comments on the tournament:

      The final brackets were determined too close to the actual tournament date to allow adequate time for constructive criticism and feedback.

9. BTHL Home Page:
   1. How would you rate it? OK
   2. What have you liked about it?
   3. What could be improved?
   4. Other comments:
10. BTHL Administration:
    1. We've eliminated most mailings this year. Is the website sufficient to keep you informed with what's going on in the BTHL? No
    2. Have you seen/read the minutes of the BTHL Board Meetings? Yes
    3. Have you seen/read the BTHL Rules & Regulations? Yes
    4. Woud you be in favor of making submission of game stats mandatory? (goals, assists, saves, penalties) No
    5. Other comments regarding communication:

       By making stats submission mandatory, it gives coaches a vehicle to key on one or two kids on the opposing team in an unorthodox way. While this may help their team to win a game, it encourages coaches to teach strategies that would not be considered "GOOD HOCKEY" instruction at any level. After all, isn't the purpose to teach the kids the game and develop their skills?

11. Volunteers:
    1. We would like to add "Level Directors" to help enforce Roster compliance and resolve scheduling issues during the season. With enough volunteers we hope to have seperate individuals responsible for each age group and possibly each division. Would you be willing to volunteer for such a position? Maybe
    2. Returning officers for the 2002-03 season are filling most board positions. However, please indicate if you might be interested in filling a board position, volunteers will not be turned away. Committees are always in need. Maybe, contact me at a later date
    3. If interested please provide a phone# or some other way to contact you: No response
    4. The BTHL is run solely with volunteers from member organizations. In some cases, board members don't have players in the league. Do you have any suggestions on how the BTHL can better identify volunteers for board positions and committees?
12. Any general / other comments:
13. Your Name/Address/Phone/e-mail (optional):

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