Is Winning a State Championship a Problem?

Welcome Guest Blogger Jeffry Ketelsen!

Most everyone who plays hockey in the State of Illinois wants to win the State Championship. This feat is ingrained in the players' minds at a very young age. In America, we're so focused on winning that sometimes coaches and parents can't gasp the fact that the kids just want to have fun.

For example: A team has a regular season record of 30 games played, 20 wins, 9 losses and 1 tie. In the kids' minds this was a great season. They won more than they lost, but more importantly to the kids they were able to spend countless hours on the ice with their friends playing the game they love. The players for the most part are also happy to temporarily remove themselves from reality and fantasize that they are the next Patrick Kane (or any other super star). It is good.

Sometimes the coaches and parents when faced with this feat of their players winning a State Championship don't seem to grasp that this accomplishment is good enough.


To them there is always another hill to climb, another mountain to conquer. Winning a State Championship only means one thing: The chance to go to Nationals and prove yet once again that their players' team is the best. Here lies the disconnect in thinking between the players' minds and their coach's / parent's.

In hockey we have mandatory zero tolerance education, we have mandatory checking instruction, and we have mandatory USA Hockey registration. Perhaps in order to help close the disconnect for the players, it is time to institute a mandatory 'fun' education program for the coaches and parents as it relates to what constitutes a successful season. With this education all invested parties involved (players, coaches, and parents) will be on the same page.  

Then everyone involved in winning a State Championship will understand it's still all about having fun.

Your thoughts?

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