Can you shift people to think of it as a "loss leader"? It's a feeder system into the broader program where you will make your money, it's just a longer payback. Of course not everyone will continue on but if you lower the prices and take a bigger hit in Year 1more people you get in the front door, the more that will likely join mites, the more that will stay with it to squirts, etc.
Completely agree, and we think of it as a necessity, and a feeder system. IF we don't do it, we'll lose them to neighboring towns for years, maybe their whole time in youth hockey.
Yes, we have a few LTS sessions that our run by our figure skating branch. But they do feed them in to our LTP program. If a kid is close, or showing interest in hockey, we move them to LTP soon and we'll have a small group in LTP that is still sort of learning to skate a bit.
It's a great program for sure. I asked to get on the list this year so we could participate and they said they would reach out in the spring. When I didn't hear back I followed up and it was too late and they had already locked in the programs participating. So we're on the list for next year. I agree, it's essentially a free program that we can feed kids right into our system from. "Hey, you liked those 4 weeks? Use that gear and keep going in our program!"
I have a hard time cost isn't a factor and wonder if that's some people's personal experience / biases clouding their judgment. The rebate thing is a great idea to get lock-in.
We played against this friend today in a Peewee game! Great game, tied 3-3. We were down 3-1 going into the 3rd but fought back for the tie. Got two texts from parents about 40 minutes before the game, whose kids who played earlier and were wiped out/sick. Only had players ten players for the game to begin with, eight wasn't going to cut it. With no time to call up squirts my 2014 suited up and another sibling (2014) of a kid on the team played too. They were both going to be there watching, so why not play with their brothers? They're at the top of the 2014 group and the peewee team is playing a low AA schedule. They hung in and my little guy even went end to end before missing the net. It was so fun seeing them out there together though.
Tough shift for that kid. Got cross checked and then tripped. I was thinking penalty shot for sure though.
We just had this situation over the weekend for the team I coach-2012 EHF elite. Faceoff was outside the attack zone for the team going on the power play. We had two experienced refs and they seemed pretty certain of the call despite protests from the other bench.
Agreed! Had a coach arguing against that last weekend, saying it should go all the way down...
I haven't, but I have a rink contract I'd like looked at if you're interested
You're not wrong. Every time we play at one of the BlackBear rinks, I'm thankful that our home rink (ISCC) wasn't gobbled up by them when it was sold a couple years ago.
I'm honestly shocked the South Windsor rink wasnt bought by them. I'm happy it wasnt, but amazed that even the guy who recently bought it has continued to hold out.
This is true, and it's why black bear and other similar companies target rinks with for profit youth hockey clubs attached. That's where they make their money. It's kinda gross.
