[trader220]

I used to coach at the college level and I enjoyed that a whole lot. About 5 years ago a guy who I played one summer with on an over 40 team walked down to say hello between periods at a Flyers game. We started talking and he asked if I would be interested in helping him coach a 10 year old team for the National AAA summer tournament. I hemmed and hawed because I didn’t want to coach kids and deal with parents. My father who was with me at the Flyers game suggested I give it a shot since it was a 12 week schedule of practice and games leading up to the tournament. Turns out agreeing to help coach that team was one of the best decisions I ever made. I get a great deal of satisfaction out of working with the kids and teaching them the game that did so much for me throughout my life. Naturally I have been the assistant with my friend’s team since signing on for that 12 week gig 5 years ago. How many Jewish kids from South Jersey got to travel the country and Canada and play with some really great teams, then go away to prep school to play 27 to 30 years ago? Yea there is a % of parents who are a PITA but for the most part they’re pretty nice people and they have to be devoted to the team since hockey is an 11 month sport. Playing for the team where I am the assistant is huge expense in time, money and travel so the parents are dedicated. Coaching and working with the top level kids has been a fantastic experience.

I hate losing and we’re a “middle aged team” in the over 40 league its getting tougher and tougher to win vs the “we’re only just turning 40” teams