New management = changes. We covered that, right?
Not everyone got the message. Here's the response from one of the team captains out there in space when faced with the daunting task of providing the scorekeeper a player sign-in sheet prior to each game:
With all due respect I do wonder for what reason and how logistically it will be possible to have a captain provide a roster for each game that will require every player to sign in.
Why can't you make twenty copies (a season's worth) of each team roster and have them at the rink for your referees to demand signatures prior to each game. It seems like what you propose is a very large amount of red tape to go through but I guess it all comes down to trying your best to streamline the process of making sure that all players on the ice are usa hockey registered. I bet you wish that you did not have to adhere to that pain in the ass requirement, seems like it is hardly worth the 35 bucks everyone has to pay if it creates all of these hassles for you. (Bet he will think it's worth it after he takes a puck in the eye.) There must be some big payoff for you guys related to having us all signed up for the usa hockey program. Is it insurance or something more? (You know, because insurance isn't that big a deal, right?)
We all like the location plus the guys who play in our forty and over league are all great sports and fun to compete with so because of this we will be willing to put up with a few additional inconveniences but I do want to point out that placing a high priority on shoulder pads while allowing helmet restrictions to be optional does not make any sense to me. I have a player who wears a certified helmet and cage but who has such big shoulders that he refuses to wear the shoulder pads and I don't blame him. Do I have to tell him that after seven years he has to sit out of this league because of your equipment requirements? He just happens to be one of the best players in the league. (Well, if he's good, that means he can't get hurt, right? The rules forcing shoulder pads but not face masks are a little arbitrary, but, hey, that's what the insurance requires.) If you can't bend then we may have to back out.
Let's talk soon to see what wiggle room you really have on these issues. You can reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
I have been holding off on turning in our team fee of which I have the full amount until we were certain that this new management is going to work with us. ("We're special. Besides, one of our guys is one of the best players in the league.") Please let me know just how cumbersome the new rules will become and what if any new restrictions are going to be imposed in the future. (Something tells me the new management won't shed any tears if this guy decides to opt out. "Cuz, you know, it's not really hockey if you have to wear shoulder pads.")
My favorite response, from another captain:
I have no problem with the small amount of paperwork before each game. I think that just comes with being a captain on a team. Shoulder pads don't seem to be an issue either. I've noticed since the captains meeting that the over 40 boys seem to be fighting every change that comes along.
Gonna make a lot of friends with that one. Good thing he's in a different division. But he's right. The whining is stupid, the rules aren't that difficult to comply with (and are an attempt to ensure that each team is actually playing its players), and insurance is no small thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment