Dan Replies:
Dear Mom: Coincidentally, our forthcoming book for kids has a chapter entitled "What if my parents and coach thinks you guys are full of bunk?" We are aware that many youth hockey coaches and parents do not share our philosophy.
As to your son's coach, his record of successes in building character, producing college and NHL players, and receiving offers to coach at higher levels speaks for itself. For your son's sake, we hope his record is stellar.
As for you, you may find comfort in a web site that was recently called to our attention by Steve Pesner, a youth hockey parent in the Toronto area who we consider a fellow traveler and who provided some great insights for the new kid's book. The site is http://www.masshockey.com/Article/index.html.
This site features an article a month. In these articles, you will find quotes by Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Mike Bossy, Ken Dryden, John Cunniff, Murray Costello, William Houston, Dave Branch, Don Cherry, Tom Renney, Bob Richardson, and others who are saying the same things we've been saying only with mouths that might be more recognizable to your son's coach and your fellow parents than ours. They are saying, "kids shouldn't play so many games", "don't skate in the summer", "play other sports", "teach skills, not systems", "kids should play more on ponds and less organized games", "it's about development, not winning", etc., etc. These articles will bring you some solace. Promise.
As to any continuing efforts to win converts, my father has a saying that may be appropriate to your situation. He says, "I never argue with people who are uninformed or close-minded. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
