Is minor hockey getting in the way of women's recreational leagues?
London, Ont., adult player Katie Harding should have been so bold as to make that argument in her Vox Pop column published and posted by The London Free Press.
Her argument is the standard one heard in many communities. Prime ice time in public arenas is grandfathered to traditional renters such as minor hockey, figure skating clubs and long-established men's leagues. New users wishing to use taxpayer-funded public arenas are left with the crumbs or forced to turn to more expensive, and sometimes ramshackle, private venues.
Some might say women's hockey could rent late-night hours, but seriously how safe is it for women, even athletic ones walking in groups, to be leaving arenas in dubious neighbourhoods at 1 a.m.?
The solution, at least in London, Ont., is to look at minor hockey hours.
How can it be that youth registration is declining, with entire organizations being forced to fold in recent years, yet there is still a crunch in finding hours for new users? Could it be that overly enthusiastic, pie in the sky coaches are renting too much practice time? Could it be that well-meaning league officials are creating schedules that are too long?
Is it possible that marrying minor hockey organizations catering to girls and boys would result in better allocation of precious ice time?
Food for thought.
London, Ont., adult player Katie Harding should have been so bold as to make that argument in her Vox Pop column published and posted by The London Free Press.
Her argument is the standard one heard in many communities. Prime ice time in public arenas is grandfathered to traditional renters such as minor hockey, figure skating clubs and long-established men's leagues. New users wishing to use taxpayer-funded public arenas are left with the crumbs or forced to turn to more expensive, and sometimes ramshackle, private venues.
Some might say women's hockey could rent late-night hours, but seriously how safe is it for women, even athletic ones walking in groups, to be leaving arenas in dubious neighbourhoods at 1 a.m.?
The solution, at least in London, Ont., is to look at minor hockey hours.
How can it be that youth registration is declining, with entire organizations being forced to fold in recent years, yet there is still a crunch in finding hours for new users? Could it be that overly enthusiastic, pie in the sky coaches are renting too much practice time? Could it be that well-meaning league officials are creating schedules that are too long?
Is it possible that marrying minor hockey organizations catering to girls and boys would result in better allocation of precious ice time?
Food for thought.
