After experiencing our second season in the Westfield J.R. Bombers with a 11 year player, I’m stunned at the Politics involved in this sport in regards to how the kids are place on the 3 levels of teams. It is appalling to pay out over a thousand dollars a season, and because a child’s parent is a coach or involved with the youth organization there kids get preferential treatment. Many kids have been wrongly and intentionally placed in a higher level team when it is obviously clear they have no business there. Meanwhile a child with talent who is excelling in the sport gets it stuck to him or her, and placed in lower level of play. When this issue was challenged with the league president it was said they were going to make changes. the only changes that need to be made is that outside people be used for evaluations in tryouts, and placement be done by the score cards BY OUTSIDE PEOPLE. To this day after asking to see the score cards they have not been made available. There are quiet a few very upset parents. Thus, creating a huge problem that has begun to undermine the integrity of this league and could get them in to legal trouble.
I find it hard to think a Child that scored 22 goals in one season and two hat tricks should be played down so a coaches kid can play up.
I know We will not return to this league along with other parents who have stated they are already looking else where to play, in fact we should be given our money back. The only thing this teaches our kids is your talent does not matter. Who you know does. I would strongly urge and encourage the parents who have a talented child to enter into the Simsbury CT League. I have looked into and have been told by a few Westfield Coaches who are just as frustrated, to look into Simsbury Ct youth hockey because it is a much better system, and they do not tolerate favoritism. kids are place by god given talent.
Sincerely
Frustrated parent.
