Thanks for posting, Derek! Before spending money and making the wrong decisions about your child, ask some very important questions: 1. What does the child want? 2. How many activities are they involved in and how much is too much? 3. What’s the development path? 4. Will the emphasis be on fun and competition? 5. By participating, will my child learn life skills that will transcend athletics? 6. What is the coach’s reputation? Are they positive influencers on youth they are leading? 7. What is the realistic, objective assessment of my child’s abilities? 8. What is the cost v. the output? With these questions in mind, do not live vicariously through your child, it NEVER ends well. If a child wants to play any sport, it has to be their decision. When considering how serious of levels to play, you will never have an objective view of your child (no parent does, they are YOUR child). :) Allow the child’s abilities to showcase what they are capable of AND be happy and encouraging of that! Not every child will be the best nor the worst-but more than likely 98% of them will NEVER get to the pro level so stop acting like it! And lastly, what are some of the opportunity costs of your child’s involvement? Are you paying $10,000 a year on an elite team and that doesn’t include hotel and travel? What are you sacrificing with your other children (if have more than one), spouse, or other family members at this expense? Is that money best spent on athletics vs. saving for college? These are all individual family considerations to factor in sometimes when exploring time and investment into sports participation.

I can vouch for Puck Pro as well as a current scout and advisor! Though I haven’t had any of my own clients take advantage of the service, it is an invaluable tool indefinitely for players to utilize in showcasing themselves to teams and coaches at higher levels. The owner and operator of PP is an honest young man that is friendly, engaging, and honest. He truly cares about what he does and helping players. I’ve seen his work and sample offerings. I fully endorse their services.