[Newsbot]

Title: Hockey losing its grip among Canadian teens
Category: Sports
Posted By: gigs
Date: 2009-08-07 06:24:23
Canadian

[QBC]

Sports in general have taken a hit due to the rise of the computer age....it's much easier to play Madden football on your xbox then it is to suit up and take a few hits. There is also a sharp decline in the outdoor sports too. Fishing and hunting are not bringing in new young people to their pass times either. They would rather sit about and text the heck out of one another then go out fishing. Hockey has taken a bit of a hit in Canada due to the lack of a Stanley Cup win by a Canadian team since the Habs did it last. That has a bearing on young peoples interest too. I still blame the "computer age" for the young people not getting involve in sports like they did in past years. Sports were our entertainment more so then now. Guitar hero is considered entertainment to today's youth.

[Regina]

I think the "monitor" entertainment is a big reason as well. Also I think some parents aren't really motivated to get their kids out of the house and do something. Maybe it's a bit of laziness on their part because they would then have to participate when they themselves would prefer to sit on the couch and watch TV. I have a few friends that I've heard say: "Thank god my kids didn't play hockey. I'd be driving them to the rink at 7am and buying them $200 hockey sticks every couple of weeks." The affordability issue I can understand but the investment in time issue is inexcusable.

[Choban]

I agree with both of you, but should add that the onus is on parents to a)ensure their kids are physically active, and b) limit kids time spent on video games and computers.
You have to start them young, If a child developes a pattern or habit of playing sports at a young age it's easier than if you start them when they are older. Habits are learned in this respect as well and more parents need to lead by example themselves.
I'm just as guilty of playing vids as anyone else, put I also play hockey (ball and ice), rollerblade, play soccer and am physically active, my kid knows and sees this, he's on the rink with me when I'm skating, I take him sledding and if nothing else is going on we will just take the dogs down to fish creek and walk them.

I read another article that stated interest in the NHL is down amongst Canadians, particularily kids. Mine is always welcome to watch the game with me and he enjoys it. We go whenever we can afford to and we watch as many as we can as the season goes on. He loves it.

[Bacardi4206]

It's because gaming brings a more variety of entertainment. Gaming is the ultimate entertainment system. Far more entertaining than sports will ever be, although I still like sports. The only downsize is the lack of physical activity.

I have not seen a problem however with kids balancing the two. When I was at grade 7-8. Almost everybody has a Playstation or Xbox. However majority of there time was spent outside playing basketball, hockey, skateboarding, biking (doing bike tricks) or just some stupid shit.

I have never seen a kid who hasn't balanced the two out. So games IMO aren't the reason why sports is lacking when kids are always outside doing some sort of physical activity. Even if it doesn't involve sports.

[Regina]

I don't think "gaming" comes close to being as entertaining as sports. I game lots but it's at night and not at a time when I could/should be socializing with family or friends. I also play hockey 3 times a week in the summer and golf every second day. In the winter I skate up to 7 times a week.........and I'm not a kid. I do it for exercise and for the social aspect. Chirping in a dressing room is half the fun. In my day there was no "gaming" there was only the TV. It was the "thing" that was blamed for making kids fat which was true for the parents who let the TV baby sit and educate their children. In my house the TV was only available to us when it was raining or at a time when we shouldn't have been roaming the streets. Needless to say there was no TV in the bedrooms so you spent time with your parents watching it.

[gigs]

Its obvious the caliber of players has dropped significantly since the early nineties, Canadians aren't stupid they know crap on the ice when they see it. The fact that a sub par player like Iginla is considered a superstar is proof . If Iginla played for the Flames in the 80's he would have been on the second or third line.

[Choban]

gigs gigs:

Its obvious the caliber of players has dropped significantly since the early nineties, Canadians aren't stupid they know crap on the ice when they see it. The fact that a sub par player like Iginla is considered a superstar is proof . If Iginla played for the Flames in the 80's he would have been on the second or third line.

are you kidding me (I'm not nessesarily aguing against Iggy but). Conditioning is huge these days, half if not more of the old pros from the 60's 70's and 80's would die playing with some of the worst in the game today. Back then stars wold smoke in the locker rooms, party all night and then play a game the next day. If Iginla played on the cup winiing team with Fleury he'd have been MVP solely because of his conditioning, they didn't train 1/2 as hard or with 1/2 the science they do now.

[Regina]

gigs gigs:

Its obvious the caliber of players has dropped significantly since the early nineties, Canadians aren't stupid they know crap on the ice when they see it. The fact that a sub par player like Iginla is considered a superstar is proof . If Iginla played for the Flames in the 80's he would have been on the second or third line.

What planet are you from and have you ever seen a game?

[TattoodGirl]

Quite frankly I have found that, in general, society as a whole in inactive. The common theme is, not enough time, I call bullshit on that. If people took stock of how much time they sit in front of a TV or monitor they would see there is plenty of time to be active with their kids. Being at a rink or field at 6am pays off...the child might not make big league but they will be closer to family, too friends and have a sense of community that is lacking in this society. Parents who say there isnt enough time...are just lazy and selfish. The cost factor does come into play, but there are creative ways of knocking that down. Being a single parent for a very long time, I have found ways, budgeted, and carpooled...it can be done.

[Choban]

TattoodGirl TattoodGirl:

Quite frankly I have found that, in general, society as a whole in inactive. The common theme is, not enough time, I call bullshit on that. If people took stock of how much time they sit in front of a TV or monitor they would see there is plenty of time to be active with their kids. Being at a rink or field at 6am pays off...the child might not make big league but they will be closer to family, too friends and have a sense of community that is lacking in this society. Parents who say there isnt enough time...are just lazy and selfish. The cost factor does come into play, but there are creative ways of knocking that down. Being a single parent for a very long time, I have found ways, budgeted, and carpooled...it can be done.

Not to mention the proven link that kids in sports and other activities are less likely to be the ones on the streets raising hell, joining gangs or doing drugs.

[Choban]

WDHIII WDHIII:

Gotta agree that the biggest reason has to be the advance of gaming over the years. Its already taken the blame (and rightly so I think) for childhood obesity so it stands to reason that organized sports is taking a hit too.

Then again it CAN be helpful in some cases - my newphews are AVID downhill bikers and will often use one of their games (not sure which one) to try out new stunts and to see EXACTLY how to do the old standards, stopping the game and circling the "rider" to see what should be where and at what time

But this is usually done at night after the hill has closed or on rainy days (like the PAST FREAKIN WEEK )

I don't know, like I said, the responsability lies with parents to ensure their kids don't become so absorbed in these games that they lose sight of everthing else.
I myself am an avid gamer, I love my xbox and doing things in games that I can't even fathom doing in RL, but theres a line and I don't cross it.
Media unfortunatly is just the scapegoat.

[Alta_redneck]

Regina Regina:

gigs gigs:

Its obvious the caliber of players has dropped significantly since the early nineties, Canadians aren't stupid they know crap on the ice when they see it. The fact that a sub par player like Iginla is considered a superstar is proof . If Iginla played for the Flames in the 80's he would have been on the second or third line.

What planet are you from and have you ever seen a game?

Your not watching the Flames, night in and night out, R. A familiar question the last couple years has been, " whats wrong with Iggy."

I think thats a fair statement Gigs, considering the way he's played the last few years. I think it has more to do with landing the big money contract tho.

But who am I, other than an Oiler fan.