The author and some of the commenters assume that a "hockey mom" is the northern equivalent of a "soccer mom." Colloquially within USA Hockey, this is not the case. The phrase is a perjorative. When I was a child the "hockey moms" were the over-involved parents who spent the entire game berating their children at the top of their lungs from the bleachers. By the time I became a coach -- I coached youth hockey for nine years -- the "hockey moms" had become mothers who screamed obscenities at the other team for an hour and a half straight without losing their voices. I have never heard the sobriquet "hockey mom" used in a positive manner by anyone actively involved in youth hockey.

Palin's remark that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is the lipstick indicates that she knows exactly what "hockey mom" means. And that she is proud of being one of the people who is essentially destroying youth sports says a lot to me. More importantly, do I want an obscenity-screaming hockey mom representing my country in the international arena? Even only at funerals? No way!

Hate to burst your bubble, Fieldmouse, but Soccer Mom is also a pejorative in many parts of the country, meaning essentially the same thing as "Hockey Mom"--except Soccer Mom cuts across demographics. We used it to mean the same thing--overinvolved parents overscheduling their kids, vacariously living through their kids, and excoriating referees when things did not go their way.

So, remember your "world view" is not the same as everyone. You know what you do when you "assume" it is. By the way--I was a Soccer Dad until I saw the error of my ways. Then I became a Soccer Ref, and got cursed at by people like you.

I'm sorry to hear that about soccer. Indeed, I have never been all that involved in soccer, and do hear the term "soccer mom" used to describe a more general demographic.

Happily, you do not get cursed at by people "like me." I took my responsibilities as a role model and disciplinarian seriously. Not all mothers of hockey-playing children are "hockey moms," and not all coaches are jerks.

And thank you for volunteering your time to referee youth sports. It's a valuable contribution, and it's a tough job.

I dissagree with you -- at one time I would say that the parents were over exerberant -- now the schools here anyway make the parents and players sign an agreement to 'behave' and if they don't -- the player is expelled from the ice along with the parents from the stands -- my grandson's 4 years of highschool hockey have been very pleasant:-)

Are you people for real? Have you forgottin this women is from Alaska? 1st of all USA Hockey started their "relax: It's just a Game" after the Boston murder between 2 FATHERS. 2nd of all if most "hockey Mom's" household income is $99,000 how is it possible that most youth players live in Michigan? They have one of the wrost economys in the country. In my family we have to use a revolving line of credit in order to pay for our son's hockey. You may not agree with that but it's the only thing we don't pay cash for. Most hockey players only play hockey, instead of 2 or 3 activities during the school years. Not only that if your son aspires to go to an Ivy League school, a football scholorship is not the answer. I'm only using a sports scholorship as an example because educational scholorships don't give as much. Let's not forgett there's no such thing as a "middle class white boy scholorship." So some of us have to look at other options. Have any of you actually been to a high school football game? How about one in Texas? Hockey is known for being a tough sport. Unlike baseball and football NHL players actually play with sprained fingers or toes. Soccor has ALWAYS been know in the US as a "sissy" sport that only little kids play. The soccor players in high school were always unfairly labled as "Preps" or "Soccor fags." Sara Palin was clearly trying to show that she's tough, and can handle being a woman in polatics. God forbid we have another one of those strong indepentdant intellagent women running around. What a threat. If the only thing you can ridacule her for is a hockey mom statement than she's not doin to bad. I was more interested in her polatics than how she raises her children. Oh and before the attack train starts...I'm a Dem. This was just a very biased media report, AGAIN.

I grew up in Odessa, Texas (you all remember Friday Night Lights) and I can tell you, it doesn't matter what the sport, over-involved parents are over-involved parents. I currently have a 5 year-old in hockey in Odessa. All of the parents are very friendly and the games have been pleasant. Here I am labeled a "hockey mom" because my son plays hockey. There is nothing more read into it. I think it depends on your geographic location as to how you regarded her comment.

As for how she raises her family...don't get on a "family values" ticket if you don't want inquiries made into your own family values. Don't expect people to respect your right to choose if you want to be able to tell them they cannot.

I agree for the most part, but would add that there are thousands of parents who are not as you describe that are part of one of the finest sports in the world---if they'd only wash their gear.

The hockey mom I'm thinking of has more road time than most traveling salesmen, has usually done without something they really wanted, worries about injuries to the body and mind.

But yes, the others do exist and I wish there were a special pit to put them in, along with Palin.

Thanks for coaching.

MU1:

2nd of all if most "hockey Mom's" household income is $99,000 how is it possible that most youth players live in Michigan? They have one of the wrost economys in the country.

Even though the economy here is horrible, that doesn't mean that there aren household incomes of over $100K, I would venture to guess that over 80% of the players on the team that I play on fall into that category. Most of the adults that I play with tend to be professionals as opposed to the type of people that require someone else to make their decisions for the (i.e. Unions)

As for the term "Soccer Mom" , personally I view it as the typical middle class mom sheeple. Those who just follow the actiivities that all of the other parents kids do and don't want to be "left out". Would never be considered an idependent thinker by any means.

I had to quit playing hockey at 14 due to the cost. (I was a goalie, so it was even more expensive than for normal players).

From 1975 to 1984, my parents probably paid around $15,000 for me to play hockey, about double the cost of my first degree eight years later. However, by teen years equipment gets much more expensive & ice time isn't subsidized by adult team fees, so I had to decide if I wanted to keep sucking away at my family's finances.

Using hockey as a means to a sports scholarship doesn't make a lot of sense to me. By all means, play hockey if you love the sport (Go Habs!!), but you could probably afford Ivy League tuition with the cost of hockey.

Hockey can be pretty much a whole-family activity. When I played soccer, I could bike to practice & games, but hockey needed big-time support from at least one parent. It's usually the father (not many single-parent families can afford the game) because women aren't allowed in the dressing, and kids need adult help getting equipment on & skates laced up. Hockey skates need near-adult strength to lace properly.

Women's hockey is starting to come into its own (I actually prefer to watch women's professional hockey, since the players play for the love of the game & not for money.) However, I still tend to associate hockey with sexism & chauvanism. There is a tendency for hockey families to dote on sons and ignore daughters. I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown of time & money Ms. Palin spent on her son's hockey versus her daughter's activities. That would tell me a lot about her character.

I'd like to be considered an exception to that perception of yours Mrt. Then again, I did liken to sheep the poeple she was trying to reach with her "aw shucks, I'm just one of you" routine.

truettanderin:

I did liken to sheep the poeple she was trying to reach with her "aw shucks, I'm just one of you" routine.

Both parties have their share of sheep that they try to reach. I dislike that on both sides. I know poeple who only vote one way because of their religious beliefs and others who vote the other way because of their race. Both are equally wrong and ignorant IMO.

It's worse when around here people of a certain type of voting block who consistenly vote for one party actually get the day off paid on election day while those who are more likely do vote for the other side don't get the same benefit.

Paid day off for voting - crap -- I want that -- I only get paid time off to go to a hockey game:-)

Paid day off to vote!? Now I need to move where you are. In west Texas we are lucky if the bosses even know it's voting day!

"I had to quit playing hockey at 14 due to the cost. (I was a goalie, so it was even more expensive than for normal players)."

I had to quit playing hockey because I ran out of teeth.lol

I'm 69 and, if I could lace 'em uo & do it all over again, I WOULD RIGHT NOW!!

truettanderin:

Paid day off to vote!? Now I need to move where you are. In west Texas we are lucky if the bosses even know it's voting day!

I'll be at work as well on election day, but here the union stranglehold pretty much gets most auto-related and teaching union jobs off that day. Our school district is even closed that day.