Youth coaches say that fewer children are playing ice hockey in Finland. Mika Saarinen, a board member at Lahti club Lahden Kiekkoreipas, suspects that high costs, smaller age cohorts and ever-earlier moves to a serious, competitive, elite training schedule are combining to push kids away from the sport.
The Ice Hockey Federation has also observed a move away from “hobby hockey” aimed at less-serious players. Turkka Tervomaa, the head of youth development at the federation, says that children still start playing, but at around the age of 12 many of the drop out.
Tervomaa says the threshold for switching hobbies is now very low.
"Maybe young people don’t want to commit seriously to one hobby," says Tervomaa.
A survey for the federation found that just a quarter of clubs offer young people the chance to play hobby hockey. The main reasons given by clubs were a lack of ice time and coaches.
Cost control 'biggest concern'
Last year 13-year-olds at Lahden Kiekkoreipas paid 2,175 euros for the season. That includes training, transport costs, referee fees and coaching. Parents’ travel costs, equipment and any other expenses around away games come out of the family budget.
"It depends on the family, how many sticks they buy per year," says Saarinen. "The total can easily rise above 3,000 euros."
The Federation has sought ways to bring down the cost, for instance by providing cheaper equipment. However the bulk of costs come from everyday expenses, such as rink rental.
"The biggest concern is keeping costs under control," says Tervomaa. "The issue of whether hockey is an expensive sport is relative."
"Costs depend on the location," notes Saarinen. "For example in the capital city region hockey is more expensive. Generally hockey is expensive."
Family finances should not be a barrier to starting to play hockey, according to Saarinen. His club offers recreational hobby hockey sessions for youngsters.
"There are cases where the child is gifted and enthusiastic, but the parents’ can’t afford to pay," says Saarinen. "There is a foundation for cases like this, so that everyone can practice their hobby."