Who runs the league?!?!?
Kids should be in the correct tier, teams should be even, lines even should be managed for in-house. My son plays in the most organized in-house program I have ever seen.
1- There are two main people in charge, great hockey background, great with kids, super organized practices
2- The kids are put in the appropriate tier, teams are balanced with 15 kids, 3 "lines" which indicate their skill, kids practice with kids of similar skill, not their team
3- Line 1 goes against Line 1 of the other team
4- If you are missing kids subs are assigned by the people in charge, not the coaches
5- If you are still short kids for the game, you can have any player double shift up (Line 3 player can play on Line 2), players can double shift down but sometimes you are told only certain ones from Line 1 can sub for Line 2 and when subbing down they are supposed to play D and get the puck to the "native" line members, you can never sub a Line 1 on LIne 3
6- Shifts are a minute, change on the horn
EVERYTHING should be about maximizing EVERY kids' development and enjoyment of the sport, period.