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An
Overview of Adult No-check Hockey Getting Started Most new adult players have some previous skating or hockey experience. Some may not have skated on ice, but instead used in-line skates. The player who has no skating experience should read some of the books or watch some of the videotapes we have selected in our Bookstore. Hockey has evolved from a physical, checking game to
one of skating, passing, and shooting.
To play well in adult hockey, the individual player should focus on
four key areas:
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Beginners
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Players can continue to improve and have fun
over a lifetime by focusing on these important areas.
"I didn’t
play hockey in high school or college.
I was on the debate team.
My brother played in Wisconsin and I was always envious of the
opportunity to be part of the team.
I finally had the chance to join an adult beginner team and have been
playing for over twenty years."
- Mark
Fitness
Modern hockey is played by players outfitted with excellent equipment. The game presents a great opportunity for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Men and women, even into their eighties (there are likely older players), are playing in adult hockey leagues or playing pick-up. Hockey is easy on the joints (if you warm up correctly) and the risk of injury is slight with the right equipment.
The motivation to stay fit is difficult for most
adults. Only 15% of American adults
get frequent aerobic activity.
Hockey can provide a reason to get fit and to stay in shape. There is nothing like the third
period of a tight game to motivate a player to work harder at developing
physical fitness!
Chapter 2 provides a number of practical alternatives for the adult
player aiming to achieve and maintain physical fitness.
"Hockey provides a lot of incentive for me to maintain a reasonable level of exercise. I workout with weights, a stationary bike, treadmill and a rowing machine. I don’t care for exercising! I try to get in 3 to 4 one-hour workouts per week. Often I only achieve two or three 20-minute workouts per week. Whenever I am exercising, I am always thinking of how it will help me to be successful while playing against younger and better hockey players. I also know I have a lot more fun playing hockey when I am in good physical shape."- - Mark
Most adult hockey players only play once a week. With few intervening practices, it becomes an individual’s responsibility to work on their own skills. This narrative provides several approaches for the adult hockey player to improve their skills - and - on their own.
Skating is the most important skill to master (and it is never fully mastered). The ability to accelerate quickly, skate at high speed, stop, change direction, and skate backwards are all critical tools for the successful player. Chapter Five outlines keys to successful skating.
Passing and stick handling are important to
individual and team play. A
well-played hockey game moves quickly and a good team moves the puck rapidly
and accurately up the rink.
Although passing is best practiced as a team, it can be worked on
individually.
Stick handling is another skill that can advance the puck. The great stick handlers of the NHL are a treat to watch and they look as though they are born with the grace to dance their way past the opposing team. However, stick handling can be learned and a few simple moves can provide every player with the tools to move the puck up the rink to be in a position to score. Chapter Six provides methods to improve these skills.
One of the great joys of hockey is the well-executed
shot that scores a goal.
Shooting is fun to practice.
However, some of the more spectacular shots are not very effective in
scoring goals. Chapter Seven has
a complete review of all of the shots a player should master in order to have
a complete grasp of this aspect of the game. The high scorer on a team will have a mastery of all of
the shots and is able to execute them from many places on the rink.
Most hockey players tend to play one position
(center, wing, defense, or goalie.)
The skills that are needed in each of these positions are varied and
need to be constantly studied and improved. Chapters Eight, Nine and Ten outline these specific skills
and provide ideas about ways to improve those skills. The beginning player will be initially
overwhelmed. Too much to remember! The best way to improve is to
concentrate on one skill area in each game. The beginner can ask a friend on the team to watch them
and provide feedback. Here
is a list of game skills which can help the beginning adult hockey player
immediately:
Game 1 - Offensive positioning (am I in the right place to
score, or to pass, or to break-out?)
Game 2 - Defensive Position (am I in the right place to defend? who is my person? am I being a puck-watcher or a swivel head?)
Game 3 - Passing (Can I make my passes without an
interception? are they on the tape? are they quick?)
Game 4 - Skating (Can I make quick turns and speed changes to break free from opposing players?)
Game 5 - Skating (Can I skate backwards effectively to stay
with the other team’s attackers?)
Game 6 - Shooting (Are my shots low and to the corners of the net?)
Game 8 - Stick handling (Can I skate with my head up and pass to open teammates without watching the puck? can I move the puck without losing it?)
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Every player will be a member of a team that has a
bad year. By concentrating on an
individual skill every game, a player can improve and have fun even if their
team is losing.
"I
remember my first organized game as an adult. I played left wing and could not understand where to go on
a face-off. I did not realize
that those little crosshatch lines under the ice were where I was supposed to
stand. I remember a lot of
waving and shouting from my bench.”- -Mark
Team Strategy
The position of players can make or break a team’s effectiveness. How “high” the wings play in the defensive zone or the position of the center on offense are examples of positioning. Making sure a defensive player is in front of the net is important to a strong defense. Playing the offensive triangle will lead to more goals.
Another important element of a team’s strategy is how individual players are used and the line up of players. A team can be successful by making sure its stronger players are matched against the opposing teams weaker players. The balance of skill levels in each offensive line and defensive pair can be matched carefully to form a consistently effective team. Observing the opposing teams' tendencies and exploiting them is an effective strategy.
The ability to execute “plays” is the mark of a high performing team. Pre-designed and practiced plays are important to breaking the puck out of a team’s defensive zone and for offensive rushes. A quick shot from a teammate on a planned face-off can be a quick way to get a goal.
Most adult hockey teams do not have a coach. Good adult teams develop ways to analyze and implement strategy without an overseeing coach. The better adult teams use all of the team as the “coach.” When a player finishes skating their shift they can become an “assistant” coach and watch the game closely to see if the predetermined strategy is working. In addition, players on the bench can pick up the weaknesses and tendencies of their opponents and pass their observations on to their teammates during the game or between periods.
Most adult leagues do not permit checking. This affects the game
strategy significantly, particularly on defense. No checking does not mean “no contact” and the body
can be used effectively, particularly in front of the net. However, if you start checking or
aggressively using your body against an opposing player you may draw a
penalty, hurt yourself, or invite retaliation from an opponent. Team strategy emphasizing player
position and passing are important for successful no-check hockey. Team strategy is discussed in depth
in Chapter Eleven.
"I find
that when I am not in good shape or physically tired while playing against
better players I tend to become more physical. This takes away from doing the little things right and it
is not as much fun. Plus,
I have had players take an occasional swipe at me and that is not any fun at
all." - Mark
Team Organization
Hockey teams are usually organized like other adult
sports. Golf leagues, bowling
teams, and softball teams are all useful models. And like any organization, conflicts will
arise. The structure detailed
below can help to minimize conflict and increase all team members’ chances to
have fun. However, in any league each team needs to appoint or
elect a number of key positions:
captain, manager, and coach (if possible.)
Captain
Captains are usually the league’s contact person. The captain will decide what position each player will play. The captain needs to assure that everyone gets a fair amount of playing time. They also need to make sure enough players attend each game to have a relatively full team. If there is a dispute about a penalty called by the referee, it is the captain’s responsibility to discuss it with the official. And if the team needs a pep talk, that’s the captain’s job too!
Most teams also appoint one or two assistant captains who wear an ‘A’ on their jersey.
"I was the captain of my team one year. It was a lot of work especially outside the rink. The captain’s work begins in pre-season with player recruiting, captains’ meetings, pre-season practices and assuring that everyone has paid the league. You also need to practice keeping your cool. I remember several occasions where players on my team were angry at me because I would not go out on the ice in a game to give the officials a piece of their mind.” --Mark
Manager
The manager accounts for the team funds and team
equipment. It is important
that everyone pays his or her way because in ice hockey, rink time is
expensive and the manager needs to track this carefully. The manager also needs to stay
abreast of the availability of ice time at local rinks and book time for
practices. The manager may
also hire the referees if they are not part of the league’s operation.
A team’s equipment may be as simple as a bag of
pucks. However, some teams will
have water bottles, practice jerseys and other items that are useful to the
whole team. It is the manager’s
job to make sure this equipment is at all games and in good condition.
Coach
The coach’s job it to manage the flow of a game. Coaches will make shift changes and move players from one line to another. Coaches need to look carefully at a team’s performance during the game and change tactics as needed.
If a team has regular practices, it is the coach’s
job to plan and run the practice so that team works on needed skills. Be sure to check with your league regarding
coaching credentials. Some leagues require bench coaches to have a USA
coaching card.
Assuring a fun hockey experience
Some teams and players have an interest in the more
violent aspects of hockey.
Playing with these individuals is no fun and adult players can get
hurt. We strongly recommend
that adult players always play in games that are no checking and that this
rule is tightly enforced by referees.
A basic rule to remember is: “We all have to get up and go to work in
the morning.”
It is important to play on a team where your playing
level and that of your teammates is similar. If a player is significantly worse or better than their
teammates, they will feel out of place.
A balanced team can also be more effective than a team with a few
strong and a few weak players.
The personalities on a team can sometimes interfere
with team performance, just as in any normal work situation. It is always best to talk about
these issues off the ice and the team captain needs to provide leadership to
make sure everyone is feeling fairly treated and a part of the team.
By concentrating on the four key issues (fitness,
individual skills, team strategy and organization), hockey can be an
enjoyable, satisfying lifetime sport.
”Our first
year team had a 3-17 record. We
worked with a coach that year and practiced before the next season. We concentrated on basics like heads
up passing and back checking.
The next year we had most of the same players and ended the year with
a 16-4 record and second place in the league. It is amazing what a focus on
basics can do."
- Dan
Areas of Focus 1. Determine your own
fitness level and develop a program to improve it. 2. Work on individual skills
(e. g. shooting) at a different time than your team's games or practices. 3. Make sure you have a game
strategy for every game. 4. Pay as much attention to team
organization as playing. Even a
modestly successful team can have a lot of fun if it is well organized and
managed. 5. Be choosey in the types of players you select for your team; good person first, good player second; losing is no fun when your teammates are jerks.
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