First pickup game!

[Norm 0]

3 months and 2 days ago a very unstable 36 year old took his first "learn to skate" class at the local university. Today that same lump went to his first pick up game a guy he met at the rink runs from time to time. All I can is

WOW!!!

Everyone seemed to just know what to do, except me. One guy was really nice. He said "At first, just get in their way". At 6'2", 300 lbs that seemed to work. But soon I was moving around and even got the puck once in a awhile. I fell down alot, especially when the puck got near me. I'd see it and I was like "Whoa! look the puck!!" and then I would try to go for it and my feet would leave me. I think I was trying to run and that doesn't work very well on ice. But then other times I would find myself moving my feet to turn or face the play in ways that I had never done before. Not perfectly, but it seemed like a glimpse of something that with practice I could do.

Eventually, after an hour or so, my legs turned to pudding, but at least it was because I was, finally after so many years, doing something.

I can't say I'm hooked entirely, but I had a lot of fun, sweated buckets, and feel great for the first time in a long, long time.

Many thanks to everyone that was kind enough to answer my questions and especially those that asked the questions that I was too shy to ask.

'course now that I've gotten a taste you can expect many more inane questions from me as I move as up the learning curve. Better to ask you then make a fool of myself on the ice, right?

Anyways, many thanks for your help so far and in the future,

NORM

[Eazy_b97 1]

Congrats, like anything the more you practice, the better you become and the higher your chances of enjoying the game will become.

It seems like you have a great attitude and the general area around you seems to have a good idea of helping beginners. Don't feel shy to ask questions, Most of the members on the board are pretty good players, and exceptional people. They all know aspects of the game well, but understand not everyone will be at the same skill level in everything, so you won't get any bitterness to a question unless it could've been answered by a search or google. Ie. Does owning a synergy make me shoot like Sakic? or Where can I get some Bauer XXX skates? Stick to informative questions and use the functions offered resources around you and I'm sure you'll have great experiences with such a fun game.

[chippa13 1844]

Aside from asking questions at pick up, one of the best ways to learn is to watch. Pick someone who seems good and just watch what they do, not only with the puck, but without it, too.

Another thing that works for improvement is visualization. Imagine in your head doing certain things over and over and you'll be surprised at the results.

[jjtt99 0]

Stick with it man. I picked up ice hockey at 30 and I'm loving it. It's a real milestone when all of a sudden you realize you're no longer trying to play the game, but you actually are playing!

Also when you score that first goal it's really really cool. Just don't celebrate too much if that happens during your teams warm-up. :D

JJ

[DeI 18 0]

Way to go, Norm! Keep it up, as long as you keep tryin, you'll get better at it. The more you play, the better you get.

[Bruin88 0]

hey thats awesome ,i still remember my first real game(i was 5 though) and the fealings i got when i touched the puck for my first time or got my first breakaway and many others were great. keep it up it'll only get funner as you develop more skills.

[hockeydude_49 0]

Ya i still remember my first goal, lol, I think everyone remembers their first one. During the season i help coach my brothers mini mite team and its great to see how excited the little kids get when they score or do something right.

[Sniper15 0]

At 6'2", 300 lbs there ain't gonna be no one moving you out from the front of the net on the powerplay.

[Bruin88 0]

At 6'2", 300 lbs there ain't gonna be no one moving you out from the front of the net on the powerplay.

i dont think they can move him if its even strength either :lol:

300 posts!

[PJLime 0]

I had never skated before trying out roller hockey two years ago at the grand 'ole age of 29. Now I play every weekend and can't stop!

[RadioGaGa 162]

Keep it up, as long as you keep tryin, you'll get better at it. The more you play, the better you get.

...and playing with guys that are better than you only helps. There are very few guys on the ice below my level...and that really helps your development. You have to skate, you have to get to the right place, and you have to make a decent play when you get the puck.

I've made a few plays in the last year or so, that I wouldn't have made if everyone on the ice was my experience level or lower...

[Leb_CRX 0]

I'd see it and I was like "Whoa! look the puck!!"

haha thats hilarious cause I feel the same way

I just recently started playing again after a 7-8 year break...I dont remember being this bad, but it's coming back

just give it time, the better you get at it, the more fun you'll have! B)

[Reaper 0]

Norm, I was very much in the same boat as you are when I started playing hockey at the age of 30.

I'm 6'3" and 285lbs so I can relate to the difficulty of simply trying to maneuver around the ice, handling the puck and combining the two.

I've been playing organized hockey for less than a year and while I'm not very good I love it.

Playing is truly the highlight of my week (looks over shoulder to see if wife is around).

Now, it's Tuesday and I'm dying because I don't play until Thursday.

I can hardly wait.

BTW, go to the net and good things will happen. Either you'll get a rebound or you'll block the goalie's view and someone else will score. That's how I do it. :)

[CAINE 0]

As you improve you'll certainly be hooked. Once you "get" something, you'll be itching to add to your repitoire. A few weeks after my first pick-up game, I joined a roller league and played street hockey on Sunday mornings. I figured that the best way to learn was to get whipped until I got it. Just six months after learning to skate, I played pick-up (ice) twice a week, roller twice a week and, street hockey.

Of course 5-6 days of hockey a week was reasonable before the wife and two kids came along.

Oh yeah, I still remember my first goal and the first time I WASN'T picked last!

[EndBoards 0]

Congrats Norm.. Being born & raised in Texas, I didn't start playing till relatively late in life (25). I started out by buying rollerblades and goofing around in my backyard. Eventually I got on the ice and was completely hooked.

When I started out, I couldn't even skate backwards. In 2003, I started playing in the local league which is entirely mixed skill - meaning there are about 10 guys out there that are former college or pro players.

In my first year I got 1 empty net goal and 1 assist in about 40 games. This past year, I got 10 goals and 15 assists in another 40 games.

Take some clinics, videotape yourself, work hard, and get into good shape. Playing is fun, but seeing yourself improve and learn something new really takes the cake..

[zingbergeur 0]

As a big guy myself, I would highly recommend getting yourself to the front of the net and keeping your stick on the ice! Thats how I scored my 1st goal...and continue to score! If you get the chance to practice with another guy, you could work on deflections. Good luck, and most importantly, have fun!

[Hooah4 12]

The only suggestion I have is keep playing! You can only get better. I'm on my third season and still going.

[sonsplayhockey 0]

Good deal!

I'm glad I'm not alone in this starting late in life trend.

I'm 39 and 170 lbs. Just started playing Ice hockey in March with Clinics. Keep with the practice and not just the games. With your size, you might wanna camp in front of the goal. Seems to work for a newbie skater on our team. He's got 2 goals already just camping. I'd say practice your forward stride technique so at least you can get into the play. Nice thing about being new is that you will get better fast and that should be noticable. Don't forget to go to public sessions to practice your skating and work on your puck handling in warm up and in your clinics.

[EndBoards 0]

The other way that new players can really help their team is by taking on and working hard at a simple defensive assignment.

Assuming you're playing wing, make it your #1 priority to shut down your D-man when their team has posession in your zone. Lots of times, a team puts its best players at D (in my league they do anyway). If you can take away the offensive contribution of one of them, you've really helped your team..

He's probably not going to stray away from the point too far, so that negates any skating advantage he has over you. Put yourself in between him and the puck and stick to him like glue. If you're in that spot, his teammates won't pass it to him. Whatever offensive skill he has is just sitting back there doing nothing.

There's one D-man in our league that is one of the best players I've ever been on the ice with. When we play his team, I take it upon myself to play wing on his side. My goal for that game is to prevent him from getting any shots on goal. Sure, I probably won't score any goals in that game but look at it this way - I account for 5% of my team's offense and he accounts for 20% of his team's offense. If both of us are scoreless, that's a huge gain for my team.

Your #2 priority will be camping in front of the net like everyone else is saying. If you concentrate on those two assignments, the game just got VERY simple for you, your teammates will recognize your effort, and you'll be a valuable player for them.

[Norm 0]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm definately gonna keep at it. The group that I skated with is getting a summer "C" team together for one of the local leagues and there's a "Adult Learn to Play Hockey" class I'm taking at the end of July. Should be lots of fun.

The only thing is that just when I'll be getting the hang of it, turns out I might be moving.

Do they play hockey in Minnesota?

[sherwood21 0]

Minny is probably the biggest hotbed for hockey in all of the States. I don't know anything about adult leagues there, but as far as HS/College/Pro goes, it doesn't get better than Minnesota.