Hitting a wall

[jwr 0]

After 10 years of skating organized beer league hockey, pickup, and puckshoots I feel as if I am hitting a wall. I feel as if my skating, stickhandling, etc has kind of plateaued. Maybe its my age-I am 38 years old, I don't know. In other words I am not getting any better no matter what I do. I took some time off about year ago just to refocus, about 3 months. So I dont think its mental. It just seems like no matter how much I do; weights, nutrition, plyometrics, skating-that this is the best I am going to be. I would like to keep improving but I am not. Basically, I am the same I was a year ago I feel. I know after awhile improvements are small, but I feel very frustrated. I play 3-4 times a week. Is this something I have to deal with because I am getting older. Anybody else hit the wall? Help me get over the hump.Thanks.

[Oberon 0]

I think you need to step back and contemplate why you play the game. At age 38, you're obviously not going to develop into a professional hockey player. Are you having fun?

[jwr 0]

God you sound like my wife. :D Yeah I am having fun. Just want to keep improving. It doesnt help that I play with guys younger than me that have had formal training-travel,college,etc. One group I play with I play right wing. My center and left wing are 18 and 19-combined they are not even as old as me. Two kids and an old goat line. I was always told you get better by playing with people that are better than you though. Just frustrated, I guess. Just crying in my beer.

[Jim A 4]

I hear you, I've had some extended time off at times the past 2 years and have reached the mid-30's..and its all of a sudden things are failing....

for the first time in a long time, I'm working on my game, bought a stickhandling DVD (always been the weakest point) the other day, etc..

then again the biggest thing this year is that I'm up at 6/630 working all day, commuting 1hr each way in traffic..and then racing to the rink..which is new..normally when i'm home..i'm off...I make sure I get some naps in..20minute min..and its made a difference..

if not..guess I'll just have to go to hockey camp!! :D

[Fury of One 6]

I feel the same way. I'm 28 and it seems like I don't have it anymore. No matter what I do, it's like I can't put up points. I used to be able to skate past guys and deke the hell outta people, but now what used to be second nature, is like nonexistent. I still have fun when I play but maybe I'm sufferin' burnout.

[jwr 0]

Yeah I hear you. I am up 6:00am and have a 2hr commute each way, work a second job on the weekend, wife, kids, house... I have been playing alot in the am-on the ice at like 6am on the weekends or 11:00pm during the week. I try to get some workouts during the week and some plyometrics on the weekend as well.

I have been to a couple of adult hockey camps. I went to Can-Am camp in Lake Placid, NY for 3 years in a row. I highly recommend it. Good time, learned a lot, drank alot, and I met a lot of great people that I still keep in touch with. Its nice to know I am not the only one experiencing this.