How much hockey is enough?

[SharpShooter 0]

This is for travel hockey players and coaches. Have you ever just had enough and considered quiting travel hockey? What amount of hockey brought this on, or was it pressure from parents to play? Do you find the excitement not in the game anymore? Do you know some players that quit and what age did they quit? All answers are appreciated and any opinions are welcome as well. What are some of the warning signs that you need a break? Does taking a break let you come back excited for the game again? No names but put your age and if you are a player or coach please.

[kovalchuk71 212]

it has for me. i would get kinda tired of it and then after a little bit, I get to antsy and miss it too much. that dosent happen that much if almost any :)

[Eazy_b97 1]

Just recently this has been happening, it was mostly in summers when I was around 17 and 18. I had roller tourneys every weekend and 2 houseleague games during the week while working 5 days. I just kind've burned myself out, especially considering how roller doesn't end until maybe a week after school. I turned down some offers to play competitive hockey (between 5 and 7 days a week) this year and opted to just fool around with my buddies once a week, sometimes twice. I found myself looking forward to every game and cannot wait to play more games this summer and hopefully next year if I can find the time with schooling and work. I could never just stop hockey all together, but I've found lightening my load has left me wanting to always play and looking forward to everygame. I started coaching with my dad this year. It's good for the team because I am closer in age to the players and good for me because it keeps me in the game and helps me breakdown systems and such. I've assisted before, but this year I was at every practice and game rather than just occasionally. If your feeling burned out, I'd find a good mix where you can play with players around your calibre (a mistake I made this year) that is a very light load. If you find you want more you can always up your intake with pick-up leagues, if you don't want to go, it's not a competetive level so your not obligated to the extent you were.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

My dad has always stressed vairity in my life. He won't allow me to play summer ice or roller hockey. I play ball hockey one a week besides provincals, and I also sail and play some ball. I like recreational activities in the summer rather then competitive ones.

[tyler33 0]

I play a lot. Right now this is especially crazy, I am playing for 2 different teams, and sometimes for a different one. The closest one is a 2 hour drive one way. THe farthest is a little of a 3 hour a drive one way. But I guess its my choice, my parents have kinda always pushed me, but I could never give up, I love hockey. I have never thought of quiting no matter what.

[kosydar 0]

I really can't fathom playing too much hockey, but I can definitely see driving 3 hours to and from practices as getting real old real fast.

[SharpShooter 0]

Yall put your ages as I am trying to figure how to help the sport retain players, this info will be shared with coaches . 14 and 15 seems to be the age so far were we lose players to this or girls. LOL

[Eman24dx 0]

Ive had times mostly late in the season where I seem to get burnt out. It must be the combo of school, work, women, and hockey. So every year after hockey season I don't play at all for about 2-3 weeks and then I play 2-4 times a week all summer. I find the break to be very helpfull. When I comeback Im fresher and play much better, but theres no way I could quit all together.

Edit: Im 20 and 3/4 :D

[ChiefsHockey 0]

Simple. "Hockey iS LiFe"

[Shorthanded67 0]

I'm currently 26 and I've been playing competitive hockey for 10 years. For about the last 8 years, I've played in local leagues 5-7 nights a week. I also used to do tourneys every weekend until a few years ago too. That stopped because after I moved out of the parents house, I needed to work on weekends. I never get sick of playing although sometimes it's hard to bring your "A" game every night. If I only played 2 times a week, I'd be more pumped up to play but it wouldn't be worth the other nights sitting and actually wanting to play. I do feel burnout occasionally though and it shows in my game performance.

I'm still playing 7 leagues on 5 nights and maybe one tournament every 2 months. But the older you, get the harder it is to recover from playing. Your body just hurts a little bit more the next morning.

Luckily I never have to drive more than 40 minutes each way to play. I just couldn't take a 3 hour drive on a regular basis. But the way gas is over $2.00 a gallon, a 30 mile drive each way 5 nights a week starts to get old as well.

EDIT: Yeah I'm single if that's not too obvious.

[Icedog03 0]

At one point this year I was playin High school roller, ice and travel ice. I never had any free time and when I did my friends would bug me to play pick up or stick n shoot and it was just too much I got sick of it.

[Guest Datsyuk*13]

Simple. "Hockey iS LiFe"

K that doesnt contribute anything!

Anyways i found that i just wasnt having fun anymore. I think i got all hockeyed out i would be playing at least 5 times a week and i just got sick of it. Now i just play for fun and not competitive anymore.

[kiprusoff*7 0]

i play roller hockey we obnly play twice a week and i love it i look forward to everygames. i look forward to the end of school when we can play pick up game. i don't think i could ever get tired of it

[Guest Datsyuk*13]

Yah i dont think i could get tired of like pick up games and hangin with friends but sometimes you get sick of the competitiveness. Soo i retired. I dont miss the game i just miss hangin with the guys.

[kiprusoff*7 0]

yeah i know waht your talkin about, getting to meet friends and pullin pranks and stuff at tourny's all the fun. just a questions when it says i posted at 9:09, what time is this runnin by cause my computer says its 8:09?

[Guest Datsyuk*13]

I dont think theres anything you can do about that, same as on my comp its an hour ahead.

[kosydar 0]

My Controls->board settings will change your time

[Chadd 916]

Yall put your ages as I am trying to figure how to help the sport retain players, this info will be shared with coaches . 14 and 15 seems to be the age so far were we lose players to this or girls. LOL

I think you'll find that's about the age where other things start being important and kids want to try different things. Prior to that a lot of it is parent driven or at least parent guided. The age you mentioned is when a lot of kids start to follow their own interests or aren't as interested in things their parents may have encouraged. Add to that the highly competitive coaches, parents and players and that can just wear you out.

[SharpShooter 0]

Chadd you are right and we realize it but we are trying to get some warning signs from the kids themselves. Maybe this can help us head this off and keep some players playing. As far as the girl thing goes that we all agree is unbeatable. LOL

[ChiefsHockey 0]

Simple. "Hockey iS LiFe"

K that doesnt contribute anything!

Anyways i found that i just wasnt having fun anymore. I think i got all hockeyed out i would be playing at least 5 times a week and i just got sick of it. Now i just play for fun and not competitive anymore.

How does that not contribute anything when I eat sleep and play hockey.

[Guest 2048]

Sick of hockey? Come to New York City, you'll miss it in two weeks.

[D3nZ 0]

Until my feet hurt and my body is so sore that I can't move or skate anymore.

[Kobe 0]

I play twice a week and it's enough to get my fix. Playing once a week is enough to not get crazy but that extra day keeps my game sharp (well sharp enough for me anyways). I think most guys' views will change when things like jobs, money, trying to get into college, age, and of course women come into the picture. Guys around the age range that you're referring to most likely don't have to pay for anything so they don't have that financial side to think about. Most teens start working around their senior year in hs or freshmen year in college. Ice/team fees, equipment, and girlfriends cost a hell of a lot of money so that might be part of the reason why they're tailing off.

[Pats 0]

I've been playing rep/competitive hockey since I was in Novice which has consisted of about 5-7 ice times per week. Now I'm 17 just finished my second year of midget, still love hockey and for about a two month span while my season was still going and I joined the hockey program at my school i was on the ice almost 9 times a week. However of our 36 game schedule, only 4 games are more than 30 minutes away and at worst become 5 hours away. I never did play summer hockey except for last summer when I made the U-17 Camp in Alberta but that ended the first week of June. My parents have never pushed me and I play hockey on my account. I also play inline 2 times a week but now I'm only on the ice 3 times a week at school. I really think it is based on the individual because if I'm not on the ice im in the gym getting ready for next season. Also, I think a reason for drop in numbers is the cost of the game as it is rising crazily.

[Eagles39 0]

I like playing a lot during the winters and a little bit during the summer, but this it changed. Usually during the summer I like to do everythign but hockey but this summer is different. I wanted to lpay in one league with my friends but instead my parents made me play in three leagues. I skate now four times a week with two dryland sessions. Its a drag.