Basics of Hockey

[AlGiballa23 0]

Hi. I am going to play rec adult league (lowest division) starting exactly in 20 days. I can keep up skating wise and am decent with stickhandling, but I have a couple basic q's.

When going onto the ice, how do you know which player to guard?

What do you do when playing defense? Skate backwards and try to get the puck?

What is the best way to get power into a slapshot?

Best way to learn dekes?

Sorry if this isn't the right spot but I need some help and i'm fairly new here.

Thanks again,

Algiballa23

[devilsrule711 0]

no this is in the right spot

give us some backround left handed, right handed, are you big, small, are you going to play defense or forward

[langs15 0]

yeah dude, you havta give us some info about you, how long have you skated for, what are your abilites? Ice or roller? Guessing ice but w/e.

[chippa13 1844]

Since these are general questions there really isn't any need for all the info these guys are asking for. Honestly, head to your local library or book store and look for a "Hockey for Dummies" type of book. I'm sure there has to be something out there which will cover all the questions you have.

Or you could go the Amazon.com route. Here are the results in the book section for a search on "hockey basics".

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-h...Hockey%20basics

[analog999 0]

I haven't gotten them yet, but if I were you I would look into the Kevin Constantine Total Hockey series...

Total Hockey Series

Let me know how they are if you get them ..

[sonsplayhockey 0]

I'm hoping for your sake that you'll be playing with more experianced people.

We had a girl just start her first game on our team after going to clinics since Jan.

We always put the newer players at wing. Its the easiest position to learn. Defense requires way more skill and experiance so my opinion is so don't even volunteer for that till you get a season down.

I gave her 4 things to think about. (These are beginner rules I"d say)

1) When you are the closest player from your team to the puck, skate through the puck. Don't just skate up to it and glide the last 3 feet. Skate after it.

2) Unless you are going full speed down the ice, keep 2 hands on your stick, you never know when your gonna see it comming to you. Easier to receive a pass that way too :)

3) Winger on defense covers the point (Defensemen on your side). If your doing your job, the defenceman on your side, won't be passed to. You might even pick up a puck or two.

4) If you consider yourself one of the lower 1/3 ability players on your team. When you get the puck, look up for someone to pass to. ALWAYS look up when passing. Begineer mistake is to spaz and just clear the puck towards the other team's goal.

Keep the things you are working on each game simple. Pick 2 things to work on till they become habbit.

Good luck

[dix0r 0]

http://sharkspage.com/galleries/stockton_s...sandiego10.html

you don't have to deke - you can hold em off with one hand and carry the puck with the other (only one hand on the stick). maybe its the crap leagues that i play in but hardly anybody ever does that, they always try to deke.

[AlGiballa23 0]

Hi guys. Thanks for the fast responses. Here are the answers to the questions.

I am 6'0" and 190 lbs. I am 17 but will be playing adult league (I have talked to the people running the league.)

I'll play whatever position. I am Right Handed. I have skated for probably 5-6 months combined, I am very confident in my skill whether it be stopping, skating, etc. I am certainly better than all the older guys I'll be playing with. I use a wood stick now, and my stickhandling could be a lot better, as my stick is kind of heavy. It's also probably due to the fact that I'm relitively new.

I use a TPS xLITE wood stick (hull pattern)

Hope this is enough info.

Thanks again.

[dix0r 0]

if you do play D:

when guys are coming in on you - you want to skate backwards, just a little slower than the attacking forward, so you're narrowing the gap between you - its generally better to hold a guy up and not let them shoot or pass, rather than try to steal the puck but risk giving them a breakaway.

and generally you want to force them to the outside.

careful chasing guys behind your own net.

also, on 2 on 1's (if you're the 1 d) take the pass away - let the goalie worry about the shooter.

[Chadd 916]

When going onto the ice, how do you know which player to guard?

If you're a forward, cover the other team's defensemen. If you're a defenseman or center, cover the most dangerous guy in your defensive zone first. Once someone has him, cover the rest of the guys.

What do you do when playing defense?  Skate backwards and try to get the puck? 

Push the attacking player to the outside as much as possible, deny him the middle of the ice. Once you have the puck a good quick pass can generate a scoring chance in the other direction.

What is the best way to get power into a slapshot? 

Make sure you bend at the knees and not at the waist. It's much easier to generate power and get your puck on target.

Best way to learn dekes?

Practice and lots of it.

[Trippingblue 1]

http://sharkspage.com/galleries/stockton_s...sandiego10.html

you don't have to deke - you can hold em off with one hand and carry the puck with the other (only one hand on the stick). maybe its the crap leagues that i play in but hardly anybody ever does that, they always try to deke.

LOL I was at that game...

--nick--

[dix0r 0]

edit

[AlGiballa23 0]

When going onto the ice, how do you know which player to guard?

If you're a forward, cover the other team's defensemen. If you're a defenseman or center, cover the most dangerous guy in your defensive zone first. Once someone has him, cover the rest of the guys.

What do you do when playing defense?  Skate backwards and try to get the puck? 

Push the attacking player to the outside as much as possible, deny him the middle of the ice. Once you have the puck a good quick pass can generate a scoring chance in the other direction.

What is the best way to get power into a slapshot? 

Make sure you bend at the knees and not at the waist. It's much easier to generate power and get your puck on target.

Best way to learn dekes?

Practice and lots of it.

Okay but how do you know which player is the defensemen? I know it's a noob question, but I'm not sure.

Thanks

[Quintin 16]

The defensemen are the 2 people that usually hang around in their own end or at the blue line if they're in your zone.

[gavin 0]

You have a lotta questions. I'll only take the one about positioning. If you're playing winger (good chance you will be, since you're just staring out), then you want to for the most part stay to your side. If you're a winger and you're in the defensive zone, stay high in the zone (about halfway between the goal line and the blue line), attacking anyone that comes into the circle/high circle. It's OK to go down into the corner and dig for the puck, but don't get caught chasing people behind the net, because you need to defend the high slot.

[hockeyherb 1]

Once you find out what position you're playing, when you're on the bench waiting for your turn on the ice just keep your eyes totally on the guy who you replace when he comes off the ice. (Hopefully he knows how to play his position - not a guarantee in your league level. Ask your team captain if you don't know a good guy to watch)

By watching what he does you should start to learn about playing positional hockey ie. where to be in your end of the ice, how to break out of your zone and where to hang out in the opposing team's end. Just watch the guy and think about where he is in relation to the puck. Don't be afraid to ask questions either after the game - most guys like to help out.

[technophile 0]

In addition to watching how others in your league play your position, watching NHL games (and paying attention to your position, not the play--it can be hard :)) can also be helpful.

As far as line changes, if you have full lines (i.e. you have enough forwards that you can change all 3 at once and not have problems), then try to all come off at the same time. You shouldn't be out there for more than 45-60 seconds. Never change when the puck is in your zone; try to get it deep into the opponent's zone before heading to the bench, especially in the 2nd period. If you don't have 3 full lines, try to keep it to 45-60 second shifts since you won't be able to cue off your linemates.

Assuming you're a winger, your defensive responsibilities are to get back, pressure the puck carrier as he moves through the neutral zone (as long as he's on your side of the ice), and then cover the point man on your side. When your team gets the puck, give the man with the puck an open passing lane -- skate to where he can get you the puck. If the puck carrier is being pressured hard, come back towards him (and an open lane) to help him make the pass.

[AlGiballa23 0]

Okay and sorry for sounding like a complete idiot (even though I am) how do I know in the NHL who is playing what position? What players are in what zones? I forgot to mention one detail and I believe it's an important one. I am going to play 3 on 3 hockey. For a line change do you just come to the bench and someone will be ready to go? And can you step on the ice before they get over the wall? Or how does this work? Thanks

[jimmy 194]

Here's my pet peeve, when you're playing defense do not pinch a guy at the blue line, all he will do is bounce the puck off the boards and go around you for a clear lane to thenet. You have to skate backwards and force him to the outside.

[gavin 0]

Okay and sorry for sounding like a complete idiot (even though I am) how do I know in the NHL who is playing what position? What players are in what zones? I forgot to mention one detail and I believe it's an important one. I am going to play 3 on 3 hockey. For a line change do you just come to the bench and someone will be ready to go? And can you step on the ice before they get over the wall? Or how does this work? Thanks

3x3 is a totally different animal. Most of what we've said about positioning, tactics etc etc and even line changes don't even apply in the littlest. I don't have the slightest clue about how to play it unless it's like shinny, cause I've played a TONNE of shinny.

Here's the secret to playing shinny: don't play defence but backcheck like crazy, use your speed and dangle a lot, always go for the puck, forget about playing positions. Have a blast.

[AlGiballa23 0]

haha I must be really getting on your guy's nerves. But you are too helpful.

A. What is backchecking?

B. This is no checking, can yu still tie a player against the boards? I know it may vary by league but generally is this considered checking?

[mickz 107]

Hi. I am going to play rec adult league (lowest division) starting exactly in 20 days. I can keep up skating wise and am decent with stickhandling, but I have a couple basic q's.

When going onto the ice, how do you know which player to guard?

What do you do when playing defense? Skate backwards and try to get the puck?

What is the best way to get power into a slapshot?

Best way to learn dekes?

Sorry if this isn't the right spot but I need some help and i'm fairly new here.

Thanks again,

Algiballa23

Centres take the opposing centres and wingers take the defenseman on the same side of the ice and defensemen take wingers on the same side of the ice if that makes sense. This doesn't always occur as you might get something like an odd man rush. In which it's better to play positionally and take away passing lanes instead of guarding a particular player.

When playing defense, try to angle the opposing player so they're forced to go to the outside. Never angle them to the middle of the ice.

When taking slapshots, I find that waist height is the most effective but some players think it's necessary to go shoulder height. Anything over the height of the shoulders (aka golf swing) is a waste of motion. Transfer the power from your back leg to your front leg and follow through with your shot. Don't look at the puck when you're shooting.

When you're learning dekes, learn them while you are stationary. Once you've mastered the move while stationary with your head up, do the same move while in motion. After you've mastered that, go at full speed.

[technophile 0]

haha I must be really getting on your guy's nerves. But you are too helpful.

A. What is backchecking?

Backchecking is when you (as a forward) come back into your defensive zone to break up plays and help the defense. Defensemen will love you for it.

B.  This is no checking, can yu still tie a player against the boards?  I know it may vary by league but generally is this considered checking?

It depends on the league, the officials, and the situation. :P

Generally speaking, if you're going for the puck, battling along the boards, and you legitimately get tied up with another player it's fine. If you actually check another player or significantly hinder them (instead of trying to get the puck), expect a penalty. If you accidentally trip them because they stepped on your stick blade, expect a penalty.

If you're playing with other players who have been in the league for a while, ask them and watch how they go to the boards. It might not be much of an issue in 3v3; there's a lot of space out there.

As far as how to know who's playing what position, watch on faceoffs (neutral zone faceoffs are easiest). They line up in their position (center taking the faceoff, LW on the center's left, RW on the center's right, RD behind and to the right, LD behind and to the left).

However, I don't know if the positions really translate to 3v3 hockey. 3v3 is probably more fluid; you probably want to have one person back ready to play defense (high in the offensive zone); other than that it's more or less get the puck and try to score. :P

[mickz 107]

haha I must be really getting on your guy's nerves. But you are too helpful.

A. What is backchecking?

B. This is no checking, can yu still tie a player against the boards? I know it may vary by league but generally is this considered checking?

Back checking is when you're in the offensive zone, the opposing team takes the puck the other way down towards your end and you have to get back to play defense.

In non-checking leagues, the most effective and legal way to tie a player up against the boards is to 'pin' him. Basically you match his speed and then angle him towards the boards and rub him off the puck.

[brokenskate 0]

In non-checking leagues, the most effective and legal way to tie a player up against the boards is to 'pin' him.  Basically you match his speed and then angle him towards the boards and rub him off the puck.

Yeah, though i've got called for interference for doing that -- at least the pinning -- in adult non-checking league. i guess it all depends on the refs you've got that night.