Hockey Virgin

[TheBeatGoesOn 0]

I figure the title will get more viewers than "noob" or "rookie". :D

Anyways, I'm 21 years old and just now getting into the sport. Ice skated for my second time (the first time being ten years ago probably) the other day. I think I picked it up better than most new skaters do. I'm happy with the level of comfortability I came to within only 2 hours of skating. I think having a roller blading era of my life helped me out a little bit. So what I want to know, as someone who has yet to go out on the ice with a stick, what would you instruct me to focus on to learn the sport and advance as quickly as possible? If you could relearn the sport from scratch, what do you wish you would have learned earlier on that you didn't until later? Did you form any bad habits because you started learning the wrong way? Any and all advice would be great, the more detailed the better. B)

Thanks

[bbruins8 0]

I figure the title will get more viewers than noob or rookie. :D

Anyways, I'm 21 years old and just now getting into the sport. Ice skated for my second time (the first time being ten years ago probably) the other day. I think I picked it up better than most new skaters do. I'm happy with the level of comfortability I came to within only 2 hours of skating. I think having a roller blading era of my life helped me out a little bit. So what I want to know, as someone who has yet to go out on the ice with a stick, what would you instruct me to focus on to learn the sport and advance as quickly as possible? If you could relearn the sport from scratch, what do you wish you would have learned earlier on that you didn't until later? Did you form any bad habits because you started learning the wrong way? Any and all advice would be great, the more detailed the better. B)

Thanks

If I could start over, I would focus more on stick handling and less on shooting...I have a wicked shot if someone can set me up, but I am not so good at stickhandling into the offensive zone without getting the puck knocked off my stick etc.

[Platypus 0]

I also wish I focused more on stick handling. Im a smooth skater but have to go way outside or bank it up the boards if I want to guarantee getting by the D. I am only now getting some dangles now that I've practiced stick handling more. Also I'd advise you to force yourself to keep your head up when you skate and stickhandle with the puck. I realize this is tough because I still cant do it well and Im also 21 and been playing since I was 4.

I remember back in the day that I was told I was really good at skating backwards (and transitioning from forward to backward skating). I think I learned it early because I really liked seeing the half moons in the snow/ice in front of me. Id go up and down the outdoor pad just making those half moons (one skate at a time), trying to make really big ones and small ones (keep in mind I was 3-4 when I was doing this). That kind of comfort and confidence made turning, cross overs, and stopping much easier.

[gxc999 7]

Personally, I'm just a crappy inline player but I wish I had practiced more on the fundamentals. Little things like stick-checking, backward skating, defensive positioning and puck-handling end up making a huge difference.

[wetwilly17 6]

i started playing hockey later than everyone else. i practiced backwards skating heavily and focused on the defensive aspects of the game. my defensive skills allowed me to advance to leagues with people that had much more experience and skills than me, but i was an effective player because i was so good at defense. i eventually switched to forward and learned better stickhandling and shooting. now i play center and i think i'm a much better center than most at my skill level because of my defensive background.

if you can, go to a skills clinic. and practice, practice, practice. hockey may be the toughest sport to learn because not only do you have to learn the game, but you have to skate while doing it. don't get discouraged, it just takes A LOT of practice.

[-brady2 0]

i started playing hockey later than everyone else. i practiced backwards skating heavily and focused on the defensive aspects of the game. my defensive skills allowed me to advance to leagues with people that had much more experience and skills than me, but i was an effective player because i was so good at defense. i eventually switched to forward and learned better stickhandling and shooting. now i play center and i think i'm a much better center than most at my skill level because of my defensive background.

if you can, go to a skills clinic. and practice, practice, practice. hockey may be the toughest sport to learn because not only do you have to learn the game, but you have to skate while doing it. don't get discouraged, it just takes A LOT of practice.

No doubt, hockey can be very frustrating, you just can never let it get you down

[mew1838 0]

I am still very bad at positioning or "hockey sense". I find myself chasing the puck more than anyone else. What are some tips to establish a good sense of positioning? :(

[fatwabbit 93]

experience, and talking to your team mates. A lot has to do with communication, and also knowing how your team mates are going to react or do what they are going to do next. Played with the C on my team for many years, now we can do lotsa no-look passes.

I'd go back in time to work on my skating. Always didnt have a problem with stickhandling, but should have spent more time skating. Not a great skater, and its shows when I shoot and topple over. Puck goes in, but the falls are usually pretty ugly.

[ean 0]

Make sure you learn to skate well and skate with your head up. Probably the number 1 problem I see with guys in my league who started later in life is that they just can't skate.

[Nutella 0]

It's definitely the school of hard knocks learning late without a coach.

Had a few friends that did that. One tip I'll give you: Don't go tongues out until you're a great player. The newer guys went tongues out and were getting worked because people thought them arrogant. ..haha, whatever.

Practice, practice, practice. If you don't have much access to ice time you can get a large white board or something of the sort, make it glossy, and puck handle on that at home.

Good luck!

[chk hrd 164]

It's definitely the school of hard knocks learning late without a coach.

Had a few friends that did that. One tip I'll give you: Don't go tongues out until you're a great player. The newer guys went tongues out and were getting worked because people thought them arrogant. ..haha, whatever.

Practice, practice, practice. If you don't have much access to ice time you can get a large white board or something of the sort, make it glossy, and puck handle on that at home.

Good luck!

Learn to skate right. Take some lessons from someone who can show you the correct way to skate. It doesn't matter how good of a stick handler or shooter you are if you can't get to the puck.

[oggy_3 0]

Other then skating i wish i started with a smaller stick, my whole life my stick has been up to my noise and i can not get use to using a smaller one but have tryed one and noticed my puck control alot better.

[mrusse01 0]

I am still very bad at positioning or "hockey sense". I find myself chasing the puck more than anyone else. What are some tips to establish a good sense of positioning? :(

Easy...just watch the pro's. Don't follow the puck when you are watching on TV or in person, pick a player and see what he does.

I think by far the most imporatant skill to learn is skating, looking back I really wish I got into some serious power skating or even figure skating lessons. You hardly ever find a really good skater who isn't a very good player overall.

[ramensandwich 1]

i agree. one of the best ways to learn what to do is watching the pros. watch your favorite team or whatever, and watch the plays they make. try to predict where they are going to pass the puck. best way to learn.

[gxc999 7]

I am still very bad at positioning or "hockey sense". I find myself chasing the puck more than anyone else. What are some tips to establish a good sense of positioning? :(

One good idea is to stay with the man and not the puck most of the time on defense. On offense, stay within your assigned area/role. I'm not a positional savant, I'm working on improving that aspect myself.

[wetwilly17 6]

I am still very bad at positioning or "hockey sense". I find myself chasing the puck more than anyone else. What are some tips to establish a good sense of positioning? :(

One good idea is to stay with the man and not the puck most of the time on defense. On offense, stay within your assigned area/role. I'm not a positional savant, I'm working on improving that aspect myself.

and learn to trust your teammates. when you start trying to help too much, you get out of position and can lead to everyone scrambling and bad things happen.

[moose77 0]

Since you're relatively new to the game, I'd suggest taking some skating lessons. Hockey classes would certainly be helpful if they're offered at your rink, but classes where you're working on strictly skating would benefit you a lot. Get the basics down then maybe move into hockey power skating classes. The other skills will come, but the skating is crucial.

[BigDipper 0]

Since you're relatively new to the game, I'd suggest taking some skating lessons. Hockey classes would certainly be helpful if they're offered at your rink, but classes where you're working on strictly skating would benefit you a lot. Get the basics down then maybe move into hockey power skating classes. The other skills will come, but the skating is crucial.

Best advice you'll find right there. Skating is the most important. Get comfortable on your feet first. Learn the game in phases, one step at a time. Find good people around you to teach you different fundamentals. If you really really want to learn, get in touch with a local minor hockey coach, and even thought it might hurt your ego, get out there with a younger team. You would be surprised on how beneficial being around younger kids learning the game can be. Get the basics down first...then progress into more detail of the game, i.e. positioning, zones, etc. I wish you the best of luck my friend....happy skating.

[shifter 0]

skating comes first! if you cant shoot doesnt matter as long as you can dangle lol just practise shooting at home or outside playing around

[cj190 0]

Find a power skating instructor at the local rink and get lessons. It will be very helpful to learn to skate properly first, then introduce the stick etc to your game. An instructor will catch the bad habits before they are engrained.