Playing In A Men's League

[FlyChicaga 21]

For the past year or so, all I've been doing is playing rat hockey a few times a week, even through the summer. To be honest, I'm getting really tired of playing pick-up hockey. I am dying to play in a league again, but the problem is I have a very strange work schedule. I'm a pilot, so I'm off on the road four days a week. Needless to say, that is going to cause me to miss some games. When I'm home, I'd be at the games... But when I'm not, there is nothing I can do. Is this fairly normal for men's leagues, or do the teams expect you to be there every game, every week? I can't commit to that, so it's the only reason I haven't tried to join a team.

Thoughts?

[Guitarmy 0]

I think it's fairly common that some players can't make all the games. Last season I subbed for this adult league team for almost all the games, because they have a few players who miss about 50% of the games or so due to work. Maybe you can look for a team where they'll accept you as a half-time player and you'll only have to pay half price.

[the_sock 1]

Missing games is no worries. I run a team, and I find that 60% of my players come out weekly, the other 40% depending on their work schedule, special events, etc. Hockey may be hockey, but we still live lives. My team and I understand that we're not always be able to be there. In fact, I've missed 3 games so far this season because of some other things going on.

If you really can't make every game, or you know your schedule you may miss games, just like Guitarmy said, you can do half season. Got two guys on my team doing that.

Just make sure you're around for the minimum amount of games to qualify for post season, my league makes it mandatory to play at least 1/3 of the regular season.

Cheers

[Race4LastPlace 31]

There are about 6 pilots in my league. And they miss games periodically. We have one guy that has missed all but 2 games this season (out of 7 so far) but we welcome him back, along with others. To me, as long as we have have enough to field a team and a couple subs its okay. It's your money, so its up to you in the end.

[nni 0]

do you really think they will mind that you will help with league fees and not show? we love those guys! :D

[SuperMan3 1]

Yeah, don't worry about it, I'm missing one right now because I had an exam

[Doctor Hook 0]

It actually sucks when all the dudes show up for my team (3 lines and 7 D). We always overbook since not everyone can make every single game. Sign up, it's worth it.

[Chadd 916]

For the past year or so, all I've been doing is playing rat hockey a few times a week, even through the summer. To be honest, I'm getting really tired of playing pick-up hockey. I am dying to play in a league again, but the problem is I have a very strange work schedule. I'm a pilot, so I'm off on the road four days a week. Needless to say, that is going to cause me to miss some games. When I'm home, I'd be at the games... But when I'm not, there is nothing I can do. Is this fairly normal for men's leagues, or do the teams expect you to be there every game, every week? I can't commit to that, so it's the only reason I haven't tried to join a team.

Thoughts?

I'm always bugging scheduling, dropping trips and picking up others. I've managed to make 12 of 16 games so far this season, but I probably won't make more than one more over the last four. The most important thing is to communicate with the guy who organizes the team and make sure he knows when you will and will not be at the games.

[fatwabbit 93]

We're not pros, so we need to make the money elsewhere and also lead our normal lives.

I missed about 4 of the games in the last season, due to work commitments (and one I missed due to stomach flu). As long as you communicate as early as possible, no one has the right to say anything. They shouldnt tried you any different either.

[chef_ducky 0]

If I was in your position, I would continue to play pick up and spare in the league. If you don't mind me asking, what air line do you work for!

[Sed27 0]

As Chadd said, always let the manager running the team know ahead of time if you can't make a game. Nothing pisses off the guy who organizes our team more than players who just don't show up (and don't call or email). At least if the manager is aware that you are not going to be at certain games, he can find someone to sub.

Ever drive out to the rink for an 11:00pm game and find out that there are not enough players to skate a team? It's not all that fun.

[Monty22 833]

As long as you pay your agreed upon share, and give the captain heads up you may miss some games, I've never had an issue both missing games on teams I've played on and running teams with guys that couldn't make it.

[Chadd 916]

Ever drive out to the rink for an 11:00pm game and find out that there are not enough players to skate a team? It's not all that fun.

No, but I've had an 11:15 game and a 4:50 report time at the airport the next morning to start a four day trip.

[Sed27 0]

Ever drive out to the rink for an 11:00pm game and find out that there are not enough players to skate a team? It's not all that fun.

No, but I've had an 11:15 game and a 4:50 report time at the airport the next morning to start a four day trip.

Now that's dedication to the team. I'm with you though, I don't like missing any games - even the late ones with early mornings the next day.

[patty2109 0]

i play on an adult league team where somedays we will have a full bench and others days we have 2 subs. its no big deal to miss some games, in fact the team i play for has the option to pay by game or pay for the whole season outright to accomadate all of the military guys

[FCHC53 0]

The vast majority of rec league teams are going to totally understand about missing games. In the time I've played rec I think there have been a total of 3 games where all the players on the roster were at the game. We're in a pretty big league (70+ teams summer, 90+ teams winter) and I only know of one teams that expects everyone on their roster to make every game. Of course, they tend to be the ones that take everything too seriously...

[FlyChicaga 21]

Ever drive out to the rink for an 11:00pm game and find out that there are not enough players to skate a team? It's not all that fun.

No, but I've had an 11:15 game and a 4:50 report time at the airport the next morning to start a four day trip.

Ha, that's pretty awesome. Who do you work for? I work for ExpressJet/Continental Express.

[cmvondran 0]

I manage a 30 and over team and I have guys miss all the time. Its no problem. I do like them to tell me when they will not be there so i can figure the line up. I hate no call no shows.

[gxc999 7]

I play in a small roller league where there are only 8 rostered players and it's very detrimental to miss games. We once had a game where only

5 players showed against the other teams 8, not a fun game. I understand on a full ice team, it's not that big a deal.

[guasto74 0]

As Chadd said, always let the manager running the team know ahead of time if you can't make a game. Nothing pisses off the guy who organizes our team more than players who just don't show up (and don't call or email). At least if the manager is aware that you are not going to be at certain games, he can find someone to sub.

Ever drive out to the rink for an 11:00pm game and find out that there are not enough players to skate a team? It's not all that fun.

Or, ever drive out to the rink for a 11:00 p.m. game and find out that everybody and their mother showed up and you'll be lucky if you get more than one shift per period.

I stopped playing in leagues because I was missing too many games because of work. My team didn't care but I started to get frustrated. Been a lot happier just playing pick-up when I want to play. But I definitely miss playing in a competitive game. If you just play pick-up, your skills definitely deteriorate. A lot of the times when I play pick-up, I'll try and do what I would do if it were a real game situation (playing positionally sound) even if it means less time with the puck.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I would think that if you let your team know about your hectic schedule then they probably wouldn't mind. Just make sure they know what games your gonna miss so they can get a sub and all that jazz. And at the games you do show up you better play damn good lol

[chippa13 1844]

A guy on our team came up with a funny idea for guys who pull no shows when they're supposed to show up. Since we've got control of the junior room at the rink we're playing at until November, we leave our gear and jerseys in the stalls. If you pull a no-show and don't let the team know ahead of time, the kid picked up a blow-up doll that sits in your stall wearing your jersey until you show up again.

[jimmy 194]

A guy on our team came up with a funny idea for guys who pull no shows when they're supposed to show up. Since we've got control of the junior room at the rink we're playing at until November, we leave our gear and jerseys in the stalls. If you pull a no-show and don't let the team know ahead of time, the kid picked up a blow-up doll that sits in your stall wearing your jersey until you show up again.

We have something similar, except we call it the POW jersey( P of the week) (and the P doesn't mean Prisoner). Use your imagination or sick mind. Anyway the POW jersey is adorned with paraphinalia (sp) stuck on over the years, like pink furry collar, panties, bra, tampons, names of past winners, etc, that each past winner was required to put on after their week as POW was over. The adornments have to be interesting and funny. Oh yea, the weekly winner has to wear the POW jersey. It is the funniest thing you will ever see. Once we started that, people would make sure they called to let the captain know they wouldn't be there. Its a very good incentive tool.

[hunterphfr 12]

A guy on our team came up with a funny idea for guys who pull no shows when they're supposed to show up. Since we've got control of the junior room at the rink we're playing at until November, we leave our gear and jerseys in the stalls. If you pull a no-show and don't let the team know ahead of time, the kid picked up a blow-up doll that sits in your stall wearing your jersey until you show up again.

We have something similar, except we call it the POW jersey( P of the week) (and the P doesn't mean Prisoner). Use your imagination or sick mind. Anyway the POW jersey is adorned with paraphinalia (sp) stuck on over the years, like pink furry collar, panties, bra, tampons, names of past winners, etc, that each past winner was required to put on after their week as POW was over. The adornments have to be interesting and funny. Oh yea, the weekly winner has to wear the POW jersey. It is the funniest thing you will ever see. Once we started that, people would make sure they called to let the captain know they wouldn't be there. Its a very good incentive tool.

We have one of those, much less imaginative and not nearly as politically incorrect. I picked up the idea at a firefighters tournament after seeing some guy wandering around the lobby with a pink wooden princess sign on a pink ribbon around his neck. They gave it out for the stupid penalty or bonehead move of the game.

Ours is our regular team jersey with the number .08 on the back and a rastafarian pot leaf flag sewn on the left shoulder.

[hunterphfr 12]

It actually sucks when all the dudes show up for my team (3 lines and 7 D). We always overbook since not everyone can make every single game. Sign up, it's worth it.

We're the same way we overbook slots and can wind up with 7 one week and 13 the next.

As a firefighter working 24 hours on and 48 hours off and several teamates with the same schedule i have found a solution. Split seasons. We have several players that pay for half seasons or split a season with somebody else, we work attendance out from there. Of course the more talent you bring the easier it is for the guy running the team to accomadate you. Me I have no talent but I run the team so I accomadate myself.