Tryout Preperation

[Aussie Joe 0]

Hey guys, I have a BIG Inline tryout coming up this Thursday and was wondering are there any special hints/tips you guys can give me so I can go that extra mile.

I have started my preperation 3 months ago with 30 minute sprinting sesssions twice a week. On top of my 3 hr Hockey training on Tuesdays, Circuit training on Wednesdays, Game day Sunday and for the last week no fatty food or soft drink.

Today (Monday) I will go for a light Jog around the local park for 45 minutes. Tuesday I have a scrimmage on the tryout rink. Wednesday I will do some light weights. That leaves Thursday which is the big day.

Anything more I should add?

[Gongshow11 1]

that is so intense iut's awesome, ur fine

[miracleman4 0]

In the tryout show alot of determination. Don't give up on any drill no matter what and show the coach you really want to be there. With all the training you are doing you are fine, just show you want it in the tryout.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Ahhh drills would be fantastic. In this particular tryout its just a GIANT scrimmage match. The coachs/captians of the five pro teams sit in the stand sip their tea and decide eveyone's fate from up there. Its a novel approach to the way they do state teams which is the old fashioned drill after drill approach.

One of the guys I play A grade with currently plays for one of the Pro team and said to me... "One word, BODY, Hit whomever, whenever you can." Hopefully it pays off.

[MDE3 0]

You guys have a "Pro" league over there?..Is it a true "Pro" league or simply sponsored teams, with play subsidized like our MLRH and PIHA...I assume it's full contact from your posts like our MLRH was and now to be the XIHL.

If it is a true full contact league, one of the things I have seen over here that needs to be practiced, is executing a good "scissor step" for lateral movement while skating backwards....this is used by defencemen and any one else who is trying to close on the body laterally while moving backwards....If you can execute this well it is much easier to take someone out along the boards or to take away the skating lane. For whatever reason, I do not see many over here who can execute it well...and it's a fundamental skill for taking the body.

Basically you step out wide with your leg to the side that the oncoming skater has chosen, and then pushing off hard with the "outside leg"(away from the skating lane you are trying to take away), execute a wide front stepover as you can with this leg. Then return the under leg to it's normal position. This allows you to close laterally very quickly while keeping the opponent in front of you..most tend just to turn towards the skater, which can often slow you down as well as make you over commit and be vulnerable to a rapid directional shift by the oncoming skater.

Although you only have three days left before the tryouts, if you have some "free" time, this is a very good skill to capture, and will impress knowledgable coaches. To learn this you practice "over and under" step across drills across the rink. However instead of doing short quick steps, you stretch the step across (cross overs and cross unders) as wide as you can, while keeping your shoulders facing down the rink, perpendicular to your direction of motion. This will definitely test your leg conditioning... :P

[SB39 2]

Drink pretty much only water fro the next few days, stretch everyday, and try to start your workout sessions the next couple days at or just before the same time tryouts are going to start, so you´re body is better accustomed to peaking at that time, and try to lay someone out hardcore at tryouts. Have fun

[Hiub 0]

If you don't do weights regularly, I would say to skip that as it will only get you sore. The day before try a light jog to keep things moving, and stretch at least 3 times during the day. Don't overwork yourself though, and get a good night sleep. From what i've read you seem to have done all that you can physically, now its all up to your brain to piece it all together. FOCUS and believe that you will do well, and you will.

[Aussie Joe 0]

All fantastic tips, thanks heaps guys. Well for starts the "Scissor step" MDE3 was talking about sounds very interesting. Can I get a link where there are some diagrams/pictures showing it? I have been working on my hip checks lately but they still need that extra bit of speed that my body checks have.

I have been drinking nothing but weak cordial the last 2 months. I can't remember what Americans call cordial, But you put it with water and it makes a flat drink that peps water up abit. 1 part cordial to 9 parts water. From that and my general workouts I have dropped from 79kg to 76kg. Im 5'11 as well.

PHL (Pro Hockey League) is based in Melbourne, Victoria. No one gets payed but if you get into one of the major sponsored teams (Bauer Dogs, Mission Snipers, Labeda Inferno or AusDoc Bruins) then you get a free uniform and your games paid for. The last team that I will most likely be drafted into the Hyenas only pays for your game. That is because they are currently without sponsors. Its is labelled non contact technically, but because it is the highest senior grade and also because we have so many ice players it really is as close to Ice Hockey I have seen. That being said there are no "full on" checks moreso just over done picks. Its hard to explain.

Victorian Inline Hockey League

Thanks again blokes!

[MDE3 0]

Hello again..sorry I do not have a video source that teaches the scissor step..I always demonstrated it personally (while I was still agile enough to do so lol)

Sounds like your league is more like Tours Pro tournament series over here which has limited contact(within 10' of the boards). We also have had the MLRH here which is officially "full contact" and now a new league appears to be replacing it, called the XIHL. We also have PIHA (Professional Inline Hockey Association) which is officially a "non contact" league, but does allow "pinching" on the boards, however full open surface contact is not allowed.

No matter which version, the ability to play body position is very important, so keep your primary vision on the chest of an advancing opponent, and use your peripheral vision to watch the puck...Follow the chest not the puck to maximize your body position vis a vis the advancing player. Basic stuff but you will be amazed how many do not do it.

[mrciv 0]

i played in this pro league back in 99'. do u guys still play offsides?? who r the captains on each team?? im sure karl is for the dogs. i would say just give it your all every shift, play the body and try to be the playmaker and team player. u dont need to score 3-5goals. its also the little things that count. u didnt say what position u play??also if american import brad vigon is at the try out give him a good bodycheck!! this is a fun league to playin. man do i miss oz!!!!

[Aussie Joe 0]

i played in this pro league back in 99'. do u guys still play offsides?? who r the captains on each team?? im sure karl is for the dogs. i would say just give it your all every shift, play the body and try to be the playmaker and team player. u dont need to score 3-5goals. its also the little things that count. u didnt say what position u play??also if american import brad vigon is at the try out give him a good bodycheck!! this is a fun league to playin. man do i miss oz!!!!

Awesome dude! Which team did you play for? The captains have changed since you last played. Jonny Moses is injured indefinately I've heard, so Ross Howell is the Bruin's cap. Chuck Connolly retired from Pro so now Leigh Davies is Hyenas cap. Karl is still the dogs main man. Jonny Tsk shares cap duties with Jonno De Boos at the Inferno. And I think Scott Kelly or Ant De Boos captain the Snipers.

We play IIHF rules so offside will always be included. I don't generally stick to one position. I work just as hard on my point shots as I do my slot one timers. I'd prefer to be up forward though in Pro League. But then again it all depends on where they wanna put me. Im happy any position, even goals! ;)

I played in a general scrimmage last night against a majority of Pro League players and did very well. I was slighty hesitant going near Jono De Boos because of his puckhandling I didn't want him to walk right around me. Very dissapointed with my team mates who really didn't want to get any give and go type plays happening. So there was allot more skating than usual. Scored 2 goals, 3 assists. Should really have scored more points accross the board though but poor playmaking restricted chances. Tryouts are this Thursday I'll let you guys know how I went and If I eventually get drafted.

[mrciv 0]

i played on the mission snipers. they need to get rid of the offsides!!!! what happened to jonny mo?? can u get me email address for scott kelley or ant deboos??? ive been wanting to come over for a couple weeks and play in a tourney while im there in between my partyin!!

[Aussie Joe 0]

i played on the mission snipers. they need to get rid of the offsides!!!! what happened to jonny mo?? can u get me email address for scott kelley or ant deboos??? ive been wanting to come over for a couple weeks and play in a tourney while im there in between my partyin!!

They'll never get rid of the offsides as its an IIHF league. As is the state champs above PHL, and the International tournies they send Team Aus. to, so you see it makes sense to keep a rule that is followed top to bottom.

Jonny Mo had a back injury I think. Hes been out of commision playing wise for over 18 months, If memory serves correct. However, Jonny did coach the senior Vics at the '04 State Champs and they lost to the ACT unbeleivably. I don't know Scot or Ant personally but Karl will be able to help you out.....

Karl@puckhandlers.com