lazy teammates

[jg144 0]

played two games tonight... played my normal saturday game and then i filled in for another team who was missing a few players...i get it, its adult house league...but its still hockey and its still a game...

I play defense, and ive played D since i was 12yrs old i love Defense.... and im so annoyed with my saturday team forwards (i dont have this problem with my wednesday team)... little to no back checking and those forwards that do get back are lazy in the D-zone... the breakout effort is almost non-existent and LAZY! i feel like im playing D so other guys can just wait to take glory shots on net...i have never been vocal/critical in the locker room because i dont wanna be "that guy"... has anyone else ever been in this situation? is there anything i can say or do to encourage these guys to give us some support in the D zone or take the breakout seriously... i know these guys know what to do i can tell by their skills they have at least played at a varsity level if not higher... please advise???

[xFortune 0]

Don't pass to them. Simple.

[wrangler 157]

played two games tonight... played my normal saturday game and then i filled in for another team who was missing a few players...i get it, its adult house league...but its still hockey and its still a game...

I play defense, and ive played D since i was 12yrs old i love Defense.... and im so annoyed with my saturday team forwards (i dont have this problem with my wednesday team)... little to no back checking and those forwards that do get back are lazy in the D-zone... the breakout effort is almost non-existent and LAZY! i feel like im playing D so other guys can just wait to take glory shots on net...i have never been vocal/critical in the locker room because i dont wanna be "that guy"... has anyone else ever been in this situation? is there anything i can say or do to encourage these guys to give us some support in the D zone or take the breakout seriously... i know these guys know what to do i can tell by their skills they have at least played at a varsity level if not higher... please advise???

I've seen that, but more often I see, at least in low-level league play, 5 guys clustering near the opponent with the puck. I don't know who they think they're going to pass to for a breakout if they get it, oh wait, they don't wanna pass . . .

[Krev 86]

Don't pass to them, and if they don't get the hint, just ice the puck. That usually gets things firing in their heads pretty quick.

[noodle3872 40]

There have been games in my 30+ league where us forwards decide that back checking and regrouping in our zone are not required. We have a pretty strong set of d-men which gives us the luxury of being a little lazy but if we get bad, our d-men will yell for us to come back and help out. Normally, that's enough for us to get the lead out and get back. If not, we discuss our game openly and critically during the stop time between periods.

Mike

[nexusrage21 1]

There's a guy on one of my teams who always makes it look like he's skating up a mountain when he has to come back check, as if he is so unbelievably tired. As soon as we get the puck though he's skating fine.

[elevation 1]

love that D-man, that stands near the red line when you pass back to the point, then stands next to me in the corner, doesn't make any effort to go back, can't skate backwards and cries BACKCHECK! on a turnover...on the point.

[jg144 0]

There's a guy on one of my teams who always makes it look like he's skating up a mountain when he has to come back check, as if he is so unbelievably tired. As soon as we get the puck though he's skating fine.

wow thats crazy, this guy plays on my team too!!

[jg144 0]

so you guys don't think there is anything wrong if i start getting on the forwards or start calling out the lazy ones? yesterday i was trying to call out assignments and it was like i was talking to myself, i dont wanna be that defenseman who tries to carry the puck by myself every breakout and not passing is just not a legitimate option at this game speed (im not paul coffey)... this was only my second game with this team and my first time in a +30; i dont want to be the guy who takes rec league hockey to seriously, i was thinking maybe i need to earn the respect of my teammates before i start talking.

[JSheets15 0]

I also play D, I've had the same problem and I see a lot of forwards standing still on the blue line waiting for a pass while theres 2 or 3 forecheckers between them and me. In this situation I usually send it high and deep and yell "Go Fish!"

[goblue9280 33]

so you guys don't think there is anything wrong if i start getting on the forwards or start calling out the lazy ones? yesterday i was trying to call out assignments and it was like i was talking to myself, i dont wanna be that defenseman who tries to carry the puck by myself every breakout and not passing is just not a legitimate option at this game speed (im not paul coffey)... this was only my second game with this team and my first time in a +30; i dont want to be the guy who takes rec league hockey to seriously, i was thinking maybe i need to earn the respect of my teammates before i start talking.

I wouldn't call particular guys out... after all, like you said, it's adult rec hockey. But I don't think there's anything wrong with directing generic statements at the forwards like "guys, we need some help in our end... we need more help on the breakout... etc". If they're still not putting in effort in on their side of the red-line... go with the suggestion of icing the puck. If the forwards chirp at you, tell them there was no breakout set up and you had no other options... they'll take the hint eventually.

[wrangler 157]

so you guys don't think there is anything wrong if i start getting on the forwards or start calling out the lazy ones? yesterday i was trying to call out assignments and it was like i was talking to myself, i dont wanna be that defenseman who tries to carry the puck by myself every breakout and not passing is just not a legitimate option at this game speed (im not paul coffey)... this was only my second game with this team and my first time in a +30; i dont want to be the guy who takes rec league hockey to seriously, i was thinking maybe i need to earn the respect of my teammates before i start talking.

What kind of chance would you have if the captain's not providing that leadership?