Which Position to Play?

[toddmanley 0]

First some background...then folks can heap on the advice. I grew up around the game, but never played as basketball was my ticket (...paid for my college education). Took up skating last May, enrolled in a beginner hockey class during the fall and began playing pick-up with my neighbor's team once a week. I took quite a few lumps and bumps over the first 3 months of playing with these guys but found that I was progressing well enough over time that now I feel like I'm pretty active on the ice with setting up guys for goals and getting one or two of my own.

Having never received any true coaching on the fundamentals of how the individual positions play everything I've picked up has just been by intuition. I'm now skating well enough that I don't have to think about it too much, unless I'm going backwards, and it's allowed my old court vision skills from basketball to come forward. Amazing how much easier the game is when you're able to keep your head up and have vision of your teammates.

I hope to play in a league soon, but I know I'll get the question "what position do you play?". I really don't know!?! So a few questions to help me figure this out:

• What are the primary skills for each position?
  
• What are the one or two fundamental skills that each position must master? Is there one specifically that's best to master?
  
• If there's something I'm not good at, should I work on developing that skill? Or just focus on what I can do well? (I'd rather work on my weakness to become a better overall player, but that's just my perspective)
  
• What advice did you receive that served useful for yourself if you faced this same dilemma around position play?
  

I'm a big guy (6'9", 225) so I'm sure most people feel playing d-man would make the most sense, but I don't know enough to make that call...thus any advice from the forum is appreciated.

-Thanks, Todd

[ndlancer95 0]

The thing about skating backwards make me think you should start out at wing, keep working at backward skating then become a d man. Winger is where most players start out, because it's a straightforward position, stay on your side, play your man in the defensive zone, get the puck out, and score. Main thing is positioning, which is tougher for defense. Wing gives you an opportunity to focus on all of your skills, while defense, for me, is based around skating, passing, and keeping your head up to options around the ice

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

I'd agree with ND about going wing. The skating will come with more practice and time. Plus with your size you could probably wreck some havok in the corners.

[toddmanley 0]

I'd agree with ND about going wing. The skating will come with more practice and time. Plus with your size you could probably wreck some havok in the corners.

I did find myself playing more wing this past week just based on my skating ability. It was fun setting up a teammates for some shots on goal and I did uncork a slapper from the side that caught everybody off-guard, especially the goalie who has seen me progress over time from a guy who couldn't get a shot off to somebody who just learned how to put my size into the shot. Of course I didn't know where it was going to go, but hell it was fun getting my body behind the shot and letting the stick to the work. Too bad it went off the post.

[GoBucky 0]

I agree that playing as a winger is probably the easiest because it has the least amount of backwards skating and doesnt require to you know how to run the players like a center often has to.

I would also think being a winger would be more fun because youd have the most chances of scoring goals.

[evor1 6]

most noobs start at forward. generally dont want total rookies playing D unless you want to allow 10+ goals

[Hermans 9]

First some background...then folks can heap on the advice. I grew up around the game, but never played as basketball was my ticket (...paid for my college education). Took up skating last May, enrolled in a beginner hockey class during the fall and began playing pick-up with my neighbor's team once a week. I took quite a few lumps and bumps over the first 3 months of playing with these guys but found that I was progressing well enough over time that now I feel like I'm pretty active on the ice with setting up guys for goals and getting one or two of my own.

Having never received any true coaching on the fundamentals of how the individual positions play everything I've picked up has just been by intuition. I'm now skating well enough that I don't have to think about it too much, unless I'm going backwards, and it's allowed my old court vision skills from basketball to come forward. Amazing how much easier the game is when you're able to keep your head up and have vision of your teammates.

I hope to play in a league soon, but I know I'll get the question "what position do you play?". I really don't know!?! So a few questions to help me figure this out:

• What are the primary skills for each position?
  
• What are the one or two fundamental skills that each position must master? Is there one specifically that's best to master?
  
• If there's something I'm not good at, should I work on developing that skill? Or just focus on what I can do well? (I'd rather work on my weakness to become a better overall player, but that's just my perspective)
  
• What advice did you receive that served useful for yourself if you faced this same dilemma around position play?
  

I'm a big guy (6'9", 225) so I'm sure most people feel playing d-man would make the most sense, but I don't know enough to make that call...thus any advice from the forum is appreciated.

-Thanks, Todd

when ever your comfortable with the skill level... play defence. You'll learn more about the game that way. If you're not comfortable stick with wing.

[flyers10 57]

If everyone is basically at same skating skill level then play D. Someone's got to do it. Since your new to the game you should take turns with your teammates playing D, Wing and Center. You'll all learn more.

[Chadd 916]

Play every position and learn the responsibility of those positions, it will make you a more rounder hockey player overall. I hate talking to guys that want to play on our team and hearing them say "I'm a RW" or "I'm a LD". There's nothing wrong with preferences, but know how to play every position.

[SouthpawTRK 1]

Whatever team you join, they will appreciate you more if you have an open mind when it comes to which position you play. Just like Chadd said, play every position and learn the responsibilities of each position. If you want to get better, then that is the best ways to improve; have an open mind and learn as much as you can about playing as a winger, center or defender. If you join a entry level beer league/rec league team, they will usually put the new skaters on offense; especially if your backwards skating skills need work. However, many times you get a lot of guys that just want to play offense and not to many guys want to play defense; so if you show an open mind to playing different positions, you will become a better player than most of your team mates in due time.

[goblue9280 33]

Play every position and learn the responsibility of those positions, it will make you a more rounder hockey player overall. I hate talking to guys that want to play on our team and hearing them say "I'm a RW" or "I'm a LD". There's nothing wrong with preferences, but know how to play every position.

+1 As long as you're in a league that matches your skill level, everyone should be fine with you trying out all positions. Just let them know you're new to the sport. Honestly, you should be fine at any position... seeing as how you're a natural athlete, I would expect you'll pick everything up rather quickly... and find what you are most comfortable at.

[mug25 2]

As a recent beginner I can tell you this...

Playing Defense, and playing it where I try my hardest definitely has helped me become a better skater. I was able to skate backwards pretty well when I began playing Ice Hockey due to me playing Roller 4 yrs ago but I've gotta say, the skating you do when I play D has really helped my game as a Forward.

Just my 2 cents.

[tareatingrat 4]

I would say it depends on whether you care or not.

If you prefer one position over another, try to play that, so you enjoy the game and develop. Eventually, you'll probably want to try different positions.

If you don't care, do what was said above and play every position.

[wrangler 157]

As a recent beginner I can tell you this...

Playing Defense, and playing it where I try my hardest definitely has helped me become a better skater. I was able to skate backwards pretty well when I began playing Ice Hockey due to me playing Roller 4 yrs ago but I've gotta say, the skating you do when I play D has really helped my game as a Forward.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree. Playing D, or even covering a D position for a teammate caught at the other end during an opponent's rush, gives you opportunities for turnarounds and skating backwards. If you want to hustle, and you want to properly skate, you'll be motivated to get in position and transition to skating backwards. And the more you do it, the better you'll get.

[Lostkoz 0]

Play every position and learn the responsibility of those positions, it will make you a more rounder hockey player overall. I hate talking to guys that want to play on our team and hearing them say "I'm a RW" or "I'm a LD". There's nothing wrong with preferences, but know how to play every position.

I agree whole heartedly. Now how do I get kids parents to understand this when apparently to a parent only the center position exists?

[Chadd 916]

I agree whole heartedly. Now how do I get kids parents to understand this when apparently to a parent only the center position exists?

Ask how they were smart enough to procreate. Hmm, maybe that's why I don't coach anymore. You can give them the usual "best interest of the team" or "giving players a better understanding of the game" type of comments, but we both know that most of them really don't care about anything other than junior's goals and (to a lesser extent) assists.

Seriously though, get the kids on board with the idea and you should be fine. Convincing kids to play wing usually isn't that hard, it's getting them into playing defense that can be tough. I usually go with the "extra ice time" angle at first or play to the vanity of the older kids.

[t6lock 24]

I grew up playing defense all of the time and I thank whoever put me in that position, but now I'm a forward mainly because of my size :( . I think learning the defensive aspects of the game first is huge. It made me a better positional player and I like to think of myself as a defensively responsible forward. Right now on my team, we do have a few players new to hockey in their first or second year and it would be H.E. double hockey sticks if they played defense.

From my experience and possibly bias opinion, my suggestion would be once you are comfortable with skating and stopping is to play defense first.

[rogerwaldrup 0]

What do you LOVE!about playing the game. Let that guide you. The thing you love about playing is probably a natural fit for you. Continue with the basics and follow your natural flow. Because that's your natural talent and will be what you become the best at.

[gilbois 1]

I agree with Chadd also, just play the position you like the best. However, in my experience, D gets more ice time in rec-hockey because less people want or know how to play the position.

[halfmoonyote 0]

My only advice (regarding playing D) to the OP would be this...I play D for 2 teams in 2 different leagues - there is more to playing D than just skating backwards and seeing the ice while moving backwards. Equally as critical, you have to develop an adequate ability to be able to see the ice moving out of the zone and starting a rush for your unit moving up ice. I don't know how competitive your leagues are, or in what context you are thinking about playing, but I know in my 'competitive' league (the other league is just fun), if your DMen aren't adept at corralling the puck and igniting the rush, your team will get pinned in your own zone all game, and will get scored on all game. A few teams have guys playing D that just ice the puck (or pass it wildly to no one in particular) when they feel the heat, instead of just lifting their head and hitting an open forward.

[toddmanley 0]

I headed over to Sharks Ice last night to watch a EE game (lowest level league is EEEE). I saw a few d-men who were only good for dumping the puck down to the other end of the rink. They weren't too effective in helping their own teammates with their heads-down passing. On the other hand, it looked like there were a good players that were playing down a level or two as their skills were much better than everybody else. Either that or they're just sandbaggers...

[TexasICE 0]

I recently just started and have played 3 games now which i have only tried defense once. The thing that helped me the most was watching some of the people that knew where to be at what times so when i went in i would have an idea of where to be. defense was way harder to me because i got anxious and wanted to chase the puck a little bit. good luck man

[docar15 1]

At 6'9" you will cover allot of the net, especially if you still have your knees after playing college basketball. Some rinks even have goalie gear you can borrow to try it.

[Darkbyte 0]

To start with, why not gravitate towards what suits you best? Do you find yourself hanging out in a particular spot on the ice?

I find some people are naturally defensively minded, others offensively minded.

One thing, if your defensively minded, make sure you spend time with the puck.. its too easy to suck with the puck because you dont spend as much time with it when your starting off... i.e. you get it and pass it off, rather than going for a skate with it and taking a shot on net.

IMO play the position that you naturally lean towards but make sure you dabble elsewhere when you get the chance so you have a more rounded skill set.

[fatwabbit 93]

Chadd got it right, play every position and understand it, and then have an open mind. I've played most positions including goalie, and prefer to play on the left wing... however every team I play on seems to want me in defence