Getting a bad game out of your head

[Tondog 12]

Mind you this is just beer league...

I just started playing again after a 9 year break to kill Talibans and have only had a couple of weeks ice time to get used to it again. I signed up to play in a local league after being told that I wouldn't get a call until the fall and I should get in line. Well...I got a call to replace a player out of the season and played the first time last night. What a terrible time!!! I had a lousy night with bad feet and no lungs and so you can imagine how the locker room banter was after the game. They look at you like, "who the hell is this pylon?"

I'm still totally gassed but I'm going to go and play pickup tonight so I can get that debacle of a game out of my head and so I'll probably add insult to injury but....

Does this stuff even bother you all anymore and am I making too much of it, or do you all get pissed when new players don't hold up their position well?

[SouthpawTRK 1]

First and foremost, I want to say thanks for fighting for the freedoms of this country; thanks for everything that you've done.

It's a shame that the banter in the locker room was not very friendly; win or lose; it should be about having a good time (especially in a beer league).

Considering your time away from the ice; 9 years is quite a while; I would say that you probably did not do as bad as you think. Most times we are our own worst critics. Even if you've been away from the game for 9 years, I highly doubt that you were a pylon out there; sure it may have felt like it, but like I said I highly doubt it.

I think it's really up to you on how serious you take it; I would just make sure that it doesn't interfere with your fun. If it were to interfere with your fun, then that can definitely take away the passion for the sport and also hinder you getting back up to speed to your former hockey skills.

I definitely get a little bummed when I feel like the opposing team scored I goal because I wasn't playing my position; but I try to learn from my mistake and move on. I get more pissed at the guys on the team that like to run their mouth in the locker room and on the bench towards the players that they feel are not doing well. Half the time, the guy that is running his mouth is usually not the strongest player on the team; just willing to call out others due to their own insecurities.

Hopefully, you can get past this, get back into hockey shape and have some fun.

[HOPE 0]

dont worry, its only a game, as long as you have fun playing it! you'll get back into it!

[Thepandamancan 0]

I've been that guy the team looks at and blames for the loss so I respect those guys as long as they tried. About forgetting...the thing is, I try not to forget those games. I use it to improve, cause that's exactly what will happen if you give at least give a damn about playing. Don't forget about how you played, forget about those idiots with the locker room banter.

It's just hockey, not a matter of life or death. You (I salute you for your service) and any person who doesn't have their head up their "you know what" know what the difference is. Just play hard and keep trying.

And if all else fails, I hear beer is an excellent way of forgetting about...well anything.

[ndlancer95 0]

Thank you for your service, first off. At the beginning ofthe season, I was like you, tondog. I felt like people were just blowing by me, even though I only took 3 months off. What you have to do is just take your mid off of everything before next game. Just think about the game in front of you, not how well or bad you did last game. After the first game of the season where I went -3, I just built my confidence, and went out to score 3 pts and +4 next game. It doesn't bother me anymore to have a bad game. If you learn to play and forget, you will be better off. Most people on here will probably agree that it doesn't bother them if a teammate has an off day. Everyone has bad games whether they admit it or not.

[Axxion89 32]

Perfect example was an hour ago. My teammate who is new elected to play defense as well as another. One tried his best to play but was burnt many times due to lack of ability. The other was terrible because he played as a fourth forward and would cause us to go offsides and do everything a defensemen shouldn't. needless to say, the guy who tried got words of encouragement and the guy who did not got reemed. So for me personally, if you TRY and show effort that you are trying I have no problems. But if you are going to make life hell for everyone by neglecting your duties and messing everyone else up, then I'll be pissed.

By the sounds of what you said, the guys shouldn't be ragging on you, thats just messed up.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

Everybody has bad games, from peewee to pros. It's bound to happen. I honestly think you just gotta keep your thoughts either positive or non-hockey. The last thing you want to do is spend more time thinking of how bad you did.

[tareatingrat 4]

I find the second beer helps.

If there's no beer, it takes forever to get a bad game out of my head.

So, to recap, beer.

[Tondog 12]

Thanks fellas. I just might not have hit it off with these guys because I was replacing a well liked player on the team so late in the season. The bright side to this is if they're just going to remain salty about my play I can always hope to get fired and picked up by another team after having the summer to get my wheels back.

I had a blast at drop-in last night cuz we all have a good laugh (sometimes in the middle of the play) because the spectrum of players is wide and deep. I had my dream tip in redirect off a cannon of a slap shot in front of the net, and felt like a million bucks remembering why I liked hockey so much again.

I'm probably a little too used to an environment where we encourage people and prop them up and I need to get back to living in the real world where people will say about anything.

[Chadd 916]

It's always tough when your first game with a team isn't a good one. Come out for the next game ready to play and try to change their opinion. Even if your hands and shot aren't what you're used to, make sure you get your feet moving. Since it's a beer league, bring some beer for after the game. If they aren't willing to give you a chance to get your game back after doing those two things, screw them.

[chippa13 1844]

As I always say, its beer league and beer doesn't care if you won or lost. If you show up with a good attitude, beers for the room, and make the honest effort then they should come around. Don't be afraid to share your story when you get in the room before the next game. A little, "sorry about last week guys.....its been kind of a long layoff......yadda, yadda, yadda......"

[biff44 0]

That is why they invented scotch!

[zachary 2]

Given your circumstances you can't get too down on yourself man. Anyone who puts the game down for whatever reason isn't gonna pick it back up right away. Don't let it get you down man just keep working hard to get to where you want to be! Good luck with it bro and thanks for your service! Glad you made it out in one piece!

[SB39 2]

Thank you for your service. I've been there, and my best way to deal with it was to get into the mindset of being the hardest sob on the ice to play against, like Dave Bolland for Chicago. It also helps to hit the gym or sprint some hills to get that bad feeling out of you. Good luck.

[ggreen 0]

Any team that would talk crap to someone who has served in the Armed Forces for the past 9 years doesn't deserve to play with you in my opinion. With that being said it sounds like you just need to get the hockey legs back. Seems like you are doing the right thing going to pickups and getting your fundamentals back. I'm sure it will come back to you... with time.

[Top Cheese 0]

When I have a bad game I turn to xbox, where I can score 20 goals against the computer and feel good about myself...

[t6lock 24]

I think a good way to earn some respect is to be very vocal in an encouraging way throughout the game. It might just be me, but I love it when players do that, it shows that they are comfortable on the team. Also maybe talking to your linemates between shifts to maybe ask what can be done differently etc can show that you are trying to progress and be a better teammate.

I get down on myself a lot, even if we win but I played terrible, like today's game. The puck was just fumbling all over the place around my stick and I caught a few bad edges. I'm at a 1.5 point per game and when I don't score or get a point I think a lot about how much I could have done better and all I look forward to is having a better game next time.

[BarDownGinos 3]

Thank you for your service.

Everybody has a bad game, your teammates will get over it. Chances are a guy that had a good game last go around will have a shitty one next game. Wheelin around drop in is a good way to get it out of your mind. Showing up to the rink in a good mood is also clutch, at least for me. I may still play well if I show up angry about something, but if I'm in a good mood the chances of me playing bad are real slim. My dad would always tell me in HS and College if I was playing with my tongue hanaging out of my head he knew I was going to have a good game.

Good luck with your new team. A case of beer will probably make everyone forget about last weeks game.

[interpathway 9]

I saw the title of this thread and was absolutely shocked to see it wasn't started by a goalie.

[Zombies #77 10]

Coming from someone who took 13 years off, I know how you feel. It was a little rough getting back into the swing of things. I couldn't lift the puck off the ground for the life of me, people skated around me like nothing, I wore out very easily, etc... I'm two years in now and I feel like my old self again. I have made a lot of new friends because I stayed with it, enough to start my own team! Keep with it and practice when you can, you'll be happy you did.

[farhanshak 1]

I just forget about it...short term memory.

Then I train that much harder before the next game so I don't have a bad game again...

its a continuing cycle.

[BlackIce 1]

Coming from someone who took 13 years off, I know how you feel. It was a little rough getting back into the swing of things. I couldn't lift the puck off the ground for the life of me, people skated around me like nothing, I wore out very easily, etc... I'm two years in now and I feel like my old self again. I have made a lot of new friends because I stayed with it, enough to start my own team! Keep with it and practice when you can, you'll be happy you did.

Yup Zombies is right it takes time. I was away from hockey for 11 years. I've been back for 2 years now and am finally feeling really good about most aspects of my game. I've also improved in some areas. It will take some time, just be patient!