How did you find your position.

[Hopesfail 0]

So I just started getting into playing hockey, still doing stick and puck to get used to handling the puck and getting more comfortable skating. I'm 30 and never played organized hockey so my question to everyone is how did you end up playing the position you do now? I know I don't have a very strong shot, and I feel like I am a pass first type of person, which I think would kind of direct me towards center, but I don't have that hockey sense/flow of the game intelligence yet. So I'm thinking either defense or a wing? I'm comfortable skating backwards and changing direction from forwards to backwards and vice versa. Is it something that I should just try playing a couple positions in a C/D league and see what feels best to me? Thanks for any input!

[goblue9280 33]

Yes, play every position, it's the best way to increase your overall hockey IQ. We do the same thing with kids, move them around to every position for at least the first few years.

[akravetz 29]

What the guy above said. I coach a mite team here in Peoria and we just put the kids out there for every position. Not only does it improve their overall playing and ability but it teaches them that if they are a winger, you sometimes have to help the D-man and vica versa. Easier lesson to teach when you are at the "short end" of the stick. Myself, I gravitated towards defense because it just appealed to my nature but I spent three seasons playing every position before I got there.

Good luck. I'd say just have fun with it. You might be geared towards something now but might change your mind later.

[chk hrd 164]

Start watching as much hockey as possible. Focus on one position at a time and study (not just watch) what they are doing, where they go, who the cover, etc. If you are starting to play with an experienced group I think Wing is the easiest to start at. There is less skating and responsibility. Centers have more area to cover and more responsibilities. Defense is the toughest to learn correctly. It may have a little less skating but you really need to know the game and what to anticipate. Defense takes the longest to learn to play right.

You need to learn all the positions and play them to see what feels the best. To be a complete player you need to be able to play everything, it gives you alot of insight on what to expect; if you are playing forward knowing what a D-man is trying to get you to do and vice-a-versa. Makes sure to learn to play 2 way hockey. I always taught that you are not an offensive or defensive player. When the puck is in the D-zone everyone is defense and when it is in the O-zone everyone is offense.

[wrangler 157]

Good advice here, and there's no rule that says you have to pick a position immediately and never change. Go to pickup hockey, and you'll play anything and everything. You'll figure out what you like best, and what suites your skills as they develop. Or you won't care, and will be happy playing any and every position. There's nothing wrong with that, either.

[strosedefence34 175]

when I was playing as a kid and first started out I wanted to score goals so I played forward. Around 11 or 12 I was trying out for some teams and I wasn't making them because at that age every kid wants to score goals so my dad told me try defense. I started playing it and making a bunch of the travel teams. Moved to college realized I had some offensive moves and my coach moved me from defense back to forward. Now as a beer leaguer I play where ever Im needed. Mostly forward.

[scorer75 9]

I play at least two, sometimes even three different positions on every shift...

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I was put on wing just because it was the easiest position to hide my lack of abilities.

[sickwilly 37]

Lots of good suggestions so far. I agree that it's a good idea to try everything.

I have always played where the coach put me. I started on D, then played everywhere when I made my first travel teams. When I started playing forward, they'd use me to shadow really good players on the other teams at first. When I started scoring more than most of the guys, They generally put me at center (sometimes wing, depending on linemates/chemistry or on the PP). I regret not staying on D, as that probably would have been my best natural position playing at a high level.

Now that I'm older, fatter, in worse shape, and less motivated I usually play wing (either side). I play center if needed, or if I'm with weak linemates.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I think I'd actually prefer playing center if I was a better skater/player. I like the offensive and defensive responsibilities, and I absolutely love taking faceoffs :)

[donkers 31]

I'm good at making that first pass out of the zone so I've always played D. Not really a position but growing up I played a lot of point on the PP and loved it. You really get to control the game albeit for a very short period of time.

[badger_14 601]

I was put on wing just because it was the easiest position to hide my lack of abilities.

This.

I play shooter-tutor for my cross-ice kids, and this has had a pretty strong positive effect on my game-sense as a player. Oddly enough.

[tareatingrat 4]

I usually play center, but that's just because I chase the puck so much, it actually makes it look like I know what I'm doing.

I find the wing difficult. Not to play, but due to my personality, I always want the puck and it takes me out of position sometimes.

I'm terrible at D. I watch the puck too much, not the man.

I love scoring and making a sweet assist, so I'm almost always a forward unless nobody else is going to play D, or there are too many forwards at pickup.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I can't skate backwards or take a slapshot, so that pretty much keeps me from playing D :)

[MountainKing 10]

I've rotated around over time and just felt most comfortable at wing. I enjoy playing D and blocking shots but I'm not a strong enough skater to be back there full time. If I had better hockey skills I would love playing center and my endurance from being a long distance runner really plays well into that position however I'm more of a grinder than anything so the wing position just works for my style of play.

[Chadd 916]

I'm also a big fan of trying out all of the various positions and finding what works for you. Over the years I have bounced around to everywhere but net, based on the needs of the team. I love making quick transition plays and breaking the team out of the zone when I play D. getting in hard on the forecheck as a winger is great and winning big faceoffs as a center is a nice ego boost. Ironically, I tend to find myself being more of a play maker when I am playing on the wing. I tend to go wide and use the time and space to set up other guys when I have the puck on my stick. The lower level of defensive responsibility is nice as well.

All of that said, any high level coach with teach his/her system using the terms F1, F2, F3 and not Center, Left Wing, Right Wing. What that means is your responsibility changes based on your position relative to the puck. For example, with our low level beer league team, the first man tries to take away the middle of the ice and force the player or puck up the boards. The second man tries to get to the boards and create a turnover. The third guy is in the middle, ready to drive the net or back check. Defensively, the first man back will take the slot, the second man will take the point on the side where the puck is and the third man back takes the other defensive point. It's not a high level system by any means, but it does help keep everyone on the same page and you know what to expect from the other guys on the ice.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I'd probably be laughed out of the room if I were to ever suggest some sort of structure.

I'm sure part of it would be the "you suck, why would we do what you say?" mindset.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

Ended up playing defense because of my ability to skate backwards just as fast as my teammates could skate forwards when I was in middle school and high school. Sure, I'd get creamed because I'm smaller, but it made me just that much more motivated to be a better skater so they couldn't catch me haha.

I play forwards from time to time for my one team, I know the positioning, but I still stay in the defensive mindset and for the most part. I'll play high in the zone if I'm not forechecking and I'm usually the first forward back on the backcheck.

[Munsons 2]

When I started playing it was with guys who were way beyond my skill level so they put me on one of the wings. It's the easiest position in terms of responsibility, so this gave me a chance to learn the game. Once my skating improved I got some confidence and started playing other positions.

[lurkndestroy 1]

I ended up a d-man due to guys never wanting to play back. You usually get the most ice time and when you're on the back end you get to quarterback things a little bit...the 3 on 1's get old quick though.

[XveritasX 13]

While playing minor hockey I always played forward. My coach had me playing center and I really never thought anything of it. One game my linemate who played left wing asked if he could try center for a shift. We switched and on our next shift we scored two goals and almost had a third. Pretty good for only being out for a minute. We decided to stick with that.

Now for men's league I prefer to play wing, I don't care which side. If my team is short a couple players we will usually run 2 centers and 3 lines of wings. In that case I normally play center because I have the stamina and skating ability.

[hunt3rsean 44]

I started playing hockey in midgets. I just started in the wing position and have just played there all through the years. I played center a few times but have always succeeded best on the wing. Now that I have played in rec league for a few years I've played all positions. Since I'm one of the few who actually back check I often will play the center position when we are short some guys. I'm not great at face offs but play a consistent two-way style. But again, I still prefer the wing. I like to make plays and fore-check. I find board battles fun and it allows me to play against the walls. Also means I have less defensive responsibility in my zone which is always a plus.

I've NEVER played defense before except in two instances. First - we only had 7 players for a ice game and only 2 were our normal defensive players. So I was put on D. Safe to say it was a disaster as I had zero idea where to be and have no knowledge of gap control. I was kicked up to an offensive position the last half of the game and we almost won. But I had fun, so I decided to play defense in pick-up games. Which helped because the second time I had to play defense was during a roller tournament when our whole team was made up of forwards. Mind you I had played very little roller hockey up to that point....but still had a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind playing defense in a lower league because that's how bad at it I am, but actually enjoy it.

Pick-up games are an excellent place to figure out what position works best. Main reason is that if you mess up...it doesn't matter! So I tend to rotate into a defensive position during pick-up to work on gap control, positioning, and just viewing the ice from the back end. That way if I have to rotate low as a forward or fill in on D....I don't feel so awkward.

[greyskull 21]

As a kid I was always tall; so Spent most of my junior hockey, hearing "Tall Guy. Go D"

Always wanted to be a winger!

[hunt3rsean 44]

Could have been "Tall guy...go stand in front of the goalie during the PP".

[crispy92 14]

Started playing ball hockey before I could skate and the coach put me at D because I was big for my age and I turned the crease into my house. Once I started playing on skates I was foward because I couldn't skate so I just chilled in front of the net and got garbage goals. Now I play D again even though I can't skate backwards that well but I know how to play defense well.