Love playing hockey? Especially on ice, hockey is amazing. But, what about the rookies? They need special guidance and assistance with this sport. To play this game, you need to learn hockey in the first place, and you should also be familiar with ice skating. Before guidance, let's have a look at the short details of ice hockey.
Ice hockey is a sports game that is played on an ice-skating rink. The game is played between two opposing teams. They use ice hockey sticks to have a command over a rubber disc known as the puck. They have to hit the puck into each other’s goal to secure points. The team with the greatest number of goals wins the game as one point is per goal. Each team has six players on the ice rink at a time with their custom ice hockey jersey.
Below are a few important tips for beginners of ice hockey players so that they can get professional in this game.
The Basic Rules of the Game
Structure
Offside- The offside is said to be declared in the game when the attacking player enters the opponent's area before the puck has entered. the zones are demarcated through the lines.
Icing- Icing is when the team shoots the puck from the center of their defensive zone to the opposition's goal line.
Faceoffs- the game enters a faceoff as soon as it begins and ends when a goal is secured, or the referee whistles.
Duties Of The Players
As mentioned above, six players play at a time. Their duties are:
- Goalie: His duty is just like a goalkeeper in football. He has to defend the puck from entering the net otherwise the opponent team would score points.
- Defense players: They are assigned with the task of stopping the opponents from entering their area with the puck when they do not have the puck in their control. They also provide support in the offensive zone when they have the puck in possession.
- Forward-center: These players have the responsibility of faceoffs so that they have the control of the puck and cover the ice rink from both sides.
- Forward- left and right wing: They have to play at the sides of the rink as they are responsible for defense and also score goals.
Penalties
When players mishandle their sticks and bodies, they have to obey the penalties. They give out their penalties in the penalty box. There are two types of penalties: major and minor. Major penalties are of 5 to 10 minutes or can be for a whole match also and minor penalties are for two minutes. When one team is obeying the penalty, the opposite team receives a player known as a power play and leaves when the penalty ends. However, if that player scores a goal, he immediately leaves.
Stick and body fouls cause the team to face a penalty. Below are the reasons for fouls:
Roughing: Hitting an opponent player with a hand.
Hooking: Stopping an opponent player with the stick.
High sticking: Moving the stick above the height of your shoulder or the crossbar of the goal.
Tripping: make the opponent player fall with a stick or your body part.
Interference: Stopping a player who does not have the puck.
Spearing: Hitting an opponent hard with the stick.
Charging: Jumping over the three strides to hit a player hard and take the puck in possession.
Holding: Deliberately make the opponent stand back by grabbing him.
Fighting: Physically fight with an opponent through punches, pushing and other prohibited actions.
Specific terms
Educate yourself on the ice hockey terms. Ice hockey has some specific terms like cricket has its terms, and football has its own, similarly, and there are specific terms used for different games.
Assist: it is given to any player who passes the puck to the one who scores the goal. It is usually given to 1 to 2 players.
Blueliner: it describes the players who are on defense.
Crease: it is the area of the goal which forms a semicircle in the front of the net.
Drop pass: When you pass the puck to the player behind you, you use this term.
Hat-trick: A hat-trick is when one player secures three goals in the same game.
Netminder: This term often describes the goalie on the ice.
Neutral zone: This is the area of ice between blue lines.
Power play: Power play is described above. It is when one team is serving the penalty, the other team receives an extra player in the meantime.
Sin-bin: It refers to the penalty box.
Trapper: Trapper refers to the glove which the goalie uses for catching.
Choose the Equipment of the Right Size
Select the equipment of adequate size before the game. Otherwise, the undersized or oversized equipment would affect your performance in the game negatively. For example, the gear. If you buy the wrong-sized gear, then you won't get the proper protection and you can get hurt. But when you're a beginner, first borrow the gear from someone else as the new gear is quite expensive and is not required in the starting. However, you should buy the skates because they have to be of your foot size to fit perfectly. Lastly, don't forget to wear your team’s custom ice hockey jersey to represent it.
Practice practice and practice
Everyone takes time to adjust himself to new situations. The same goes here. When you are a beginner, you'll need to practice a lot to get better at this game. Don't worry, it's easy, you just need to practice more to get perfect. when you give extra time to this sport, you'll get perfect. Show up early at the ice rink, gear up with the equipment, then practice skating and playing.
Practice ice skating with perfection, so that you can play hockey also. This will be achieved only when you are mastered skating on ice. When you have become a professional skater, then focus on your hockey skills. practice handling the puck with a stick, scoring goals, and, avoiding the acts leading to penalties. The most important key to perfection is by learning from your mistakes and observing the tricks and techniques of other players during the game. Then you will see yourself getting better day by day.
Basic Tips and Tricks
Besides learning ice hockey, take care of your fitness too. exercise regularly to keep your muscles and bones in form and strengthened. Do regular gyming, and improve your overall stamina and strength. Apart from these, learn the basic moral values required in the rink like patience, competitive skills, intelligence, and honesty.
Conclusion
These were some tips and tricks for beginners who are desperately willing to learn ice hockey. To see the victory behind you, just never get disappointed and be the motivation for yourself. Practice a lot as it is the key to perfection and professionalism. Learn from your mistakes and guide other team members too. Unite your whole team at one objective and plan a comprehensive strategy then play according to it. Then just watch people booking all the tickets to enjoy your match wearing the custom ice hockey jersey of your team and cheering for you.
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