The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
My team has had a pretty awful start to the season going 0-2-1 in the first 3 games (of 14). We have 19GA and only 7GF but the teams we are playing aren't that much better than us, we just seem to be awful in the first period with 10 GA and 2GF, we always seem to pick up and play much better after. We play in a university league so its full contact. Does anyone have any idea how to improve performance at the beginning of the game because its really frustrating to already have a 5 goal deficit by the time we get into the game
The problem is that you get into your car, drive to the rink, then sit in the locker room and get dressed. Then you guys probably go float around in warmups and think you can flip a switch and be ready to skate 100%. Doesn't work like that.
A good hard warmup will get you ready for the game. I have a set routine:
- 2 to 3 laps around the ice
- stretch
- re-adjust boot tightness
- stickhandling and shooting on the goalie
- stops and starts
- tight turns w/ crossover exits
as stupid as it sounds get the team together to kick around a soccer ball or a hackey sack. it warms the legs up and gets the blood pumping in them without being too stenuous.
I have the same issue. If I get injured it's the first period because I'm not warmed up and I play better as the game goes on.
I can't warm up at home because the drive to the rink is too far. I also don't get enough time on the ice before men's league games to properly warm up. I need to do something at the rink, but have issues with running. My cardio is skating, eliptical, and bike. I'm at a loss.
Aside from being focused and warming-up the best thing to do is just get the puck in deep and forecheck the hell out of the other team.
A couple years ago my team always started like crap, mainly because we just screwed around before the game. Our coach started putting our grinders out to start the game and they would just dump the puck in and try to go hammer the other team. It actually provides a lot of energy and gets the team going. On the other side if you try to skate it in and turn it over at the blue-line it can keep your team playing sluggish.
Keep it simple until you find your legs and hit everything in sight. It will really set the temp.
We always get about ten minutes on the ice to warm up beforehand so I'm not sure if its that, normally we do something like skate around and stretch for 5mins followed by 1v0, 2v0 and 2v1 horseshoes. We also tried starting with going out and hitting hard at the beginning but it went to a 5 on 3 within 30 seconds which wasn't very helpful. I think it might be to do with motivating the team right from the start but I don't know how to do that especially as the newest player on the team.
