Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world. Thanks to the NHL (National Hockey League) and other professional leagues, the sport is now available to people of all ages. With the increased popularity, comes an increased amount of interest in handicapping the game. There are many ways in which you can be creative and make slight adjustments to the rules of hockey to make it more fun for you and your friends.
Hockey is a game that is very family-friendly. You don’t need to have a lot of experience to play. Furthermore, kids can develop valuable skills such as concentration, quick thinking, and team building, which will benefit them in the future. The only thing you need is a puck, ice, and some skates.
There are many ways in which you can handicap hockey. You can adjust the length of the hockey rink, change the size of the ice pads or goal, or adjust the scoring criteria. In this article, we will discuss how you can change the rules of hockey to benefit the “little guys.”
Table of Contents
Reduce The Size Of The Puck
The puck is the central point of the game. It’s size and weight have a lot to do with how the game is played. Big pucks = big impacts. Small pucks = small impacts. Therefore, if you want to make the game more accessible for smaller individuals, you should reduce the size of the puck.
One of the main reasons that hockey poses a challenge for people with disabilities is that the puck is fairly large. It takes a while for smaller individuals to get used to controlling such a heavy ball. Not only that, but collisions between players and equipment are common. The smaller the puck, the fewer the collisions. Thus, making the game more enjoyable for the players.
No Puck Checking
Hockey is a collision-based sport. When two or more players meet in the middle of the rink, they will inevitably crash into each other. While this type of contact is great for enhancing your adrenaline levels and making the game more exciting, it’s also extremely dangerous. The majority of the injuries that happen in hockey are a result of players checking or hitting each other with their equipment. This is why it’s important to eliminate checking the puck. It’s size and weight make it difficult for players to check or hit the puck, so they have to change their strategy and go after the players instead. Also, fewer icing calls lead to more time for the players to shoot and score goals.
Reduce The Number Of Players On The Field
There are many situations where having more players on the field is better than having less. An example is when two teams are playing against each other in a home-and-away series. Having both teams on the field increases the chances of a goal being scored. This is because there are more players on the field and it makes it harder for the goalie to keep the puck out of the net.
On the other hand, when there are fewer players on the field, it becomes easier for the goalie to stop the puck. The reduced number of players also means that collisions and injuries are less common. Furthermore, players are better able to concentrate on the game because there are fewer distractions. Fights are usually a result of player egos; however, they can also break out due to frustration over a bad play. This rarely happens when there are fewer players on the field.
More Red Lights And Less Goal Flags
Red lights are important in hockey. They help keep the players alert and encourage them to keep their eyes open for the puck. Less goal flags mean that the game will go a lot faster. It’s important to keep in mind that bigger teams tend to get a little bit more leeway when it comes to the rules of the game. This can help make up for their numerical disadvantage.
A Fewer Time Outs And Extended Breaks
Time outs and extended breaks are important when it comes to keeping the flow of the game steady and making sure everyone has the same amount of time to play. However, there are cases where having a time out or extended break disrupts the rhythm of the game. This is why it’s important to find a happy medium here and reduce the number of time outs and extended breaks when possible. Fewer time outs mean that there will be more frequent changes in the game’s direction. This could lead to more frequent scoring opportunities and more excitement on the ice.
Reduce The Size Of The Ice Pads
The size of the ice pads is another area where you can adjust the rules of hockey to make it more accessible to smaller individuals. Like the puck, the size of the pads has a lot to do with how the game is played. When two players collide and slide down the ice, the smaller of the two players will have a hard time keeping their skates on the ground. Typically, this leads to them falling over and over again causing all kinds of injuries. This also makes the sport less enjoyable for players because it’s slow and tiring to keep falling over and over again.
On the other hand, one of the main reasons why people with disabilities enjoy ice hockey is because the ice pads are relatively small. This makes it easy for them to keep their balance while being on the ice. To a certain extent, this makes the sport more accessible because it requires less physicality from the players.
Adjust The Scoring Criteria
Adjusting the scoring criteria is a quick and easy way to change the rules of hockey. Normally, the game would end in a tie. However, you can change the criteria so that the first team to reach a certain score wins. This makes the game more interesting and exciting because not only do you get to determine the outcome of the game, but you can also set your own score targets.
One of the significant downsides of hockey is the lengthy halftime and post-game clean-ups. This is because there are a lot of injuries that happen during the game. The nature of the sport means that players often end up being separated by medical professionals while their bodies heal. Thankfully, with the right equipment and modifications, this is less of an issue. In the last two decades, NHL players have gotten better at taking care of themselves so that they can get back on the ice as soon as possible. The improved health has led to a much shorter rehabilitation process and an earlier return to play. This has made hockey much more competitive and appealing to sports fans.
As you can see, making minor adjustments to the rules can significantly change the way the game of hockey is played. These changes can make the sport more accessible and exciting for players of all ages and abilities. If you’re interested in handicapping the game, then you can contact your local hockey league or team to see if they have any strategies or suggestions. They may have made some changes to the rules already that can help you out.