Hockey has been around for centuries and was first played (as we know it today) in Europe back in the 1800s. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the game started becoming more popular in North America. In the 1910s, the NHL started organizing the game internationally, which eventually led to the creation of World Hockey Championships in 1954.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need To Learn How To Play Pick Up Hockey?
We all know that hockey is a physically demanding sport. If you’re not used to it, then playing the game could seriously hurt you. Injuries are common and you’re bound to experience at least a few during your career. Luckily, the majority of injuries you’ll sustain while playing hockey are minor and can be easily treated. The biggest risks when playing the game are essentially the same as any other sport: car accidents, injuries from falling down, and getting hit by a puck. In most cases, these are preventable risks that you should learn how to avoid.
One of the major benefits of playing hockey is that it teaches you how to be a disciplined athlete. You’ll need to stay in good physical condition to be able to play the game at a high level, so make sure you’re eating the right food and staying active. If you learn how to play pick up hockey, you’re sure to appreciate all of its health benefits.
How Does It Work?
In the game of hockey, two teams of five players each take turns shooting at a small goal that’s been placed midway between the goalposts. The object of the game is to score more goals than your opponent and, at the end of the game, the team that has scored the most goals is the winning team. The player who is responsible for protecting the puck is typically referred to as the defenseman.
If you ever played soccer or basketball, then playing pick up hockey is a lot like going back in time to those sports and adding a bit of an ice theme to the gameplay. When a puck is shot at the goal, the goalie (a position that also exists in basketball and soccer) dives to his right to handle the puck. Just like a goalkeeper in soccer or basketball, the goalie in hockey protects the net by blocking the shot with his body. However, unlike his counterpart in other sports, the goalie in hockey is not equipped with a mask or a visor.
The Importance Of Puck Handling
One of the major differences between hockey and the other sports is that hockey is a possession-based game. In other words, the person who handles the puck the most effectively will end up with more goals than the other players on the ice. Aside from scoring a goal, the main objective of a hockey player is to protect the puck at all costs. In order to do this, the player needs to have good stick handling skills. In addition to that, he needs to be able to anticipate the plays that his opponent will make so that he can block or deflect the puck away before it reaches any other player on the ice.
While it’s important to know how to score goals, it’s even more vital that you know how to prevent them. Being on the receiving end of a good hardcheck is no fun, and it can really hurt your game. Since hockey is a violent sport, it’s important that you’re not looking for trouble but rather are avoiding it at all costs. Just like any other sport, hockey is better mastered with practice and experience. Make sure you have both and you’re sure to enjoy the game for many years to come.