Hockey is a game that is absolutely loved by many, played by people of all ages across the world. But while the sport is a global phenomenon, there are certain things that you shouldn’t do and shouldn’t try to implement into your hockey game. Here are some of them.
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Don’t Try To Be A Good Sport
One of the things that might ruin your game day is thinking about how to behave as a good sport. After all, hockey is mostly played by adults, so for the most part, they already know how to behave and how to act in a responsible and fair way. It’s sometimes tempting to try and help your team win by, for example, throwing a few dirty tricks here and there. But the truth is, this won’t do any good for you or your team. Trying to be a good sport doesn’t mean that you have to like losing as much as your teammates do. Being a good sport also means that you don’t give your teammates any reason to dislike or disrespect you.
Another example of not being a good sport is trying to be the hero of the game by scoring the first goal of the game. Chances are, the other team will now be forced to play with just one goalie, which makes it easier for you to score. But what happens when you end up scoring a few ridiculous goals because the other team doesn’t have another player guarding the net? They might start calling you names and even worse, they might decide that they don’t want to play with you anymore. Trying to be a good sport in hockey doesn’t mean that you have to be a pushover and never say no to the other team.
Don’t Forget To Have Fun
Hockey is a game that is mostly about having fun, so don’t forget to have some fun with your team. This doesn’t mean that you have to play around just to make things interesting or that you should play dirty. It just means that you should try to have some fun with your teammates during breaks in the action and between periods. Having fun is important because otherwise, you might feel like you’re wasting your time, even though you’re having fun playing the game.
One of the worst things that you can do in hockey is to take the game too seriously, which is why you should never look at winning as your only goal. You might become obsessed with trying to beat the other team and end up taking your game way too seriously, which can hurt you in the long run. Remember: playing hockey is supposed to be fun, so don’t forget about having fun.
Avoid The Crowd
If you’re playing at an indoor rink, there is absolutely no reason to go anywhere near the corner or far wall, especially since these are the areas where the fans are usually gathered. You don’t need their help, and you certainly don’t want to attract them to your game with some trash talking or a well-timed elbow to the head. Besides, shouting out plays and encouraging your teammates is the best way to help them perform, so don’t ever shout out plays or call out your teammates, particularly not during important moments in the game, because they’ll probably take it the wrong way and end up not wanting to play with you anymore. Avoid the crowd, because most of them don’t know how to play the sport properly. They’ll cheer for your enemy, jot down plays and try to rally the team against you, which might end up playing into your hands, causing tensions and unfair advantages.
Use Your Naughty Corner
If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard rink, you can always use it for a trick shot or two. Besides, any game is a good game when played outside, so take this opportunity to have some fun. You might want to set some tables and some lawn chairs around the outside of the rink and enjoy some burgers and hot dogs while watching the game, or better yet, take a little break from the action and play some hockey catch. Just make sure that your mother doesn’t walk down the driveway during the playing of the national anthem, because she’ll definitely be offended by some of the words in there (and she’s not even gonna know what they mean).
Hockey is a game that is a combination of skill, strategy, and athleticism. While there are certain things that you should never do, it is also a game that you can play and enjoy, particularly if you’re having fun with your friends and family around the backyard rink. Make sure to have fun, but also make sure to play within the rules and spirit of the game.