Beer league do's and don't's

[FlyersFan96]

I start playing beer league tomorrow night. This is my first time doing so, what are some things I should and shouldn't do?

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[Terry Yake]

do bring beer

don't forget to bring beer

 

[Beezeral]

Do:
Play hard
Drink beer before and after game
Play simple fundamental hockey


Don't:
Be that guy who treats the game like game 7 of the SCF
Play overly physical
Take long shifts
Slash sticks or legs.
Hack at the goalie if he has the puck between his legs

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Try but don't try so hard that you end up pissing someone off.

Normally I would never advocate that kind of attitude but it's not worth a stick in the ankle.

Oh, and don't be a douchenozzle, wear your shoulder pads.

 

[mikitas donut]

Try your best, skate hard and don't coast.

Have fun and don't take it too seriously.

Get pucks on net quickly, don't putz around with the puck too much if you have a clear shot. You are more likely to score in a beer league if you're quick, especially on the backhand.

Bring beer.

When you get the puck, don't panic and throw it away like it's a grenade. You're better off being stripped of the puck instead of giving it away.

Don't clear the puck up the middle; off the boards or glass.

Keep your head up and watch out for danger.

Bring beer.

Don't be the guy that walks around the locker room naked for several minutes while trying to start up conversations.

 

[Wilch]

Must Do's
- Chirp your teammates
- Chirp your opponents
- Chirp the referees
- Chirp the by-standers

Do's
- Take short shifts
- Fist bumps, encouraging words everytime someone gets off
- Keep those feet moving and keep yer head up
- Keep your stick below waist level to avoid gouging someone without a cage or shield
- Respect your goalie and buy him beer

Don't's
- Take point blank slapshots at goalies or players unless you're dead sure about your accuracy
- Try to triple deke or take hard slapshot bombs at a goalie during warmups in the first few shots, goalies need to get a feel for the puck on his first few shots
- Put yourself in a position to injure or to be injured
- Be the idiot who forgets to take his skate guards off before jumping on the ice

For the record, I'm not a goalie. I just value their presence because I hate shooting at posts; and if it's a league game... Well... Let's just say the score won't look pretty.

 

[MattGTI]

Do- give it your best effort, enjoy it/have fun, respect everyone out there(teammates, opponents, refs), have lots of fun, wear a cage, enjoy a beer or two.

Don't- be the guy constantly looking for a call every time you go down or feel wronged, be the guy who gets "chippy" only to get angry if someone inadvertently bumps you or gets their stick up. Wear the tinted visor, take it serious to the point that it's not fun anymore. Don't be the guy that talks about his stats( nobody cares, trust me).

Go out there, play hard, and just have fun.

 

[Tryblot]

Try but don't try so hard that you end up pissing someone off.

Normally I would never advocate that kind of attitude but it's not worth a stick in the ankle.

Oh, and don't be a douchenozzle, wear your shoulder pads.

Why?

 

[Goonzilla]

I say don't be afraid to be a little bit physical. No one likes a thug, bully or cheap shot merchant, but no one likes a whiny little girlie man either.

Of course that doesn't mean you want to wipe anyone out, but it's good to say a little hello when the opportunity presents. I find if it's apparent that there's no intent to hurt anyone then the refs are pretty accommodating, like when the little guy last weekend tried to stick handle between me and the boards about four feet away on the weekend. Didn't hurt him and wasn't trying, which I think he realised, but he got tagged just a little bit and I know he went away from it and wasn't going to dare be as cheeky next time around.

Beer league's still hockey.

..and don't tell others what to do or give advice unless it's solicited or courted, just try and concentrate on your own game. Little more annoying than others with plenty of advice who are plenty deficient themselves in what they're lecturing about.

 

[Goonzilla]

I don't mind guys talking up their stats if it 's important to them. Everyone has a different idea of what's fun or what they enjoy. It 's harmless.

 

[TheRedShadow]

..and don't tell others what to do or give advice unless it's solicited or courted

I think you can do this. Just depends how good a communicator you are. I hate it when guys continually bellow "Two hands on the stick" etc but can't actually hold a conversation without looking like they're getting really angry. But, if you'r friendly and self-effacing about things I think it's possible to talk about stuff. Maybe just don't come off like you're a coach when you're not is the way to do it.

 

[Terry Yake]

Why?

yeah i'd also like to know why not wearing shoulder pads is a "beer league no"

 

[Islespuck89]

I think you can do this. Just depends how good a communicator you are. I hate it when guys continually bellow "Two hands on the stick" etc but can't actually hold a conversation without looking like they're getting really angry. But, if you'r friendly and self-effacing about things I think it's possible to talk about stuff. Maybe just don't come off like you're a coach when you're not is the way to do it.

I actually appreciate it when guys give advice but only when there a good player, i can't stand when the worst guys on the team tell you how to play ad they can't.

I know 'im not good ( I never give advice) I manage to always be top 5 in goals on my team but that's only because I am a very fast skater im not a good skater just very fast, I love when I get advice on what i can do to be a more complete player.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Don't celebrate after goals. If a teammate is close by it's cool to tap gloves or tap their shin pads with your stick but don't throw your hands in the air and jump into the glass. Even a fist pump is overdoing it.

 

[TheRedShadow]

I actually appreciate it when guys give advice but only when there a good player

It shouldn't matter. Someone else can see what you don't see. I've had really good tips on skating in particular from people who are not as good as me, or at least not as good as the things I'm good at.

 

[tarheelhockey]

If you're going to remember only one thing: take short shifts.

As a first-timer, it's a lot easier to take short shifts and then make them longer as you feel more comfortable, than to be out there sucking wind while your teammates grumble about it on the bench.

It might not feel like it during the first period, but by the third period you're going to be in a world of pain if you're skating hard for 3 minutes a shift. Give yourself 60-90 seconds (check the clock when you jump the boards) and get the heck out of there as soon as your team gets the puck across the red line.

Short shifts.

 

[Slats432]

Don't chirp at the refs. Makes you look like an idiot.

 

[haveandare]

Don't celebrate after goals. If a teammate is close by it's cool to tap gloves or tap their shin pads with your stick but don't throw your hands in the air and jump into the glass. Even a fist pump is overdoing it.

Really?

Do other people find this to be true also? Obviously, no jumping on the glass, yelling etc, but a smile and a little fist pump after a nice goal doesn't seem like too much to me.

 

[mistrhanky]

Do:
-- Bring Beer.
-- Just play your position.
-- Take short shifts and if you think you might be running long, ask the guy on the next shift to call out when you are. Everyone understands shifts can run long, but when you talk to the guy after you, they are likely to understand you are not just trying to hog.
-- Accept that someone gets screwed on a PK. Sometimes it will be you that sits.
-- Talk to your team when on the bench. Find out if they were expecting you to be somewhere you were not or do something differently.
-- Do make a first impression by doing something really unique -- like fore and back checking. Teammates like seeing hustle plays even if you are lousy.

Don't:
-- Chirp the ref, slam your stick against the boards, beg for calls.
-- Attack the goalie with pokes if the whistle has blown.
-- Feel the need to knock someone down because they are standing near your goalie and the whistle has blown. Save it for actual transgressions.
-- Whine about shift time
-- Forget that the pass is a part of hockey.
-- Don't complain if you get knocked around in front of the net, or you get stick checked aggressively. This is part of hockey. If you are banging around in front of the net and the whistle blows, stop and give the guy a tap on the shins and a ***** eating grin.
-- Excessively celebrate. If you score your first ever goal, you can let out a whoop. After that, a fist bump is usually enough. I scored my first goal in a playoff game(tied a the time) after 3 seasons. I punched my chest in celebration and might have roared a bit. After that point, I just find a teammate to bump and head back to the center. DO NOT skate down the team bench for fist bumps.
-- Don't blame anyone for goals. Take fault for your own lapses and don't comment on the others, particularly the goalie. Pick your team up not put them down. Guys know when they blow a play, knowing that you are still on their side helps.

 

[wils5150]

do have fun and dont worry about not being the best out there
do take shots on net when ever you can

dont knock someone down with out a sorry man or the alike
dont worry about stats
dont try and stick handle by the whole other team

do make new friends and enjoy

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Really?

Do other people find this to be true also? Obviously, no jumping on the glass, yelling etc, but a smile and a little fist pump after a nice goal doesn't seem like too much to me.

To me a fist pump is only appropriate if its an important goal to the game

 

[Jive Time]

Overriding theme here: Take short shifts.

 

[Ozz]

When you score, slam your stick and act upset that you did it. Then you won't offend anybody

 

[Slats432]

Really?

Do other people find this to be true also? Obviously, no jumping on the glass, yelling etc, but a smile and a little fist pump after a nice goal doesn't seem like too much to me.

Agree with you. Fist pump ok. Jumping into the glass like Ovie, not OK.

 

[NikF]

I think trying real hard is what makes it fun. People say don't try too hard but ideally all pick-up games I've played (regardless of sport) were more fun the harder everyone tried. The more emotional investment and compete the more fun it became. Then again those teams were almost always composed of my close friends.