I lost my passion to play, and unsure if I’ll get it back

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Just wanted to put myself out there to see if anyone else has felt this way. (Or is interested in my sob-story lol!)

After countless years of playing; novice, middle school, high school, college, adult leagues, I seemingly have lost the passion of playing hockey in every shape and form. (Ball, Roller and Ice). After playing approximately three weeks into my Ball Hockey league, I had two immediate family members pass two weeks apart. Not to mention juggling a one year old, two jobs, personal life with my wife, and taking courses at school part time - hockey seems to have slowly drifted away.

The sport has guided me through some of the best times, and worst times in my life. It feels really sad thinking about how I don’t even find much interest in it at all lately. hopefully (or maybe) when my schedule lightens up, I’ll get the urge to play again.

sucks feeling this way!

Click to read more...

 

[Brodeur]

Sorry to hear about your relatives, that's always gonna be tough to navigate.

Pre-Covid, I had gotten burned out. When I was younger I could happily play 3-4 times a week but that gradually dwindled down to once a week. And even then most of the time I wasn't thrilled going to the rink and it felt more like a burden than anything. My teammates who I'd hang out with after games had one by one either moved or stopped playing. I started taking every other season off and that helped recharge my desire to play. And thanks to the Covid hiatus, my knees feel so much better than they did five years ago.

Edit: Also remembered a stretch last year when my beer league resumed but I was coming off a breakup. Usually hockey was my escape from work/personal stuff, but I'd be sitting in net dwelling on it. Took a little time, but eventually got back to normal playing again.

 

[puckpilot]

A bunch of years back, I was feeling the same way. I didn't get excited to go to games anymore. I was thinking about hanging it up for good, but I wasn't sure. Then, life kind of made the choice for me. I ran into some significant but not major health problems, and just like that, I wasn't able to play anymore, at not least until they figured out what was wrong and I got treatment.

As I was lying around not being able to do anything but watch TV and be miserable, I had time to think about what I'd do if I couldn't play hockey anymore. Been skating since I was 6. Haven't been off the ice for more than a couple of weeks for 20 years. Maybe this was life giving me a nudge. The illness kick the crap out of my body. Lost about 20lbs of muscle in about a month. First time I stepped back on the ice, it was bambi legs, and it almost felt like I'd never skated before, so I knew I was in for a bit of a haul if I was going get my body back up to being able to play hockey again. Now, would be a good time to simply call it a day.

But, I decided, I was going to give it a go. And I though if I was going to kind of be starting back at square one in terms of skating and stick handling and everything else, I might as well start like a beginner, so I could eliminate/improve on as many of my flaws as possible.

While rebuilding my stride and puckhandling skills, I started to remember why I loved hockey so much, and I started to appreciate just being healthy enough to be active. I also started to reevaluate why I play. I think before I was too focused on the importance of winning and when things didn't go right, I tended to let it affect my enjoyment of the game. But just spending all that time on the ice just practising, with no games on the horizon, I found myself just enjoying the moment. Work on my shot. Work on my edges. Working for the sake of just getting better with no expectation other than that, it was very liberating.

I love being on the ice, and in some ways I think I love just being out there practising more than I like the games now. But I still play, and I'm still competitive, but my primary goal when I play games now is to simply get a good sweat going and maybe try to apply some of the stuff I learned in practise and have some fun, regardless of the score. The game isn't important anymore, but the stuff around it is, the exercise and just trying to get a few laughs in.

So, IMHO, try thinking about the reasons you play. Maybe you'll figure out what you really want out of hockey. If you can't find anything you want out of hockey, then it's probably time to step back.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

I've taken a season off as well specifically to find the love of the game to play again. N after about 4 months of not playing I am starting to miss it

 

[Yukon Joe]

After countless years of playing; novice, middle school, high school, college, adult leagues, I seemingly have lost the passion of playing hockey in every shape and form. (Ball, Roller and Ice). After playing approximately three weeks into my Ball Hockey league, I had two immediate family members pass two weeks apart. Not to mention juggling a one year old, two jobs, personal life with my wife, and taking courses at school part time - hockey seems to have slowly drifted away.

First of all grief is a hell of a thing to navigate nevermind two at once. Losing interest in things that you were previously passionate is a fairly common symptom, of grief. Don't be hard on yourself. Not to mention all the other stuff you have going on in your life.

But also - people change over time. It's okay to not be as interesting in the games you played as a child to when you're an adult. I'm the opposite - I grew up curling, also played as an adult, but when I picked up hockey as an adult I haven't curled since. I'm positive I'll go back to the sport (it's a great sport and social activity), but right now I am loving playing something completely different.

So sounds like you have some ongoing hockey commitments and I can't really advise there. But when you have a chance try picking up a new sport (or shockingly - a hobby that isn't even a sport at all). Hockey will always be there when you want to comeback to it.

 

[Slats432]

Sometimes when other things happen focus gets shifted. Sorry for the losses.

 

[Sky04]

Take a break, seems like you got too many things going on right now and hockey isn't providing the escape that it should in this situation. Given the amount of time you put into the sport I'm sure you'll miss it and return down the line.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Used to play 2-3x a week in my 20's in 2 adult leagues. Then it went down to 1...then when I got into a very serious relationship I stopped playing (4 years ago). I definitely miss it, but I'm married now and just don't really have the time anymore to be playing games at 1030 at night. I'll get back into it eventually, but it's not high on my list of priorities.

 

[oldunclehue]

Just wanted to put myself out there to see if anyone else has felt this way. (Or is interested in my sob-story lol!)

After countless years of playing; novice, middle school, high school, college, adult leagues, I seemingly have lost the passion of playing hockey in every shape and form. (Ball, Roller and Ice). After playing approximately three weeks into my Ball Hockey league, I had two immediate family members pass two weeks apart. Not to mention juggling a one year old, two jobs, personal life with my wife, and taking courses at school part time - hockey seems to have slowly drifted away.

The sport has guided me through some of the best times, and worst times in my life. It feels really sad thinking about how I don’t even find much interest in it at all lately. hopefully (or maybe) when my schedule lightens up, I’ll get the urge to play again.

sucks feeling this way!

Sorry for your loss. I think we all go through it. I played major junior, junior A and senior AAA in my province for most of my 20's. Hitting, fighting, fast play hockey...loved the sport and never saw myself losing interest. But life gets busy and priorities change, wife, kids, work all come along during those times and then you switch to whats worth it to be away in your down time. And for me my kids, their hockey and being there became the priority vs late games/practices and long bus trips.

I think you have a tonne on your mind and things going on, its on the back burner...thats ok.

After life settled a bit and kids have become more independent, I play one time a week with a bunch of guys in the same boat as me. Its fast paced and a blast. No hitting, no slapshots and just wheel around having fun. I really enjoy those nights now.

 

[beedee]

Sorry for your losses. I experience Beer League burn-out too. I took this season off and told my captain I'd be back next season. The late game times, the ringers, the opposing team's a-hole that plays like scouts are watching, etc...I found a private pick-up to join, but haven't played in it yet. Now that the NHL season is fully underway I find myself missing playing a bit, and actually subbed on a team this weekend that I've subbed off and on for the past two seasons. It was fun to get back out there without the commitment.

TLDR; taking a break is ok and normal, maybe sub or play pick-up when you feel up to it?

 

[Sol]

I think we all get burned out. Especially NHL players. When everything about you revolves around a puck and a stick, there’s not much there for fulfillment. When Players struggle randomly people always say injury or whatever but I like to think that they might just not be in it.

 

[Ducks4Cup]

I took time off of leagues and just played pick up a couple times a week. No pressure, play for the fun of it, no commitment to a set schedule, and unlike beer league where you’re stuck with the same teammates you can drive away from the rink knowing you won’t have to play with ‘that guy’ who pisses you off.
I found I enjoyed the sport more

 

[ceg195]

Just wanted to put myself out there to see if anyone else has felt this way. (Or is interested in my sob-story lol!)

After countless years of playing; novice, middle school, high school, college, adult leagues, I seemingly have lost the passion of playing hockey in every shape and form. (Ball, Roller and Ice). After playing approximately three weeks into my Ball Hockey league, I had two immediate family members pass two weeks apart. Not to mention juggling a one year old, two jobs, personal life with my wife, and taking courses at school part time - hockey seems to have slowly drifted away.

The sport has guided me through some of the best times, and worst times in my life. It feels really sad thinking about how I don’t even find much interest in it at all lately. hopefully (or maybe) when my schedule lightens up, I’ll get the urge to play again.

sucks feeling this way!

Much more important things in life than hockey my friend.

 

[Rempe73]

A bunch of years back, I was feeling the same way. I didn't get excited to go to games anymore. I was thinking about hanging it up for good, but I wasn't sure. Then, life kind of made the choice for me. I ran into some significant but not major health problems, and just like that, I wasn't able to play anymore, at not least until they figured out what was wrong and I got treatment.

As I was lying around not being able to do anything but watch TV and be miserable, I had time to think about what I'd do if I couldn't play hockey anymore. Been skating since I was 6. Haven't been off the ice for more than a couple of weeks for 20 years. Maybe this was life giving me a nudge. The illness kick the crap out of my body. Lost about 20lbs of muscle in about a month. First time I stepped back on the ice, it was bambi legs, and it almost felt like I'd never skated before, so I knew I was in for a bit of a haul if I was going get my body back up to being able to play hockey again. Now, would be a good time to simply call it a day.

But, I decided, I was going to give it a go. And I though if I was going to kind of be starting back at square one in terms of skating and stick handling and everything else, I might as well start like a beginner, so I could eliminate/improve on as many of my flaws as possible.

While rebuilding my stride and puckhandling skills, I started to remember why I loved hockey so much, and I started to appreciate just being healthy enough to be active. I also started to reevaluate why I play. I think before I was too focused on the importance of winning and when things didn't go right, I tended to let it affect my enjoyment of the game. But just spending all that time on the ice just practising, with no games on the horizon, I found myself just enjoying the moment. Work on my shot. Work on my edges. Working for the sake of just getting better with no expectation other than that, it was very liberating.

I love being on the ice, and in some ways I think I love just being out there practising more than I like the games now. But I still play, and I'm still competitive, but my primary goal when I play games now is to simply get a good sweat going and maybe try to apply some of the stuff I learned in practise and have some fun, regardless of the score. The game isn't important anymore, but the stuff around it is, the exercise and just trying to get a few laughs in.

So, IMHO, try thinking about the reasons you play. Maybe you'll figure out what you really want out of hockey. If you can't find anything you want out of hockey, then it's probably time to step back.

Yea I recently had open heart surgery, and almost a year later, I still can’t lift or play basketball due to some complications. It really sucks but like you, I hope I can get healthy enough to be able to just play the game.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Just wanted to put myself out there to see if anyone else has felt this way. (Or is interested in my sob-story lol!)

After countless years of playing; novice, middle school, high school, college, adult leagues, I seemingly have lost the passion of playing hockey in every shape and form. (Ball, Roller and Ice). After playing approximately three weeks into my Ball Hockey league, I had two immediate family members pass two weeks apart. Not to mention juggling a one year old, two jobs, personal life with my wife, and taking courses at school part time - hockey seems to have slowly drifted away.

The sport has guided me through some of the best times, and worst times in my life. It feels really sad thinking about how I don’t even find much interest in it at all lately. hopefully (or maybe) when my schedule lightens up, I’ll get the urge to play again.

sucks feeling this way!

Not to play armchair psychologist, but what you're describing has the hallmarks of dealing with some combination of grief, burnout, and depression. Losing your interest in things that have given you joy for a long time is a pretty big sign of maybe needing a mental health checkup. Just from what you describe in that post, it sounds like you barely have any free time at all. That leads to all sorts of outcomes under the heading of "mental exhaustion".

I hope you have the opportunity to redirect some of that time and energy to taking care of yourself. Maybe start with the basics -- sleep, diet, exercise -- and go from there.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

So I wanted to thank everyone who has commented on here so far. Thanks for the support! I ended up playing in a free skate last night with a bunch of men/women in different skill levels.

Although I forgot how much your thighs and legs impacted skating, I had such a great time. Hopefully I can sprinkle in a few games before the end of the year

 

[Magic 8 Ball]

Good or bad life happens. I had a child at 28, got cancer, work got busier, found other hobbies, and all of a sudden I was in my early 40s. Decided as a lark to go to a pick-up skate one night, and have been playing again since.

It won't hurt to take time off and reset. My reset was almost 15 years. I suggest put your gear into storage and one day you'll want to pull it out again.

 

[predfan24]

I got sick a few years ago and that took me, involuntarily, out of playing. My energy is significantly impacted by illness. I need lots of sleep. If I ever felt well enough to play again there is no way in hell I'd sign up for a league that has most of the games starting at 9pm or later. That shit was exhausting, though fun, even in my 20s.