Choosing the right hockey team can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the sport. Before you run out and sign up with the nearest team, take some time to consider your skill level, experience, and interests. For example, are you looking to join an adult league or a youth league? Which position do you play? Do you prefer playing at night or during the day? By taking the time to weigh your options, you’ll narrow down your choices and increase your chances of joining a team that’s perfect for you.
The best time to join a team
If you’re new to playing hockey, you might be wondering when is a good time to join a team. Well, if you ask an avid player, they might say that any time is good, but if you ask someone who has experience playing hockey at their local rink or a team that plays competitively there are better times than others. If it’s something you have interest in doing seriously and/or as a career option then make sure to join one in your area once training begins so that you can get used to playing with other people who know what they’re doing. This will make it easier once practices start, and even easier when competition season comes around. It will also give you more time to meet the coach before signing up for more rigorous practices. The best advice I could give anyone is this: don’t wait until the last minute to sign up because most teams fill up quickly and they often only take players who want to do it as a serious sport and not just as a hobby.
The different types of hockey teams
For most casual hockey players, there’s a huge variety of leagues and teams available. To help you figure out which is best for you, here are some of your options. Â League play : If playing competitively isn’t important to you, league play is an easy way to join a team without signing up for any formal Wpc16 training. A normal league usually consists of 7-10 teams from various skill levels, but it can be as low as 4-5 or as high as 15-20 teams (or more). In many cases, each team is given either a home or away game each week (or both), but they can also be combined into one match each week so that everyone plays at once. The upside of this type of set-up is that if you want to go out with friends after your game, you don’t have to miss the action entirely because another group has already started playing. League games last around 45 minutes.
 Recreational leagues : These types of leagues typically cater towards newbies who just want to learn how to skate and play puck while having fun with friends in a noncompetitive environment. Games generally last around 2 hours and only require 10 players per side with no refs needed! The downside is these games may not offer much in terms of coaching or strategy lessons unless otherwise specified by the league organizer.
Finding your local rink
If you’re new to hockey, one of your first stops should be at your local rink. If you’re in high school or college, it might be part of your campus, or a facility close by. Others are standalone buildings that host lots of different sports and activities, but focus primarily on ice hockey. Most rinks will have volunteer adult teams in addition to traveling amateur and youth leagues that kids can play on. If there isn’t a team available at your local rink (or if you want more options), check out websites like First Shift Sports for information about other local youth clubs across North America where kids can get involved with competitive and recreational hockey right away. And remember that just because you’re young doesn’t mean you need to stick with playing on teams for only kids your age! Playing alongside older players is great way to learn from them and improve your skills.
Keep it all in perspective
Depending on your age, school and life experience, high school hockey might not be a big deal. High school sports are important, but many people play sports in high school who never become professional athletes. If you’re just joining a team because you think it will make it easier to get into college or because you think it will boost your popularity, ask yourself if those things are worth spending time and money doing something that’s ultimately meaningless. On one hand, everyone is different and everyone should follow their passions; on the other hand, putting too much pressure on yourself or engaging in an activity just because of peer pressure isn’t a smart way to approach life. When you’re deciding what kind of sport to play in high school, don’t forget that there’s more than one sport out there besides hockey.
If you want help deciding which sport is right for you check out our guide to making your decision!
