whaaa happened?

ooh, i hear you. i went through exactly that last season, where i was convinced i sucked and everyone knew it but didn't want to say anything. i picked apart every little thing i did wrong, never remembering any of the things i did right. i took the game way too seriously and almost didn't want to play anymore. liz was going to drop the ateam2 and i was just fine with that. went to rwc, started having fun again, then you were coming back so ateam2 got a stay of execution...it's all good now. =)
 

I sometimes find myself being harder on myself than others. So, I feel bad if I don't successfully break out the puck (every time) from the defensive zone. However, when I'm watching from the bench, I don't think my team mates on the ice are doing bad if they mess up the breakout. People try...sometimes they succeed, sometimes they mess up. There are other players out there trying to screw things up for you and your team too. So it's not as bad as you may think.

If you're feeling kind of slumpish, one thing to do is make (uh) goals for what you want to do each game. For example, you can start with saying "I'm going to try to skate the puck up the ice at least once each game". It doesn't matter so much whether or not you succeed going up the ice with the puck...the point is that you tried to do it. Cater the goals to the level of play...so if you are on one team that is a higher level than another of your teams, make easier goals for the higher level team. Other types of goals could be: take one shot on net per game/period, lift one persons stick when they have the puck, etc.

Karen
 

Dewball is a reigning co-MVP yet still feels she plays badly. I dunno how many times I have to tell her that the tripod method is a lot better way to skate then the stick waving in the air method.

Heels on the edge of the crease, butt squarely in the goalies face (see why you don't wash your gear AND you eat taco bell before games?!?!?!) and deflections and tap ins will happen, if you don't just outright blow it past the goalie.

Take one hand off the stick, wrap it through their arms and stick, then put it back on your stick. For them to do anything they have to release their grip to reset, they aren't scoring when they do that.

Tap the back of their skates when they get position. Not hard enough to blow out a knee, just lightly to force them to shift weight and pick up their stick for a second. Can result in a resounding whack across your shins, go down like JFK in Dallas to draw the penalty.

Always up the boards, never up the middle.

Dewball knows how to play, and she plays well. I've seen the video! Almost makes me wish I still played, but living vicariously through her exploits means I don't have to deal with retards who think a beer league is a good place to scrap.

Even after the worst game you have ever played, you still had more fun then if you were at work. Focus on the friends, not the score.
 

good points, Red and Jeff. i actually am still very thankful that i'm healthy enough to play. and yes, it doesn't get much better than playing hockey with my friends. that said, i would like to be better! :-D

thanks for the tips, Karen...i'm going for mini-goals!