Suggestions for a Newbie Break-in

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm bringing several friends to their first hockey game ever on Thursday. All of them are psyched about the game (they watched us play Toronto on TV when they were visiting awhile back and loved it!) and want a rules tutorial. They all live out of town so I won't be able to get them all together for a rules demonstration on my table-top game like I'd like but I've made a rink diagram in Word that I'm sending them with some basic rules explanations....icing, off-sides, hooking, holding, tripping, interference, etc plus explanations of the lines and face-off circles, etc.

Any suggestions on things to be sure and explain? It's like a second language to me in a lot of ways so I'm afraid I'll miss something major. I kept talking about checking to them recenlty and they didn't know what the word meant. Is it still worth it to take newbies by the Ron the Ref booth (assuming it still exists) for a little rules tutorial? What has been your experience with newbies and the things that end up confusing them?

TIA!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm bringing several friends to their first hockey game ever on Thursday. All of them are psyched about the game (they watched us play Toronto on TV when they were visiting awhile back and loved it!) and want a rules tutorial. They all live out of town so I won't be able to get them all together for a rules demonstration on my table-top game like I'd like but I've made a rink diagram in Word that I'm sending them with some basic rules explanations....icing, off-sides, hooking, holding, tripping, interference, etc plus explanations of the lines and face-off circles, etc.

Any suggestions on things to be sure and explain? It's like a second language to me in a lot of ways so I'm afraid I'll miss something major. I kept talking about checking to them recenlty and they didn't know what the word meant. Is it still worth it to take newbies by the Ron the Ref booth (assuming it still exists) for a little rules tutorial? What has been your experience with newbies and the things that end up confusing them?

TIA!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm bringing several friends to their first hockey game ever on Thursday. All of them are psyched about the game (they watched us play Toronto on TV when they were visiting awhile back and loved it!) and want a rules tutorial. They all live out of town so I won't be able to get them all together for a rules demonstration on my table-top game like I'd like but I've made a rink diagram in Word that I'm sending them with some basic rules explanations....icing, off-sides, hooking, holding, tripping, interference, etc plus explanations of the lines and face-off circles, etc.

Any suggestions on things to be sure and explain? It's like a second language to me in a lot of ways so I'm afraid I'll miss something major. I kept talking about checking to them recenlty and they didn't know what the word meant. Is it still worth it to take newbies by the Ron the Ref booth (assuming it still exists) for a little rules tutorial? What has been your experience with newbies and the things that end up confusing them?

TIA!

[puck_it]

basic penalties... hooking, tripping, slashing, high-sticking... tolerence of fighting but not legal.

powerplay...

dont overload em too much though... then theyll be intimidated. basically explain the various stoppages in play. thats always when people ask, "what just happened." so penalties, icing, offsides.

I usually just try to sit in the middle of the group if theres more than one and let em know to ask anything they want, that its not an inconveniece or anyhting to answer

[puck_it]

basic penalties... hooking, tripping, slashing, high-sticking... tolerence of fighting but not legal.

powerplay...

dont overload em too much though... then theyll be intimidated. basically explain the various stoppages in play. thats always when people ask, "what just happened." so penalties, icing, offsides.

I usually just try to sit in the middle of the group if theres more than one and let em know to ask anything they want, that its not an inconveniece or anyhting to answer

[puck_it]

basic penalties... hooking, tripping, slashing, high-sticking... tolerence of fighting but not legal.

powerplay...

dont overload em too much though... then theyll be intimidated. basically explain the various stoppages in play. thats always when people ask, "what just happened." so penalties, icing, offsides.

I usually just try to sit in the middle of the group if theres more than one and let em know to ask anything they want, that its not an inconveniece or anyhting to answer

[nccanes]

I've never been to Ron the Ref's booth, but it sounds like fun with newbies. I would think he'd be great once he realized they were newbies.

In my experience with newbies, the single most useful thing to understand is clearing the zone on a PK so that the team on the PP has to reset (and the PK team can switch, etc.). I've always found that people tend to look around like "why are people cheering when they've just dumped the puck out of the zone" and when I explain that that there's a PK going on (sometimes people don't even realize we're a man down) and how they PP team all has to leave the zone and reset themselves, it's like I've given them a free hotdog. It's a big "click".

[nccanes]

I've never been to Ron the Ref's booth, but it sounds like fun with newbies. I would think he'd be great once he realized they were newbies.

In my experience with newbies, the single most useful thing to understand is clearing the zone on a PK so that the team on the PP has to reset (and the PK team can switch, etc.). I've always found that people tend to look around like "why are people cheering when they've just dumped the puck out of the zone" and when I explain that that there's a PK going on (sometimes people don't even realize we're a man down) and how they PP team all has to leave the zone and reset themselves, it's like I've given them a free hotdog. It's a big "click".

[nccanes]

I've never been to Ron the Ref's booth, but it sounds like fun with newbies. I would think he'd be great once he realized they were newbies.

In my experience with newbies, the single most useful thing to understand is clearing the zone on a PK so that the team on the PP has to reset (and the PK team can switch, etc.). I've always found that people tend to look around like "why are people cheering when they've just dumped the puck out of the zone" and when I explain that that there's a PK going on (sometimes people don't even realize we're a man down) and how they PP team all has to leave the zone and reset themselves, it's like I've given them a free hotdog. It's a big "click".

[Canesluver]

I hate to admit this..... but when I first started following the 'Canes in 2000, I learned a lot of the rules from their silly animated cartoons at ch.com. It's still there and they might get a kick out of it:

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/hockeyu/rules.asp

And remember, too, that they don't have to know beacoup rules to still be able to enjoy the game. I remember it took me a long time to be able to recognize icing! Just tell 'em it's like soccer... but on ice! :beatup:

edited to add:
It doesn't look like it's been updated with the new rules. For a video showing the specific new rules, you can still see that at nhl's website: http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html

[Canesluver]

I hate to admit this..... but when I first started following the 'Canes in 2000, I learned a lot of the rules from their silly animated cartoons at ch.com. It's still there and they might get a kick out of it:

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/hockeyu/rules.asp

And remember, too, that they don't have to know beacoup rules to still be able to enjoy the game. I remember it took me a long time to be able to recognize icing! Just tell 'em it's like soccer... but on ice! :beatup:

edited to add:
It doesn't look like it's been updated with the new rules. For a video showing the specific new rules, you can still see that at nhl's website: http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html

[Canesluver]

I hate to admit this..... but when I first started following the 'Canes in 2000, I learned a lot of the rules from their silly animated cartoons at ch.com. It's still there and they might get a kick out of it:

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/hockeyu/rules.asp

And remember, too, that they don't have to know beacoup rules to still be able to enjoy the game. I remember it took me a long time to be able to recognize icing! Just tell 'em it's like soccer... but on ice! :beatup:

edited to add:
It doesn't look like it's been updated with the new rules. For a video showing the specific new rules, you can still see that at nhl's website: http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html

[Guyute]

the PK bit is a good one.

along with some general penalties, be prepared to explain boarding. you'll surely hear "why was THAT hit a penalty, but none of the others were?"

I agree though to try not to overload them. there's certainly a saturation point with trying to learn rules for something you've only seen once. and yeah, answering questions in-game is really the best way to teach em.

have fun!! (maybe see ya there)

[Guyute]

the PK bit is a good one.

along with some general penalties, be prepared to explain boarding. you'll surely hear "why was THAT hit a penalty, but none of the others were?"

I agree though to try not to overload them. there's certainly a saturation point with trying to learn rules for something you've only seen once. and yeah, answering questions in-game is really the best way to teach em.

have fun!! (maybe see ya there)

[Guyute]

the PK bit is a good one.

along with some general penalties, be prepared to explain boarding. you'll surely hear "why was THAT hit a penalty, but none of the others were?"

I agree though to try not to overload them. there's certainly a saturation point with trying to learn rules for something you've only seen once. and yeah, answering questions in-game is really the best way to teach em.

have fun!! (maybe see ya there)

[talkingcanes]

I am always asked about line changes as in "why do they keep leaving the ice?" and "they sure don't stay out there very long, do they?"

I think you learn a lot from just watching the game live and asking questions. My first game I had very little idea what was going on, but I was hooked from the time the puck dropped! I learned as I went along (am still doing that actually!).

I hope they all love it and I know SHC will be a good influence on them :D

[talkingcanes]

I am always asked about line changes as in "why do they keep leaving the ice?" and "they sure don't stay out there very long, do they?"

I think you learn a lot from just watching the game live and asking questions. My first game I had very little idea what was going on, but I was hooked from the time the puck dropped! I learned as I went along (am still doing that actually!).

I hope they all love it and I know SHC will be a good influence on them :D

[talkingcanes]

I am always asked about line changes as in "why do they keep leaving the ice?" and "they sure don't stay out there very long, do they?"

I think you learn a lot from just watching the game live and asking questions. My first game I had very little idea what was going on, but I was hooked from the time the puck dropped! I learned as I went along (am still doing that actually!).

I hope they all love it and I know SHC will be a good influence on them :D

[corylav]

SHC ... Canes ambassador :D

[corylav]

SHC ... Canes ambassador :D

[corylav]

SHC ... Canes ambassador :D

[Mona]

I know for me off-sides was something that was confusing . the guys are racing with the puck and they blow the whistle and stop play.

Icing calls always pissed me off because they seemed like time wasters. :beatup:

[Mona]

I know for me off-sides was something that was confusing . the guys are racing with the puck and they blow the whistle and stop play.

Icing calls always pissed me off because they seemed like time wasters. :beatup:

[Mona]

I know for me off-sides was something that was confusing . the guys are racing with the puck and they blow the whistle and stop play.

Icing calls always pissed me off because they seemed like time wasters. :beatup:

[VandyCane]

I think the Ron the Ref booth still exists. I remember seeing someone with a nice color handout explaining some basic rules and that's where they got it. I would also make several copies of the lineups. We are all so used to these guys that when we say "what a great move Staal/Cole/Brindy, etc made" and they have no clue who we are talking about.

[VandyCane]

I think the Ron the Ref booth still exists. I remember seeing someone with a nice color handout explaining some basic rules and that's where they got it. I would also make several copies of the lineups. We are all so used to these guys that when we say "what a great move Staal/Cole/Brindy, etc made" and they have no clue who we are talking about.

[VandyCane]

I think the Ron the Ref booth still exists. I remember seeing someone with a nice color handout explaining some basic rules and that's where they got it. I would also make several copies of the lineups. We are all so used to these guys that when we say "what a great move Staal/Cole/Brindy, etc made" and they have no clue who we are talking about.

[ontheglass]

SHC where do you sit? If you are on the 2nd or 3rd, explaining an offensive break-out and then let them watch the play develop would be helpful. If you are low in the 1st level, then keep it to the basics, penalties as they are called, off-sides, and icing.

One last thing... they will need to learn the finer points before they leave..."Ref You Suck!" and Rick Flairs's "WOO..WOOHOO." (hopefully they'll get lots of practice with Rick.)

[ontheglass]

SHC where do you sit? If you are on the 2nd or 3rd, explaining an offensive break-out and then let them watch the play develop would be helpful. If you are low in the 1st level, then keep it to the basics, penalties as they are called, off-sides, and icing.

One last thing... they will need to learn the finer points before they leave..."Ref You Suck!" and Rick Flairs's "WOO..WOOHOO." (hopefully they'll get lots of practice with Rick.)

[ontheglass]

SHC where do you sit? If you are on the 2nd or 3rd, explaining an offensive break-out and then let them watch the play develop would be helpful. If you are low in the 1st level, then keep it to the basics, penalties as they are called, off-sides, and icing.

One last thing... they will need to learn the finer points before they leave..."Ref You Suck!" and Rick Flairs's "WOO..WOOHOO." (hopefully they'll get lots of practice with Rick.)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Thanks guys, this is exactly what I was looking for. There's some great stuff I hadn't though of!

We're 3rd level. Hope to see an offensive breakout, lol.

Unfortunately they are a couple rows down from my seats. I'm hoping there will be an empty spot so I can move down too, but we'll see. If not, I might make one of the boys take turns sitting with Mr SHC in our seats so I can sit with the group. :evil:

I explained icing and off-sides and emphasized that it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of the game if you really can't always tell why a whistle was blown. If someone doesn't go to the box just assume it was one of these and don't stress.

7 newbies and me answering questions in-game.....hope I wasn't interested in watching it, huh? ;)

Unfortunately, I seriously doubt any of these people will become life-long hockey fans after this but maybe they'll pay a little more attention. And they are all going to be pharmacists so they should be able to afford to check out a game once in a while!!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Thanks guys, this is exactly what I was looking for. There's some great stuff I hadn't though of!

We're 3rd level. Hope to see an offensive breakout, lol.

Unfortunately they are a couple rows down from my seats. I'm hoping there will be an empty spot so I can move down too, but we'll see. If not, I might make one of the boys take turns sitting with Mr SHC in our seats so I can sit with the group. :evil:

I explained icing and off-sides and emphasized that it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of the game if you really can't always tell why a whistle was blown. If someone doesn't go to the box just assume it was one of these and don't stress.

7 newbies and me answering questions in-game.....hope I wasn't interested in watching it, huh? ;)

Unfortunately, I seriously doubt any of these people will become life-long hockey fans after this but maybe they'll pay a little more attention. And they are all going to be pharmacists so they should be able to afford to check out a game once in a while!!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Thanks guys, this is exactly what I was looking for. There's some great stuff I hadn't though of!

We're 3rd level. Hope to see an offensive breakout, lol.

Unfortunately they are a couple rows down from my seats. I'm hoping there will be an empty spot so I can move down too, but we'll see. If not, I might make one of the boys take turns sitting with Mr SHC in our seats so I can sit with the group. :evil:

I explained icing and off-sides and emphasized that it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of the game if you really can't always tell why a whistle was blown. If someone doesn't go to the box just assume it was one of these and don't stress.

7 newbies and me answering questions in-game.....hope I wasn't interested in watching it, huh? ;)

Unfortunately, I seriously doubt any of these people will become life-long hockey fans after this but maybe they'll pay a little more attention. And they are all going to be pharmacists so they should be able to afford to check out a game once in a while!!

[sandstorm]

If all these people have ever seen is hockey on TV with play-by-play, remind them that there is no one announcing what 's going on. I remember my first game and it was weird to me NOT to have that. I had trouble following the game and I knew some rules and stuff. Good luck!

[sandstorm]

If all these people have ever seen is hockey on TV with play-by-play, remind them that there is no one announcing what 's going on. I remember my first game and it was weird to me NOT to have that. I had trouble following the game and I knew some rules and stuff. Good luck!

[sandstorm]

If all these people have ever seen is hockey on TV with play-by-play, remind them that there is no one announcing what 's going on. I remember my first game and it was weird to me NOT to have that. I had trouble following the game and I knew some rules and stuff. Good luck!