First game (ever) at ball hockey

[dukes]

Formula for disaster:

• 3 of the 8 original members of the team didn't show up
• Almost no forwards, much less centers
• 9 people, excluding me, made it. The other team had close to 15 or more
• Only had a bunch of D-men tryin to play everything
• Me, the newb goalie never had played a real game in a league
• No time for warm-up and stretch
• Overheated and dehydrated with no time for water

Result: Lost 3-9

I honestly felt I didn't play that horribly, this whole thing was pretty much foreign to me and our team had problems from the start. Most of the guys on the team that made it were new so the YCBHL or ball hockey in a sportcourt in general must've been a surprise in how exhausting it had been. The guys pretty much said after the first 5 minutes they were done.

Like mentioned above, we had close to or no forwards especially centers. Everyone who showed up are pretty much d-men but they had to play a bit of everything, and cycle amongst 9 guys so they were all pretty much exhausted early on. As for me, made a few good saves but I let in 9 goals! Probably could've saved some of em like a glove save and one where there was a loose ball when the net was being crowded. Also let in one goal that zipped right by my head (any idea how I could've saved that? I doubt lifting my shoulder would've got it). Another goal occured when one of my D crashed into me and the ball was loose at the time.

I was somewhat disappointed by my play. The guys after the game said it wasn't really my fault just that we were under-manned and so unorganized while the other team had a full house with actual lines. They were passing around and making plays and had open men in the slot and on the far side the entire time. I still felt I should share some of the blame. The captain said to just smother and freeze the ball more. Tried but it got loose but I'll remember that for this Thursday's game.

Oh for the first few minutes of the game they had no goalie (he didn't show up yet) and there was almost no shots on goal for the entire time!

Next game should be better when we have everyone (hopefully) and the lines are straightened out, and we're facing a supposedly easier team. If that's the case, I have no excuses for my play lol.

Edit: anybody have suggestions on keeping cool, that was probably made me so tired towards the end. I wear an itech 4600 mask and 4.8 chest protector, pants, and pads. Wore t-shirt and track pants that whick away moisture too.

[MyassesHam]

For ball hockey, an undershirt might be something you can do without (although you will sweat into your C/A).

[Vice]

While heat may have been a factor in your fatigue near the end, I'd say it was more likely that the amount of saves you had to make that took a greater toll on you. I've spared for ball hockey teams where league play was 4 on 4, and only 5 guys on the team would show up . Playing in those situations will always be difficult because the amount of work and effort you have to put into the game will always depend on how quickly the players tire in front of you.

[dukes]

Originally Posted by Vice

While heat may have been a factor in your fatigue near the end, I'd say it was more likely that the amount of saves you had to make that took a greater toll on you. I've spared for ball hockey teams where league play was 4 on 4, and only 5 guys on the team would show up . Playing in those situations will always be difficult because the amount of work and effort you have to put into the game will always depend on how quickly the players tire in front of you.

I had to face 16 shots but I let in 9 (ugly stats ) . I'd say for the most part, the game was in our zone. The other goalie faced a whopping 7 shots letting in 3 goals. We were pretty much all tired near the end, I was panting and breathing heavily like I just ran a marathon. Would you guys suggest sprints or jogging to help with the stamina and the bursts in play.

[Law Goalie]

Honestly, I'd reccommend a rowing ergometer - they're the best stationary exercise you can get, and will do wonders for your core and leg strength. However, you absolutely MUST get someone to properly train you on it - if you just start flailing away, you'll either hurt yourself or accomplish nothing but frustration.

[spidergoalie]

to keep cool:

If possible remove the spine pad from the c/a and wear it loose and outside the pants.

I wear spandex pants which feel like nothing and wick sweat. They add no bulk and are slippery which aids in pad rotation. I also wear an underarmour wannabe sleeveless shirt.

I wear super light weight and loose player pants.

16 shots all game
Are you playing in a full rink sized surface? I"m guessing yes..ball hockey in a gym I see that many shots in 5 - 10 minutes.
(que GAW stories of facing 6000 shots, getting a shut out and scoring the winning goal )

[dukes]

Originally Posted by spidergoalie

to keep cool:

If possible remove the spine pad from the c/a and wear it loose and outside the pants.

I wear spandex pants which feel like nothing and wick sweat. They add no bulk and are slippery which aids in pad rotation. I also wear an underarmour wannabe sleeveless shirt.

I wear super light weight and loose player pants.

16 shots all game
Are you playing in a full rink sized surface? I"m guessing yes..ball hockey in a gym I see that many shots in 5 - 10 minutes.
(que GAW stories of facing 6000 shots, getting a shut out and scoring the winning goal )

We're playing in a full-sized rink. Wasnt' a gym surface where it's wood. The surface is smooth concrete so it was actually kinda slippery. The game is kinda short though so it' snot as long as say a full blown ice game (60 minutes).

I'll look into getting shorts or maybe even wicking under-armor type pants like you mentioned. I can't take out the spine protection on the C/A protector though cause part of the strappings is sewn in. The C/A protector is too small to wear on the outside of the pants but I'll try loosening it to let it breathe better.

[zephyr_words]

The way I like to battle the heat and stay fresh is to drink about 12 OZ of water during halftime, take a lot of sips during the game, and to squirt a bit of water down my C\A when I feel too hot.

[dukes]

Originally Posted by zephyr_words

The way I like to battle the heat and stay fresh is to drink about 12 OZ of water during halftime, take a lot of sips during the game, and to squirt a bit of water down my C\A when I feel too hot.

Hmm I may consider the water down the C/A although that may cause it to stink won't it? there actually is no breaks! The only times are if someone calls a timeout and when the period ends the walk over to the other side. The games are really short, about half an hour, cause a bunch of games are packed in a day....guess that's why there's no breaks and the refs drop the ball quickly, makes it harder to take sips during the game.

If you drin 12 oz of water, don't u need to go to washroom by the second half of ur game? lol

[spidergoalie]

Originally Posted by dukes

We're playing in a full-sized rink. Wasnt' a gym surface where it's wood. The surface is smooth concrete so it was actually kinda slippery. The game is kinda short though so it' snot as long as say a full blown ice game (60 minutes).

I'll look into getting shorts or maybe even wicking under-armor type pants like you mentioned. I can't take out the spine protection on the C/A protector though cause part of the strappings is sewn in. The C/A protector is too small to wear on the outside of the pants but I'll try loosening it to let it breathe better.

Too bad about the c/a. I think it makes a huge difference.

I forgot to mention I also wear an underarmour skull cap. When I first got it I wasn't so sure it helped at all, but last season I experimented and found it most definately helps, both in terms of helping to keep sweat from the eyes, but also to cool off the head.

[dukes]

Originally Posted by spidergoalie

Too bad about the c/a. I think it makes a huge difference.

I forgot to mention I also wear an underarmour skull cap. When I first got it I wasn't so sure it helped at all, but last season I experimented and found it most definately helps, both in terms of helping to keep sweat from the eyes, but also to cool off the head.

Really? I have a full head of thick hair, but still cut short. I figured skull caps would only work well with people who shaved their head or were bald

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions in preparation for next game? All I have been doing so far is some stretching and leg work at home, a bit of jogging and I started sprinting up and down a small hill, several times. Maybe some goalie-specific tips? I been watching some of those instructional vids online but it's mostly catered to ice although some are very helpful.

[Scipio]

Something else that could have been your problem is what you ate/drank before the game. I generally eat a bowl of oatmeal about 2 to 2.5 hours before the game and drink water and thats about it. I found if I eat a full meal I generally get tired very fast and also overheat badly.

[dukes]

Originally Posted by Scipio

Something else that could have been your problem is what you ate/drank before the game. I generally eat a bowl of oatmeal about 2 to 2.5 hours before the game and drink water and thats about it. I found if I eat a full meal I generally get tired very fast and also overheat badly.

I didn't really eat much before the game, just a sandwhich like 3 hours or so hours prior. But it's good you noted that so I won't do that for next game and eat a meal beforehand, I was thinking it may make me feel sluggish. I don't eat oatmeal so I'll have to find something else packed with carbs

[zephyr_words]

Originally Posted by dukes

Hmm I may consider the water down the C/A although that may cause it to stink won't it? there actually is no breaks! The only times are if someone calls a timeout and when the period ends the walk over to the other side. The games are really short, about half an hour, cause a bunch of games are packed in a day....guess that's why there's no breaks and the refs drop the ball quickly, makes it harder to take sips during the game.

If you drin 12 oz of water, don't u need to go to washroom by the second half of ur game? lol

It shouldn't cause anything to smell...you are already sweating there. Fresh water will smell a lot better than your sweat.

No, I don't need any bathroom breaks =] On days where I play about 6 times for roller hockey tournaments I have a hard time even keeping hydrated. Sometimes it will be hours after I'm done playing before my body wants to get rid of any water.

[aw3s0me]

the ycbhl sucks on the shot counts, they just make it up so i never really pay attention to it .. im sure you got more than 16.

as for keeping cool, theres almost nothing you can do in the summer heat especially when your team sucks the way that it does. ive played in nothing but shorts underneath and i still felt like dying. but as mentioned earlier, try to hydrate all day long, when i get up i go straight to the kitchen and drink 3-4 glasses of water, and carry a waterbottle with me allday and refill/drink it constantly. it will help, but you just gotta suck it up in the summer thanks to no ac/airflow in the arenas.