Just wondering

[psfye]

I noticed that a lot of guys think that the best rules for a pro league is full contact. But a lot of guys think that Narch Pro is the best thing going on...Is non contact not that bad after all?

[BkHdTpShlf]

You obviously haven't watched a NARCH pro game then. I'm just kidding with you buddy. Both TORHS & NARCH did a great job this year. As long as you hit someone clean and just try to ride them out, they'll let it go. I play for Team Rink Rat and tournament rules are definatly the way to go for a pro league. The thing with TORHS & NARCH, you have guys that have played at just about every level of hockey and all these guys know how and when to hit. They don't just go out there to try and rip someones head off. They hit to either get the puck or keep you from breaking in on an odd man rush.

Darrell Interbartolo
Boston Storm GM/Coach

[MDE3]

I think you will find that the rules which allow "taking the body" enhance the game a great deal, and as Darrel says below......Narch and Torhs pro although not officially "full contact" have almost or even as much contact in their games as MLRH where "full contact" is allowed.

The whole point at this level is to play good hockey as most were taught, and body positioning is so much a part of the game. To play the body properly requires better balance, and better overall skating skills. To get to where you know how and are able to do this requires a lot of practice. I think it benefits the sport a great deal to allow "taking the body" because it will force players to become more agile skaters, more "heads up" puck handlers, and better positional hockey players.

In my experience, the higher the caliber of play, the better the body positioning, and the less cheap "hacking" with the stick occurs because players who take the body will skate with their opponent to ride them off, not just try to hold them up with the stick, or "chop" the puck carrier from behind.

In the MLRH games I have seen this year, the body contact is there, but in most cases the cheap running of a player is not being seen. I think that in general the caliber of play in MLRH is higher, due to the reduced number of teams, and so with a higher concentration of quality players, there is less cheap stuff. Also with a higher percentage of experienced and skilled players in the league, it is harder to make hits...... clean or otherwise.....as the better players are watching out for these, and skilled at evading them too.

[SpeedDemon]

Personally, I like non-contact over contact. Opens the game up and gives it a unique identity, in my opinion.

[msouthhockey5]

contact is good. I often ask players if they like contact and the response is nine times out of ten yes. Even some people that don't play like contact. Go ahead and ask football and hockey sports fans why they like the sport. Most of the time for football it's the hits and tackles. For hockey its the hitting and checking and the usuall conflict. I rest my case

[BkHdTpShlf]

Why are people so into the Olypics then? Let me guess... the contact....NO. The skill. I really could care less contact..no contact. I personally like both. I'd rather play contact but to be honest most inline players haven't been taught how to take the body.

Darrell Interbartolo
Boston Storm GM/Coach

[gchecker]

i'd like a "light contact" league, where players are allow for instance, to give some shoving or light checking along the boards, and in open space, a bit of shoving is allowed and light hip checking, i dont think anyone likes when players go head hunting in full contact leagues and then use the worst cop out of all time "its just part of the game". No! Elbowing someone intentionally in the neck is not part of the game!

[hockeynut]

GREAT POST ,I TOTALLY AGREE