Playing The Body

[bullyx2]

Can someone please help me? My son plays for an under 8 travel team. He was asked to play defense because he is bigger than most of the kids and aggressive. He's constantly being reminded to play the body but is having a hard time doing it correctly. I don't think he knows the proper technique for playing the body in a non checking roller environment. What happens is, he gets so many penaties for being over aggressive that he begins to get worried about another one and just allows kids to skate around him. This is most apparent when is backing up into his defensive zone with a forward coming towards him. He'll usually either hit the kid and take a penalty, or focus on the puck and allow him the skate around him to the goalie. He understands positioning and to force the kid wide if he's going to get past him, and he's starting to focus on the player and not the puck. It's starting to hurt the team as well as his self esteem. They have qualified for both the TORHS and NARCH nationals. I'm afraid that he'll either hurt the team in an important game, or not be trusted out there and be devistated if he has to sit the bench @ the nationals. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[ChloroFiend]

Your son is in a tough situation. Playing the body in roller is a fine line...and in most cases, a gray area. You cannot take any strides or deliberate steps to check the opponent...especially lowering a shoulder or raising an elbow. You CAN skate into them, as they are trying to back you up or skate past you....nothing at too excessive of a speed, but just enough to give them a bump, and stop their momentum. It usually helps to make it look like your playing the puck. Along the wall, have you son run into the boards right in front of the player...since you werent contacting them initially, its legal...you just hit the wall, and the other player ran into you. If the other player has more speed/momentum than you at the time of impact, chances are that you WONT get called.

Different refs will allow different amounts of physicality. Some refs during our CRHL season wouldnt allow ANY contact whatsoever, but then at nationals, i could basically charge a player and get away with it. With your son being bigger than the other players, it is going to draw extra attention to him, and will more than likely result in him getting more calls. Such are the breaks of playing enforcer/physical defense/power forward in a non-contact sport....i know it all too well! :)

-Jon Gucinski #16
-<A HREF="http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/rollerhockey" target="_new">Iowa State Roller Hockey</A>

[bullyx2]

thanks to both of you guys. we've been working on some things, positioning and how to play the body without hitting the other kid. also have discussed that sometimes, in his position, he's going to get penalties and he needs to keep his emotions in check and not let it affect the way he plays the rest of a game. I think he's going to be ok. he gets great coaching at the rink, but since i've never played, i need all the help i can get at home. thanks again.