Like soccer and rugby, ice hockey involves two rivaling teams whose objective is to direct a puck in their opponent’s in-goal territory. Compared to field hockey, this sport is surely more challenging in as much as skating demands mastery of body control and balance. Since the puck slides super-fast on ice, the teams should have a well-organized gaming strategy to accumulate goals. The game engages all players to be prepared at all times as the puck can go basically anywhere.
Ice hockey basically involves three roles—forward, defense, and goaltending. Each team is allowed to have six players in the rink at one time—three forward players, two defense, and one goal tender. The first is tasked to do the offense through advancing the puck to the enemy’s territory. The second is responsible to protect the goal area from the opponent. The role of the goaltender is of course to block the puck from getting into the crease and pass it to his team mates.
There’s no better way to learn ice hockey than doing regular actual play. If you’re a complete beginner, ask for the help of friends who play the sport. In case you don’t know any sport fan, look for hockey clubs in your community. Enroll in training classes or join winter camps. It’s never too late to become a puck master.
To become more familiar with the rules of the game, particularly in the professional arena, it will be helpful if you watch television game coverage of the likes of the National Hockey League and the Western Women’s Hockey League. Through this you can know more about techniques, terminologies, strategies, and other essential elements in the game play.
