Hockey & Beer, Not Necessarily In That Order
League Parity in Adult Hockey
There will always be an issue with league parity in Adult Hockey. Many players that participate in adult hockey may believe that if someone is better than they are, that skater is in the wrong division. Although this is true in some cases, that is not always the correct diagnosis.
In my 6 years of experience in adult hockey, I have come across many situations where good skaters are deemed as "sandbaggers" in a division that they don't belong. But upon further scrutiny we find that there are other reasons as well. One case would be a newbie to hockey that starts off in the C league and is such a good athlete that they become very proficient in a short amount of time. Is this the fault of the newbie? They may not know the rules enough to the point of feeling comfortable in the higher skill level division until they have a few seasons under their belt.
Another reason that a superior skilled skater might be in a lower division could be attributed to age and or shape. I have met several skaters that can have a stand out game and then stay idle for 3 games. But during their stand out games they become a target for the other teams to complain about their level of play.
I have also heard the reason that the night available to play takes some consideration on what league a certain person may play in. But it is right that an A player would play in the C league because of a scheduling conflict? Is that fair to the other 110 players that belong in that division? Is it fun to watch the 2 skaters take control of a game and just sit back and see what they can do, instead of everyone contributing to the final outcome of the game? It may be enjoyable for the few baggers to weave in and out of the rest of the skaters on the ice and score at will, but what do you accomplish in your own life by doing this? Well sometimes it is a reason to skate another night per week and get extra practice and exercise.
A trend that I see at the Factory is some very young skaters showing up in the very bottom league. These skaters are not even past the required age that the league set to play. Most of these young skaters have extensive experience in Junior hockey and play every day of the week. Why would they be allowed to play in an adult hockey league?
When a captain notices that there are new skaters on a team that he believes doesn't belong, there is no action he can take to remove these players from the ice. Upon questioning the refs, they say that it is not their job to keep league parity. The league director does nothing to make sure that teams are even across the league. So who do you go to when people decide to bend the rules, and is it even worth worrying about? I guess that it all stems from the male ego and the machismo that exists in every male adult sport. It is not enough to just play because you love it, are you trying to relive your youth and prove something to yourself and others? But I guess it goes the other way as well. When someone stacks their team it must stem from machismo in beating up on a bunch of cones sitting idly on the ice wondering what blur just went past them.
All in all it is the leagues responsibilty to make sure that everyone is happy with the product and service that they provide. Or the people playing will just go somewhere else to play. I am not sure what other solutions are out there for making it more enjoyable. If you have any suggestions, please post them here.
In my 6 years of experience in adult hockey, I have come across many situations where good skaters are deemed as "sandbaggers" in a division that they don't belong. But upon further scrutiny we find that there are other reasons as well. One case would be a newbie to hockey that starts off in the C league and is such a good athlete that they become very proficient in a short amount of time. Is this the fault of the newbie? They may not know the rules enough to the point of feeling comfortable in the higher skill level division until they have a few seasons under their belt.
Another reason that a superior skilled skater might be in a lower division could be attributed to age and or shape. I have met several skaters that can have a stand out game and then stay idle for 3 games. But during their stand out games they become a target for the other teams to complain about their level of play.
I have also heard the reason that the night available to play takes some consideration on what league a certain person may play in. But it is right that an A player would play in the C league because of a scheduling conflict? Is that fair to the other 110 players that belong in that division? Is it fun to watch the 2 skaters take control of a game and just sit back and see what they can do, instead of everyone contributing to the final outcome of the game? It may be enjoyable for the few baggers to weave in and out of the rest of the skaters on the ice and score at will, but what do you accomplish in your own life by doing this? Well sometimes it is a reason to skate another night per week and get extra practice and exercise.
A trend that I see at the Factory is some very young skaters showing up in the very bottom league. These skaters are not even past the required age that the league set to play. Most of these young skaters have extensive experience in Junior hockey and play every day of the week. Why would they be allowed to play in an adult hockey league?
When a captain notices that there are new skaters on a team that he believes doesn't belong, there is no action he can take to remove these players from the ice. Upon questioning the refs, they say that it is not their job to keep league parity. The league director does nothing to make sure that teams are even across the league. So who do you go to when people decide to bend the rules, and is it even worth worrying about? I guess that it all stems from the male ego and the machismo that exists in every male adult sport. It is not enough to just play because you love it, are you trying to relive your youth and prove something to yourself and others? But I guess it goes the other way as well. When someone stacks their team it must stem from machismo in beating up on a bunch of cones sitting idly on the ice wondering what blur just went past them.
All in all it is the leagues responsibilty to make sure that everyone is happy with the product and service that they provide. Or the people playing will just go somewhere else to play. I am not sure what other solutions are out there for making it more enjoyable. If you have any suggestions, please post them here.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Big Play on March 12, 2008 at 1:34pm - Personally if you are going out to have fun and you want to play B or C and you are a A player it’s not that big of deal as long as you are passing and just having fun. If your going out there and getting your three goals in the first period it’s another story but until it gets to that point quit the crying and play hockey. The only people in B that should not be there are the Gerrings for all of the shit that they do and take it way to seriously. I don’t care that one of them played in the NHL but when they are playing like it is the NHL then it’s a problem.
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Comment by Mike Brantley on February 28, 2008 at 2:05pm - that should read "hit people" not "help people" above.
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Comment by Mike Brantley on February 28, 2008 at 2:04pm
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I think it is real simple when you get down to it. The Factory needs to grow a pair and regulate their leagues. If you are old, fat, slow, not great at hockey, just learning, and/or are playing for fun and exercise, you are a C player.
If you think this is your chance for Laviolette to spot you and sign you to play for the Hurricanes, you are a B player.
If you are an asswipe and want to help people or throw hissyfits -- based on the games i've seen -- then you are probably an A player
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