New Rules of Play??????

[BeerDude]

How does everyone like the way the game is now being called. At a A Bantam game and there were 56 penalties. There was no flow. Not much of a game to watch. Actually quit disappointing. I sure hope things change for the better. Remember...Hockey is a contact sport.

[Pucknutz69]

What district and what teams?

[RLStars]

How does everyone like the way the game is now being called. At a A Bantam game and there were 56 penalties. There was no flow. Not much of a game to watch. Actually quit disappointing. I sure hope things change for the better. Remember...Hockey is a contact sport.

The National Advanced 16 and 17's used the new standards. The Upper Midwest Elite League and the HS Elite II league are using them also. At first, there is going to be alot of penalties, but as the players and coaches figure out what will or will not be called, you will see less penalties and a faster paced game. That is what is happening in both the Elite and Elite II leagues.

[Johnsonpres]

I like the new rules, Now you don't see teams setting picks and the stickwork and interference has really been cut back. Give this a chance I was skeptical but after two games in "A" PeeWee one against District 2 Forest Lake and one against District 10 Elk River I have been impressed.
The big hits are still there just not alot of some of the other things. I might change my mind once we get to league play because of our reputation.

[sodbuster]

Johnson pres,
Are you kidding? If you think these rules are good you must have come from Eden Prairie or Edina or one of the huge associations. There are three things these rules will improve. 1) Teams with 5 great power play players will win 95% of there games.(Just by pure talent). 2) Keep the smaller associations where they belong at the bottom. 3)Teach less talented players to be less aggressive in fear of costing another powerplay opportunity. Skills are great but most areas can't afford to send there players to summer programs, Acceleration Minnesota, Power skating schools. Like maller associations will get even smaller and disappear which seams like thats what the large associations want to get more play-off spots. NO CHECKING WITH-IN TWO YEARS,& FACE MASKS ON COACHES.

[shoot to thrill]

Sodbuster,

I agree with the premise of your argument except that this has nothing to do with bigger or smaller associations. In fact, using your argument, a smaller association that at least has 5 talented players should win more games if they can avoid penalties and take advantage of the power play.

However, I fully agree that the end result is more kids sitting on the bench (due to penalties) and I can't figure out how that is good for development. The most likely result will be kids being 'too' careful and ending up not playing physical enough just so they don't take a chance of being shorthanded.

So far, what I've seen has been overall even calling (both teams with similar amounts of penalties) but a LOT of 4 on 4 hockey...with 15 skater teams that's not a good thing especially if your kid is a forward.

[sodbuster]

shoot to thrill,
Thanks for the post, But how many small associations have 5 good quality top line players? A few years ago you would see 4 or 5 stand-out players on a given team now maybe 2 to three if your lucky. In Pee wees 1 or 2 stand out players dominate the game. Now your going to have a harder time slowing them down hence the bigger areas have a decided advantage.

[sodbuster]

My point is and please SW/SLP coach don't take this wrong but you guys are a great example. 2 years ago neither oragnization could field an A Pee wee team that could compete in any district. Now combine get bigger and now you can play with the good teams and be ranked in the top twenty. My point is is that Minnesota hockey and USA hockey are making organizations either merge or play B & C hockey which use to be the case at Southwest. I applaud the two organizations for saving hockey in there communities but for how long.

[goldy313]

Longterm I think the kids will adapt, just like they adapted to play with all the hacking and holding that has occured in recent years. Years ago you never swung your stick or checked with your hands because it was called, that didn't take away from good hockey though because you just learned to be clean with your checks and keep your feet moving instead of coasting and reaching. It took years of non calls to get to where hockey is today, and trying to change it back to the way the rules are written will be painful but in the end a very good thing.

That said I did see a bantam game this week that was largely 5 on 4, or 4 on 4, rarely 5 on 5 and it was quite ugly. 3 things I took from it: 1) the refs were not going to put a team down 2 men because of a slash or hook which rendered them targets for the fans because there was no consistancy beyond at least one team was always going to be a man short.
2) the kids who skated adapted, those who reached were called, moral being keep your feet moving. 3) If the parents don't realize that the refs are just doing what they have been told and don't calm down you'll see fewer and less experianced refs as the year progresses because older ones will tire of the BS they're getting.

[whockeyguy]

just get over it ,by christmas the kids will adapt and the parents wont even know anything what happened, and in two years from now we will be talking about something else, By the way have any of you ever been hit by a stick on the forearm by a player that was two strides behind and no penalty was called because IT WAS PART OF THE GAME, this crap has to be eliminated, PERIOD , END OF STORY,,, GET OVER IT

[Pucknutz69]

I can't believe how many teams haven't even tried to play by the new rules yet. Interference on faceoffs, setting picks and the holding should be easy to eliminate but some teams just aren't even trying.

[breakout]

Plain and simple, the new rules are great for hockey. Frankly, they aren't even new rules. It's just a matter of the rule infractions are being called by the referees............finally. Kids that were lazy and hooked kids that were going by them to slow them down will now have to actually skate and develop their own skills to compete. Smaller skilled kids will actually be able to compete without getting dragged down and getting their heads knocked off by big lugs.

On top of that, the kids will adapt. The NHL is a greater game because the rules are being enforced. All of hockey is going to rule enforcement Youth hockey will evolve and will be a greater sport because of the new standards of play.

If you are not familiar with the new standards of play, check it out on the USA Hockey website. There is a video you can watch.

[hockeyman6]

i think the new rules are the most retarted thing ever. you cant even touch a kid with out a penatly. there are like 50 penatly a game. hockey might as well change there name to basketball

[Pucknutz69]

In the future you will see this happen,
Mites= 1 player on the ice at a time for 1 min 35 sec.
Squirts= 2on2 full ice hockey, so they won't run into each other
Peewees= 3on3 full ice slight contact, boards will be padded like NASCAR now has.
Bantams= 4on4 full ice floor hockey sticks and plastic pucks because they shoot too hard. Goalies will have hand shields to stand behind.
High school won't exsist due to lack of funds in the school districts, administrators for school district needed raises.


Just how I see it.

[hockeyman6]

i sher hope not

[hockeymoms]

Actually there are no new rules, only better enforcement of the existing rules. The best way I heard it described is that it is a penalty if a player uses his/her stick or body to gain the competitive advantage over another player. SO, if you get beat...you can no longer reach out with your stick or free hand and slow the other player down! I'm not sure why that would be a bad thing--except to those who have grown accustomed to not moving their feet!!! The checking and body contact will remain--you can defend your area of the ice-if you occupy the space first. A good check is still a good check!
I love the new standard of play and I believe it will be an exciting change to the slow, clutch and grab game that USA hockey has become.
JMO

[hockeyfan92621]

I watched 2 bantam A games over the weekend and there were limited penalties in both games. Still very physical, fun to watch games. If there are games with 50 penalties, the coaches and the players need to adapt to the rules, they're in place for a reason and it's not to ruin the game of hockey.

[breakout]

You are right on hockeyfan. It is a much better brand of hockey.

[wayzatahindusunite]

i think the new rules SUCK! there is no flow in the game. if you get called alot it just takes the fun out of the game; and thats what hockey is about right? it seems like alot of the reffs call agianst us and it just makes for crappy hockey games sometimes.

[pioneer]

According to D6 website, Bantam teams are running right around 50% on earning their FPP. Fortunately, D6 changed their policy on who advances to regions (no free pass for league champ) so the rules crackdown means little throughout the season. And nothing for playoffs! (except all the penalty kills...)

[BeerDude]

So now blocking out on a faceoff is considered interference? The kids were taught to do this since mites.

[breakout]

I agree, blocking out was taught to kids at a young age. If you have not done so, watch the standards of play video at the usa hockey website. it will give you an idea of what refs are looking for.

[Co[D]18]

i think in time it will get better but for now there is a lot of inconsistancy lately in my games you will have a ref calling it and the other not thinking it is still okay but that is just my opinion i think though as the season goes on it will work better and the better players will show

[b-allstar93]

these new rules have an extreme affect on the flow of the game in district 2 u cant even touch a guy without the puck or its an interference call i mean its terrible the big guys r too skared to hit and dont give as much of an impact on the game
PENALTYS SUCK

[whockeyguy]

to all you whiners, better get over it and change, or find a get out of the penalty box free card, most of the players are changing, and the ones that dont, including coaches will be soon long gone from this game, SO GET OVER IT and change