Q&A for How to Play Hockey

In-person coaching is really valuable because field hockey is a technically complicated sport. Look for instructors and coaches with experience and join their classes or teams!

Yes; you cannot cross the opposing team's blue line before the puck does.

If you're a kid, joining a local league team is an easy and fun first step. If you're in college and want to join the NHL, wait for a scout to come by and try to impress him with your hockey skills.

There are many local teams that you can join. if you are interested in hockey lookup youth teams in your area. Let you parents know and maybe they can help you find a local team.

Not if you want your goal to count. A puck that is deflected off a player's skate counts as a goal, but you can't use a distinct kicking motion to get that puck into the net.

There are different leagues suited for all ages over three. You'd probably be in the "squirt" or "peewee" division. You can find those all over, and the easy types of leagues suited for beginners are B and A house hockey. AA and AAA are very advanced and professional.

Of course! I'm a girl and I play ice hockey. You can look for a girls' league in your area, or just try out for a boys' team.

Generally, the NHL scouts its players from college teams, but visit their website for more information.

Like any sport, ice hockey takes years to learn to reach a professional extent, but how easy it is differs from player to player. Some kids are naturals, and pick up the game in a year; others are not, and take many more years.

You can get reffing uniforms from most sports stores and stores that sell hockey equipment.

The purpose of a shot is to score a goal. You also get "personal points" or stats when you keep track of your assists and goals.

A lacrosse ball is really good for practicing your stick handling, and you can practice shots with pucks and a net.

Each goal is worth one point, like in soccer or lacrosse. It's not like basketball or football where points are based on distance or anything like that.

If your league is under bantam, that would likely be considered as a check (unless it's accidental), sending you to the penalty box.

Keep your stick on the ice at all times; it is easier to receive a pass that way. Don't hold your stick up in the air; you could be called out for high sticking. Don't trip people or hit people with your stick; that's a penalty.

It's pretty unlikely. Most hockey players are in their early to mid 20s and you'd just be starting out at that age. But if you're willing to put in a lot of effort to catch up, anything is possible!

Some moves are called power slides, butterflies, shuffles, stance, hug the post, glove save, blocker save, kick save and more.

It's like soccer. One goal is a point. Points cannot be removed or added any other way besides getting the puck in the net.

Push-ups work well. Also, make sure to practice hockey off-ice. Running before games will also improve your game.

To shoot, as the article states, pull the puck back with your stick with weight on your back leg, and shift your weight to the other once you flick it forward. However, you must be careful not to shoot the puck into your own net because the point will count if you score on your own goaltender.

Hockey is an enjoyable sport and is best approached with that attitude. If you are nervous about other people criticizing you, join a beginner team where they teach you everything from scratch. There will be no judgment there.

Yes, you can but it will be called as an icing if you do not get over the red line first (middle line).

If you go to your local rink, play D league. It is a league for less-skilled players who may not be able to compete at a high level. At this level you can learn through experience by playing regularity.

The skate should look as if it’s curved for the shape of your left or right foot. If one foot doesn’t feel right or like it’s bending the wrong way, then you might have put it on the wrong foot.

Yes, and there have been females who have played in the NHL. The goalie position is most suitable for a female and likely the only position recorded so far, but it is not impossible. Contact them for more details if you're interested in this pathway.

You can start at any age older than 3 years old, as long as you are fit and agile.