JMS Hockey

A common occurrence in all pick up hockey is giving the other team the red line after a goal, a freeze or any other kind of stoppage. My thoughts on this is: it cuts our game in half. I think there's a lot of lessons that can be learned about neutral zone play, D-zone breakout and proper positioning for seam passing. Anyway - I think it could be more fun and a faster pace if we start pressuring the puck sooner (within reason...I'm not advocating for a full court press). What are your thoughts?

I would agree with your sentiment especially at the higher levels (i.e. 4 and above). I personally dont like sitting around past the red line waiting for the other team to advance the puck. I would prefer to give them a reasonable amount of time after a stoppage to collect their thoughts and players on the ice and then apply a reasonable amount of pressure on the forecheck to make the game a bit more competitive for both sides. I think this would help teams establish a good method for breakouts as well as help individuals work on their own forechecking abilities. Let me know if I am alone in this thinking...

Common practice at JMS is to "give up the Blue line" - allowing the team a chance to get the puck from their net up to their blue line.

I agree with Bryan. With just giving the blue line: what I'm seeing is the defensemen taking it to the blue line and deciding what to do with it from there. Breakouts either become a one line pass, a defensemen driven entry, or a clustering turnover. Stretching the game out at the high levels will do us well.

Forechecking doesn't really make a whole lotta sense in pick up hockey because you can't play the man. Its kind of the same reason you rarely see "dump n chase." Most players don't really play hardly any defense to begin with and now you wanna incorporate a full ice forecheck? Good luck with that.

I see it as more "touching up" at the Red Line. Usually, like Mark said, it's giving up the blue line and allowing the d to bring the puck up to it... but I'd rather see it basketball style... touch up at the red line and then forecheck. Picks up the pace and also makes teams pass more strategically.

I agree with Mark; I always thought JMS "policy" was give them the blue line after a goal, offsides, or icing, and then start attacking the puck. IMO that works well for PU hockey.

It seems that for lower level games it makes sense to give the blue line rather than touch up at the red or blue. Not everyone at those levels are ready for pressure right away, especially if it's a newer player starting a breakout being pressured by a crafty veteran. I've been not exactly frustrated but antsy sometimes when the opposing team takes their sweet time getting the rush going, but it's part of playing pick up hockey.

Let's hear for crafty veterans (and cortisone shots, and ice bags)!

The only person I've ever seen push this agenda at a skate is Mark, but I like it. If you're bringing the puck up ice, I will meet you at your blue line, so be ready to do SOMETHING with the puck. Seems like the idea that fore check pressure should start at the blue line after a stoppage should be relayed by the captain at the pregame welcome/agenda/rules.