Hockey Lingo May 19, 2008

The Stanley Cup Finals is just around the corner and I thought that it would be helpful to go over some classic hockey terminology. After reading this post you will be prepared for active hockey conversations when you watch the seven game series with your friends or family. To learn more about the rules of hockey and about the teams scheduled to play in the finals visit the NHL website at http://www.nhl.com.

Back Check: To obstruct an opponent that is skating toward the defending zone.

Blue Lines: The two lines that appear 60 feet from each goal. These lines are used to divide the rink into three zones: attacking, neutral, and defending.

Body Check: Aggressive use of ones body against an opponent. The check is only considered legal if the player has the puck or was the last one to have touched it.

Butt-ending: The act of hitting one’s opponent with the non-blade end of the stick; this act is considered illegal and is cause for a penalty.

Goal Crease: The four foot by eight foot area in front of the goal that is marked by red lines. No offensive players are permitted to enter it unless they are in possession of the puck

Deke: To lunge quickly to fake opponents out of their current position.

Face Off: The referee drops a puck between two players, one player from each team, to start or resume the game.

Forecheck: To check an opposing player in his defense end to prevent him from making an offensive sprint.

Freezing the Puck: To force the puck against the boards in order to get a stoppage of play. The puck may be pressed by either a skate or stick.

Goal Line: The red line that run between the goal posts and extend all the way to the side boards.

Goal Mouth: The area between the goal and the crease line.

Hat Trick: A player scores three goals in a single game.

One-timer: Hitting the puck immediately off of a pass.

Penalty Box: The area off of the rink where penalized players wait to reenter the game.

Power Play: When a team has a one or two more players than their opposing team due to penalties.

Pulling the Goalie: The act of replacing the goalie with an additional player in an effort to tie or win a close match.

Save: A shot that a goalie prevents from scoring.

Screened Shot: When a goalie’s view is blocked by a player when he is being shot at.

Slap Shot: Taking a full backswing to hit the puck with the blade of the stick.

Slot: The area directly preceding the goal crease. This zone typically has the most action in a game and most goals are scored from it.

Splitting the Defense: When the player in possession of the puck skates between two or more opposing defensemen.

Stick Handling: To maneuver the puck with the stick.

Top Shelf: A high shot the top portion of the net.

Wraparound: Occurs when a player skates behind the goal and attempts to slide the puck around the goal post and into the net.

Wrist Shot: Using a quick snap of the wrist to strike the puck with the blade of the stick.

-Tab

Soccer Basics May 6, 2008

Well, you’d like to know why the word-wide sports network is crazy about soccer. I’ll tell you why, it is just about the best sport ever!

Before I lecture you on why people get so consumed by this amazing game, let’s talk about the fundamentals.

Soccer is played on a field that usually ranges from 100-120 yards long and 30-50 yards wide. There are eleven players on the field at a time, including one goalie. The goalie is the only person on the field that can use their hands at any given time. And if you didn’t know soccer is played with your feet, well, now you know.

Each player does have an important role and there is no one person who is more important than any of their teammates. You cannot score without forwards and you cannot block the ball from getting into the net without a goalie.

Oh, the goal is the objective in the game of soccer is to score goals into the opposing net and block goals from going into your own net.

Now that we have established what the key objective is, let’s move on to what each position does for the team as a whole. Remember, soccer is a team sport and no one player is more important than the man or woman standing next to them. If you want to be an individual this is not the sport for you, go play tennis or golf.

First, the forward is the person who is usually the best striker. “Striker” is a term used for people who can strike the ball very well; this includes force, accuracy, and consistency. The forwards usually have great agility, ball skills, and speed.

Next, the midfield. The Midfield players are essential to every single play. The Midfield position is the position on the field that does the most running because they act as forwards and as defenders. They run up and down the field like they will never run again. Most midfield players are exceptionally experienced and know the game very well. It is important that midfielders have outstanding endurance, quick reflexes, and accuracy in being able to place the ball at a teammate’s foot.

Subsequently, the defense. The defense is the last chance to block opposing players from getting close to the goal. Many defenders have great strength in their kick and strength in their bodies to be able to knock a player down from time to time, in a clean way of course. Defense is important because they also help guide the players in front of them and have a great sense of the field.

Lastly, the goalie. The goalie to soccer is like the catcher to baseball. A goalie is the only thing standing between scoring goals and blocking them. A goalie must be quick, fearless, and strong. Goalies are often injured because of the brutal beatings that people give them. Another important quality in a goalie is the ability to have great extension of the body and great height when jumping for a ball that is high.

Now that we have established the positions, let’s talk about the usual format that most teams use during play. The 4-4-2. Why it starts from the back number to the front I couldn’t tell you, I thought the normal way to count and read is from top to bottom and left to right but, whatever. The 4-4-2 stands for: four defenders which are called the sweeper, stopper, left outside, and right outside, four midfielders which are called the left outside mid, center mid, center mid, and right outside mid, and two forwards which are called left wing, and right wing.

If you didn’t know much about soccer, you now know the basic line-up for most teams. People will definitely be impressed with you now.

So, now that you may understand soccer a little bit better, go try to watch a game, you may appreciate it and begin to understand why s many people world-wide love it.

And if you still have a hard time enjoying it, turn on a Galaxy game because who can honestly say they don’t want to see Mr. Dreamy himself, David Beckham.

-Jess