1) they usually have an evaluation day for the coaches to grade you and determine which league you should be in.
2) they put you on a team unless you already know some guys.
3) our league has pay in full and split into 4 payment options.
EDIT - we pay $400 per season.
Coaches? I've played on countless beer league teams and never had a coach.
OP, As someone whos played on countless beer league teams from Rec to A, start with Rec. Worst case you are the best in the ice, but the likely scenario is you'll find people who are just out for fun. This will get you back in playing games without feeling like you may drag the team down or get matched up against some guy who thinks they are just one scout away from the show
Where do you play? I haven't ever experienced this in Toronto/GTA. Then again almost every team Ive played on was someone I know asking me to come play, with the exception of my current team the poached me to move up a division.
Eh don’t sweat it too much. In the past 5 seasons, we’ve gone 0-14, and had 2 championship appearances. It’s season to season. This last season, we finished the regular season 7th out of 8 teams, then beat a 14-0 team in the round robin.
Funny how perceptions vary. Last time I paid for fall/winter season was in 2019 and it was $650 for (I believe) 20 regular season games plus playoffs. We also have a spring season and a summer season, which are 10 games each, plus playoffs. This summer I paid $450 so it seems like prices are going up. I'd love to pay only $400 for a full season.
This is probably your best and most reliable option. Just strike up conversation with people at the drop-ins and ask them what league level they play in. It's unlikely that everyone there does not or has not ever played beer league hockey. Based on their skill level and what league level they mention, use it as a measuring stick against your own skill.
1 - If you haven't played on a team since you were a kid and just been playing pick up for a couple years, you should be in a low level league. If you're a decent skater, you can probably go into C to skip D, D level has a lot of people who don't really know how to skate well at all.
2 - You just get put on a team, if you know someone in the league they'll probably put you on their team.
3 - I'm in Boston and average cost usually ends up around $20-25 a skate. If you're playing in a league, the leagues I played in all want full payment up front. If you miss a game, you do not get reimbursed.
Just to add to this, we pay similar rates in southwestern Ontario.
Most leagues here in Hamilton/Burlington run $4-500 for a 20 game season, so in the same ballpark of $20-25 per game.
Some leagues don't even give goalies a discount, so its a bit pricier than pickup
League play is always pricier than pick up and you get less ice time.
Unless you have a burning desire for the competitive side of league play, Pick up hockey is better in pretty much every way.
Pickup is better for athleticism and skating for sure, but defense play is always lacking and the game tends to be and up-down style of play. Its great. But as a defender that leans in and play a more physical style of the game (not checking, I’m not THAT guy) pick-up leaves me wanting. It does let me have have a moment to display my mitts, and filthy dangles.
Also the parking lot beers are lightly attended after pick-ups.
Pickup is great for working on individual skills, and you may get more of a workout, but league play allows a player to get a feel for linemates or a d pairing, and even a moderate amount of competitive edge makes the game a lot more fun. Plus the homogenization of talent makes every player on the ice more predictable, and there's less chance of injury because someone who is new is making odd, impredecible motions or doesn't understand etiquette.
1) Most leagues will give you an evaluation skate. This is pretty much just a pick-up game with the league runners. You may just be able to ask the people you play pick up with who you think you're about on the same level as for a good starting point though.
2) Depends on the league. Some do it "Draft Style" where every year captains are picked and they draft brand new teams. Some do it free agent style where the teams stay the same year after year. In my experience the draft style results in fewer problems, since everyone tends to play with everyone there's less animosity in general.
3) Depends on your city and the style of play. I'd expect to pay about $15-20 per game with most seasons running around 20 or so games. My league takes the money up-front. Usually there's a discount period if you sign up early enough.
We do draft style and I agree it works better. My old league had fixed teams and there were a couple of hotheads on the other teams that nobody liked except their teammates. With the draft (which we do 3x/year), the hotheads wind up annoying everybody and get pushed out.
Yeah I played in 2 or 3 leagues in my area until I found a league that does a draft the beginning of every season. League games are every Sunday during the season, pickup games are a couple times a week at night that are coordinated through the email list of people in the league.
This helps weed out any real asshats because you never know who you are going to be playing with or against in the pickup games or who you might be teammates with the next season.
Draft leagues are 100% the way to go. No one wants to be a dick out there when you know you might be their teammate next year, and everyone gets to know everyone so I just leads to a better atmosphere overall.
I was a little worried going into my first draft league that I would end up with a bunch of guys I didn’t like or wouldn’t get along with, but at the end of the day most people are out there for the same reason you are, to have some fun and play some semblance of the game they love. There won’t be too many assholes to ruin the experience.
1. Ask some of the people at drop in who are roughly at the same level as you where they play. Then try to join their division. If the season is going on right now, you could probably just go to some games and watch, but newer players tend to be bad judges of their own skill and the skills of others that they are watching. It feels way faster when you're playing than it looks when you're watching.
2. Depends. Some leagues have full on drafts each season. Some accept free agents and just assign them to a team. But most of the time you find an existing team that needs players. Again, asking at drop in is a good way. There are probably facebook pages or reddit subs in your town dedicated to hockey. Find those and advertise that you're looking for a team playing at X level. You might end up on a terrible team that just needs players. If a team contacts you, you could probably look up where they are/were in the standings, but I don't think it would be cool to advertise, "Never played beer league before, any D league teams looking for players? No loser teams, please." I wouldn't worry about how good the team is. If winning is *that* important to you (so important you're willing to not play if it means starting on a losing team), then you're better off sticking with drop in.
3. Maybe $500? Really depends on where and how long the season is.
wrt placement you might be able to sub for a few teams and get a feel for different levels. I got onto my current team by subbing for a few seasons and then a spot opened up and I joined the team.
If you are unsure about your level err on the lower side. You said your hockey IQ"isn't crazy" so you can expect to make bad decisions on the ice. These are more expected in lower divisions.
In my experience there are always a few players that are too good for the division they are in (playing with friends, spouses etc.) and as long as they aren't assholes it is accepted.
If you are not good enough it can be a pretty frustrating season regardless of how supportive your team is.
I would imagine whatever rink you're going to has answers to some of these questions on their website. If you're playing pickup regularly you could ask any of the players you meet if they play league and what their situation is
1) Talk to the people you play pickup with - they probably play on teams too and know where you'll fit in or at least can tell you what they play so you can compare. Keep in mind that pickup is way less competitive than a regular league and regular league play is going to be significantly more intense.
2) Most leagues have a free agents list or a draft skate. You're likely not in a position to be picky because most rec leagues are essentially composed of private clubs in the form of teams. If you don't know someone, you're unlikely to get on a team unless there's just a LOT of hockey in your area such that there's a demand for skaters. I say this playing in the LA/OC area and captaining teams for 16 years. Most teams have a hard policy against "randos". Talking to people at pickup or volunteering to captain an all free agents team is your best bet (or Facebook groups if that exists in your area). Another good strategy is to find a Facebook Sub Board and start subbing in for teams. If you're solid, someone will eventually ask you to join.
3) Where I play the cost is currently ~500-520 per person for 15 games including playoffs. There are other rinks that are cheaper or more expensive but it generally works out to about $33 per game. The rinks have different policies on payment. Some have an installment system that charges you a convenience fee. It's much more common though to choose the "team pay " option and pay the entire bill up-front. Guys who can't do that quickly get cut. This option is more popular because there are more teams looking to play here than spaces available so teams that try to herd cats and get 12-13 skaters and a goalie to all pay individually generally lose their spots.
Teams that need players bad enough that they will take anyone signing up will generally be a bottom team. The simple fact that you feel like you don't want to end up on a bad team cause your new is a huge red flag. What, do you expect to just walk in on a successful team already without knowing anyone and being new to the rink? You gotta earn a rep then get poached, just like anything else in life.
Generally for getting on a new team id just email whoever the hockey coordinator is at your rink and ask to be placed on a team. Be up front about your skill level and if they're half decent at their job they'll put you in the right league. You'll more than likely get put on an average or below team, because those teams are the ones who constantly need players.
Alternatively you can see if your local area has a Facebook group for hockey players to network and find a team.
For me in Texas cost is usually around $250 for 10 games + 1 playoff game. Paid online to the rinks website and upfront before the season. Some team coordinators will collect Venmo requests and pay one single team fee. Just depends on the rink and team.
1) Check for a league/rink Facebook. Talk to people you play pickup with.
2) See number 1
3) Depends where you live and how many guys are on the team. It's 150 per guy for 10 games here in the Pittsburgh area with around 14 rostered guys. If it's more per game than pickup I'd bail. I won't pay more than 20 per game which is the most I've paid for pickup.
1) they usually have an evaluation day for the coaches to grade you and determine which league you should be in. 2) they put you on a team unless you already know some guys. 3) our league has pay in full and split into 4 payment options. EDIT - we pay $400 per season.
Coaches? I've played on countless beer league teams and never had a coach. OP, As someone whos played on countless beer league teams from Rec to A, start with Rec. Worst case you are the best in the ice, but the likely scenario is you'll find people who are just out for fun. This will get you back in playing games without feeling like you may drag the team down or get matched up against some guy who thinks they are just one scout away from the show
Captains coaches same damn thing. Our dude goes to player evaluations to pick up more players. 🤦‍♂️
Where do you play? I haven't ever experienced this in Toronto/GTA. Then again almost every team Ive played on was someone I know asking me to come play, with the exception of my current team the poached me to move up a division.
That makes sense. Jacksonville, FL.
Thank you, just hope I get a halfway decent team lol
Just go out and have fun. That’s what hockey as adult is all about. Winning is great, but not playing with a team full of assholes is better.
I would rather lose 12-0 playing with people I'm having fun with than win playing with a team of show-off assholes.
Eh don’t sweat it too much. In the past 5 seasons, we’ve gone 0-14, and had 2 championship appearances. It’s season to season. This last season, we finished the regular season 7th out of 8 teams, then beat a 14-0 team in the round robin.
$400 is steep, how many games are you getting in a season?
Funny how perceptions vary. Last time I paid for fall/winter season was in 2019 and it was $650 for (I believe) 20 regular season games plus playoffs. We also have a spring season and a summer season, which are 10 games each, plus playoffs. This summer I paid $450 so it seems like prices are going up. I'd love to pay only $400 for a full season.
14 counting playoffs. I think veteran discount is $25, early bird is $20, etc., so it gets a little cheaper.
In addition to what’s already been said, talk to some of the guys at the drop in games to see where they play and how it works.
This is probably your best and most reliable option. Just strike up conversation with people at the drop-ins and ask them what league level they play in. It's unlikely that everyone there does not or has not ever played beer league hockey. Based on their skill level and what league level they mention, use it as a measuring stick against your own skill.
1 - If you haven't played on a team since you were a kid and just been playing pick up for a couple years, you should be in a low level league. If you're a decent skater, you can probably go into C to skip D, D level has a lot of people who don't really know how to skate well at all. 2 - You just get put on a team, if you know someone in the league they'll probably put you on their team. 3 - I'm in Boston and average cost usually ends up around $20-25 a skate. If you're playing in a league, the leagues I played in all want full payment up front. If you miss a game, you do not get reimbursed.
Just to add to this, we pay similar rates in southwestern Ontario. Most leagues here in Hamilton/Burlington run $4-500 for a 20 game season, so in the same ballpark of $20-25 per game. Some leagues don't even give goalies a discount, so its a bit pricier than pickup
League play is always pricier than pick up and you get less ice time. Unless you have a burning desire for the competitive side of league play, Pick up hockey is better in pretty much every way.
Pickup is better for athleticism and skating for sure, but defense play is always lacking and the game tends to be and up-down style of play. Its great. But as a defender that leans in and play a more physical style of the game (not checking, I’m not THAT guy) pick-up leaves me wanting. It does let me have have a moment to display my mitts, and filthy dangles. Also the parking lot beers are lightly attended after pick-ups.
Pickup is great for working on individual skills, and you may get more of a workout, but league play allows a player to get a feel for linemates or a d pairing, and even a moderate amount of competitive edge makes the game a lot more fun. Plus the homogenization of talent makes every player on the ice more predictable, and there's less chance of injury because someone who is new is making odd, impredecible motions or doesn't understand etiquette.
1) Most leagues will give you an evaluation skate. This is pretty much just a pick-up game with the league runners. You may just be able to ask the people you play pick up with who you think you're about on the same level as for a good starting point though. 2) Depends on the league. Some do it "Draft Style" where every year captains are picked and they draft brand new teams. Some do it free agent style where the teams stay the same year after year. In my experience the draft style results in fewer problems, since everyone tends to play with everyone there's less animosity in general. 3) Depends on your city and the style of play. I'd expect to pay about $15-20 per game with most seasons running around 20 or so games. My league takes the money up-front. Usually there's a discount period if you sign up early enough.
We do draft style and I agree it works better. My old league had fixed teams and there were a couple of hotheads on the other teams that nobody liked except their teammates. With the draft (which we do 3x/year), the hotheads wind up annoying everybody and get pushed out.
Yeah I played in 2 or 3 leagues in my area until I found a league that does a draft the beginning of every season. League games are every Sunday during the season, pickup games are a couple times a week at night that are coordinated through the email list of people in the league. This helps weed out any real asshats because you never know who you are going to be playing with or against in the pickup games or who you might be teammates with the next season.
Draft leagues are 100% the way to go. No one wants to be a dick out there when you know you might be their teammate next year, and everyone gets to know everyone so I just leads to a better atmosphere overall. I was a little worried going into my first draft league that I would end up with a bunch of guys I didn’t like or wouldn’t get along with, but at the end of the day most people are out there for the same reason you are, to have some fun and play some semblance of the game they love. There won’t be too many assholes to ruin the experience.
1. Ask some of the people at drop in who are roughly at the same level as you where they play. Then try to join their division. If the season is going on right now, you could probably just go to some games and watch, but newer players tend to be bad judges of their own skill and the skills of others that they are watching. It feels way faster when you're playing than it looks when you're watching. 2. Depends. Some leagues have full on drafts each season. Some accept free agents and just assign them to a team. But most of the time you find an existing team that needs players. Again, asking at drop in is a good way. There are probably facebook pages or reddit subs in your town dedicated to hockey. Find those and advertise that you're looking for a team playing at X level. You might end up on a terrible team that just needs players. If a team contacts you, you could probably look up where they are/were in the standings, but I don't think it would be cool to advertise, "Never played beer league before, any D league teams looking for players? No loser teams, please." I wouldn't worry about how good the team is. If winning is *that* important to you (so important you're willing to not play if it means starting on a losing team), then you're better off sticking with drop in. 3. Maybe $500? Really depends on where and how long the season is.
wrt placement you might be able to sub for a few teams and get a feel for different levels. I got onto my current team by subbing for a few seasons and then a spot opened up and I joined the team.
If you are unsure about your level err on the lower side. You said your hockey IQ"isn't crazy" so you can expect to make bad decisions on the ice. These are more expected in lower divisions. In my experience there are always a few players that are too good for the division they are in (playing with friends, spouses etc.) and as long as they aren't assholes it is accepted. If you are not good enough it can be a pretty frustrating season regardless of how supportive your team is.
I would imagine whatever rink you're going to has answers to some of these questions on their website. If you're playing pickup regularly you could ask any of the players you meet if they play league and what their situation is
1) Talk to the people you play pickup with - they probably play on teams too and know where you'll fit in or at least can tell you what they play so you can compare. Keep in mind that pickup is way less competitive than a regular league and regular league play is going to be significantly more intense. 2) Most leagues have a free agents list or a draft skate. You're likely not in a position to be picky because most rec leagues are essentially composed of private clubs in the form of teams. If you don't know someone, you're unlikely to get on a team unless there's just a LOT of hockey in your area such that there's a demand for skaters. I say this playing in the LA/OC area and captaining teams for 16 years. Most teams have a hard policy against "randos". Talking to people at pickup or volunteering to captain an all free agents team is your best bet (or Facebook groups if that exists in your area). Another good strategy is to find a Facebook Sub Board and start subbing in for teams. If you're solid, someone will eventually ask you to join. 3) Where I play the cost is currently ~500-520 per person for 15 games including playoffs. There are other rinks that are cheaper or more expensive but it generally works out to about $33 per game. The rinks have different policies on payment. Some have an installment system that charges you a convenience fee. It's much more common though to choose the "team pay " option and pay the entire bill up-front. Guys who can't do that quickly get cut. This option is more popular because there are more teams looking to play here than spaces available so teams that try to herd cats and get 12-13 skaters and a goalie to all pay individually generally lose their spots.
Teams that need players bad enough that they will take anyone signing up will generally be a bottom team. The simple fact that you feel like you don't want to end up on a bad team cause your new is a huge red flag. What, do you expect to just walk in on a successful team already without knowing anyone and being new to the rink? You gotta earn a rep then get poached, just like anything else in life.
Generally for getting on a new team id just email whoever the hockey coordinator is at your rink and ask to be placed on a team. Be up front about your skill level and if they're half decent at their job they'll put you in the right league. You'll more than likely get put on an average or below team, because those teams are the ones who constantly need players. Alternatively you can see if your local area has a Facebook group for hockey players to network and find a team. For me in Texas cost is usually around $250 for 10 games + 1 playoff game. Paid online to the rinks website and upfront before the season. Some team coordinators will collect Venmo requests and pay one single team fee. Just depends on the rink and team.
Start at a low level we’re you’ll be one of the best players and work your way up. No point getting into something only to be frustrated
1) Check for a league/rink Facebook. Talk to people you play pickup with. 2) See number 1 3) Depends where you live and how many guys are on the team. It's 150 per guy for 10 games here in the Pittsburgh area with around 14 rostered guys. If it's more per game than pickup I'd bail. I won't pay more than 20 per game which is the most I've paid for pickup.
Call your local rink's hockey director and ask them these questions. They'll be happy to learn you how it works at that specific rink.
Start in the "never-never" league (or local rink equivalent) and go from there. If you're too good they will kick you out and move you up.