Newcomer to Adult Hockey ?

If you are an adult and have always wanted to play hockey, you may have many questions. Although you may be nervous about playing a sport that is very difficult to master, you should know that anyone can learn to play no matter their experience or age.

Our Adult D League (Developmental League) is designed to help the new adult player work on their skills while enjoying the game of hockey. Here are some frequently asked questions.

Q. What happens during a D League Session?
A. You will be on the ice for approximately 75 minutes. The first 30 minutes consist of hockey related drills. Skating, passing, shooting, team and more are developed during this time. The remaining 45 minutes is played as an actual game. You will play (3) periods of 13 minute hockey.

Q. When does this D League season start?
A. The actual start date of the our next session is Sunday, November 21st. You would practice/play on Sundays for 22 weeks at either 2:30 or 4:00 PM. Since we are a developmental league, we will add new players at anytime during this 22 week session (up to full capacity). Your fee would be prorated based on however many weeks are left. We still skate on Sundays at 2:30 leading up to this session and newcomers are welcome to skate during these for $12/ session to get a feel for hockey as well.

Q. What if I have NEVER skated before?
A. The majority of the adults in this program are brand new to skating. Most have never skated (or done an occasional public skate session) in their entire lives until now. The league is designed for this type of individual. We do encourage new players to go to a public skate session just to get a feel for skating (but this is not required). You can also come out to watch a D League session and see the level of the other players.

Q. How much does the D League cost?
A. The cost for the 22 session is $300. Again, this would be prorated based on when you start, so if someone joins halfway through the season, their fee would be $150.

Q. What equipment do I need, how can I get it and what does it cost?
A. You will need the following: helmet (with cage suggested), shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, jock, shin guards, skates, stick, hockey socks, jersey & hockey bag. Not required optional items include: mouthguard & neckguard. Click here for a good picture of the gear. Some additional accessory items include: water bottle, hockey tape & stick wax. As you can see , hockey is a gear intensive sport. The beauty is that as an adult, you will likely not outgrow your gear, so you can use it for many years. This equipment can be purchased at retail stores or online. Gear can get as expensive as you want. Some sticks alone sell for $250. At the same time, there are many inexpensive options. Play It Again sports sells used equipment and there are many players in leagues across Des Moines that have extra pieces they are willing to sell or even give away. It is always best to try on equipment for comfort and size. You can realistically get suited up for hockey under $300 if you look for deals.

Q. What is I do not know the rules? Will others get frustrated with me during the games?
A. Many of the players in our league did not know the rules when they started. Others have a great knowledge of the game as they may have been fans of watching but never playing. The league is supportive and players help each other. We also have several volunteers to help run drills and coach from the bench to discuss rules & strategies.

Q. I have decided to play and have registered. What do I do when I get to the Arena as I have never done this before?
A. Bring all you gear in your hockey bag and arrive approx. 30-40 minutes prior to your practice time. Enter any of the entrances at Bucs Arena and proceed down the stairs and you will see hallways that lead to several locker rooms. Ideally, find another adult player and introduce yourself as a new player to the league. They will gladly help you get situated. All players have been in this situation. They can help you get your gear on in the proper order and answer any question you may have. Once all your gear is on, you can proceed to the door that leads on to the ice. It is important to remember that you should not enter the ice until the Zamboni (ice resurfacing machine) doors are CLOSED. The first few minutes is a warm up period where you can stretch, skate, stickhandle, or shoot. The instructors on the ice will let everyone know when the drills are starting. Bring your water bottle to the ice with you and set it on one of the player's benches as you can get water as needed.

Our goal is to make all newcomers comfortable and to learn the skills needed to enjoy hockey. Ask questions of the other players and coaches. You can always go to "Google" and search hockey terms, rules, suggestions and more. You may feel like you are the only person that does not know what they are doing, but understand that everyone in this group is a beginner and it is a learning process for all.

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