In the realm of professional sports, athletes are known for their meticulously crafted pre-game routines. These rituals not only serve as a means to mentally prepare but also contribute to optimizing physical performance.
Among the many intriguing pre-game traditions in hockey, one has caught the curiosity of many outsiders: playing soccer before games.
Why Do Hockey Players Play Soccer Before Games?
Why Hockey Players Play Soccer Before Games:
- Tradition
- Warm-up
- Ritual
- Team Bonding
Why Do Hockey Players Play Soccer Before Games?
Playing soccer before games is probably the most peculiar pre-game warmup within hockey. There are many reasons why hockey players play soccer before games but the main reasons are “tradition”, warming up, “ritual”, and “team bonding”.
Tradition
Most hockey players play soccer before games because that’s what everyone was doing when they joined the team. It’s as simple as that.
When you’re a rookie, you generally try to be respectful of the traditions of the team and try to assimilate as much as possible. It would be weird if you were off doing your own warmup while the rest of the team was warming up together.
Warm Up
Another reason why hockey players play soccer before games is that it is actually a good warmup. Hockey is a very “legs-intensive-sport” (specifically hips) and playing soccer before games is perfect for opening up your hips and warming up your knees.
Ritual
Ritual is one of the less obvious reasons why hockey players play soccer before games, but it is an important reason nonetheless. Playing soccer together before games helps the whole team get in sync, or “on the same page”.
Not only that, playing soccer before games also acts as a signal for each individual player to “dialed in”. Every player has likely played the game hundreds of times before, and so it acts as a kind of reminder that it’s game time.
Team Bonding
Team bonding is probably the final aspect of why hockey players play soccer before games. The actual game that is played (rules listed below) involves fairness, mercy, and honor. You could kick the ball as hard as you want at someone, but usually, you don’t. And the underlying sentiment of everyone “playing nice” helps bring the team together.
What Is Pre-Game Soccer Called in Hockey?
The soccer game that hockey players play is called “suey”. In soccer, the game is sometimes called “two-touch”. Although “two-touch” can refer to a passing drill as well.
The word “suey” is slang and it comes from the term “suicide pass.” The game is called suey because whoever passes the ball to you in the game is setting you up to get out. Players can even kick the ball directly at you in order to try and get you out.
Pregame Soccer – Rules
The game involves two or more people and one soccer ball. The objective of the game is to keep the soccer ball up in the air.
Each player is afforded only two touches of the ball, hence the name “two-touch” in soccer. If the ball falls to the floor, then the last player to touch the ball is out.
The whole team acts as a kind of “judge” for any close calls. For example, if the ball drops to the floor right next to a player and it’s deemed by the team that that player could’ve gotten the ball, then that player is out.
In really close calls – where there is no consensus among the team on who should be out – the players can dual, or go head-to-head, to decide who is out.
When Did Hockey Players Start Playing Soccer Before Games?
The practice of hockey players playing soccer before games has been prevalent for several decades. While it is challenging to pinpoint an exact date or origin of this tradition, it has become deeply ingrained in the hockey culture over time.
The tradition likely emerged organically, with players recognizing the benefits of engaging in a different sport as part of their pre-game routine. Soccer’s physical demands, such as running, quick changes in direction, and coordination, closely align with the skills required in hockey. As a result, hockey players started incorporating soccer into their warm-up activities to enhance their performance on the ice.
The practice of playing soccer before hockey games gained momentum and popularity as teams witnessed the positive effects it had on their players’ physical and mental preparation. Over the years, it has become a widely accepted and adopted pre-game ritual in hockey, embraced by professional teams at various levels, from junior leagues to international competitions.
While the exact origins and the first instances of hockey players playing soccer before games may be difficult to trace, the tradition’s significance and effectiveness are widely recognized and deeply rooted in the hockey community. Today, it continues to be a common sight to see hockey players engaging in a spirited game of soccer as part of their pre-game routine, symbolizing the enduring nature of this tradition
Do Hockey Players Only Play Soccer Before Games?
Playing soccer before games is definitely not the only warmup that hockey players do. Usually, there will be a different team warmup besides playing soccer before the game, as well as individual warmups that players do on their own.
Alternative team warm-ups can involve:
- Dynamic movements
- Ladders
- Stretches
Individual warmups can involve:
- Stickhandling a ball
- Individual Stretches
- Light Cardio
Goalies usually also have their own pregame warmup that involves coordination. Many goalies will throw a bouncy ball against a wall, or juggle multiple bouncy balls against a wall, in order to get coordinated.
Do Hockey Players Stretch Before Games?
As mentioned hockey team warmups often involve stretches.
Stretching helps improve flexibility and range of motion in your joints and muscles, which can enhance athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury. However, stretching before a game is largely a personal choice among players.
I’ve known many players (including myself) who hated stretching before games because it would make them feel “loose” and “lethargic.”
I felt the same way.
Stretching would often make my body feel like it was time to go to bed, or relax.
Stretching is likely more important as you age, but as a young player, I never had any issues with not stretching before games.
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