Running up the score, how much is to much

[HockeyMania3]

Where is the line for a ''classy'' team to stop trying to score? i recently witnessed a game where the coach kept putting out top players with a 10 goal lead, trying to rack up stats. Should this coach have put out 4th liners for the rest of the game?

[HShockeywatcher]

My personally opinion about a team sport, as a coach, is that if you downgrade on offense your defense shouldn't give any.

What I mean by that is that on the losing bench, as both players and coaches, it does not feel good (and feelings is all we care about when we talk about what is "right") to continue to get whooped by a team's back ups. If your back ups aren't good offensively and need more experience, but can keep up the defense, by all means put them in and get them more experience.
That being said, don't put in back ups who can't play defense. That will give the opposition a false sense of accomplishment.

If you cannot do what was just described, mix up lines and give back up players some playing time with other top players.


Overall; you are playing an opponent. No one would ever tell a track/cross country/nordic/apline/nascar/skating competitor to go slow just because of competition (unless it was part of training). You are playing a game. By all means, mix up lines and help other lines/players learn more, but don't tell your team not to score. Team games are all about development, by not playing hard, you are taking away from development opportunities of your opponent.

[wblhockeyfan8]

If your some AA powerhouse destroying some middle of nowhere, tiny school, then I'd say running up the score is just not classy. But then again, what are you gonna do? Play keep away?

It just doesn't work in Hockey.

If you've gotta shell em, shell em. The other team should use it as a motivation for the future.

[Goldfishdude]

My belief is that the third period will be running time:

How I would approach this is such.

1) Work on your penalty kill.

Just inform your STAR players to start taking "holding" penalties. I don't want roughing, tripping, slashing or anything else that potentially could injure an opposing player.

This way, you can just keep icing the puck without penalty, run time off the clock, plus allows for game-time work on PK. Then, mix in a couple forwards that don't normally get PT, and give them a chance to work on skills.

2) Inform the goalie to cover the puck every chance to get a whistle, then do a line change. This will take 20 to 30 seconds off the running time clock..

3) On 5 x 5, dump the puck in the opposing zone from anywhere on the ice. Either it's an icing, which will take 20-30 seconds off clock, or, the opposing team gets to work on the breakout, and just work on forecheck, get the puck away, and dump back in the zone.

[blueblood]

I like the way you think gfd....

[northhockey1994]

i dont know how you could tell players not to score? you just create bad habits, you cant tell your players to go out there and not try? that is just wrong.

[keepmeoutofit]

GFD great plan. your ideas benefit both teams

[wingmaster]

My belief is that the third period will be running time:

How I would approach this is such.

1) Work on your penalty kill.

Just inform your STAR players to start taking "holding" penalties. I don't want roughing, tripping, slashing or anything else that potentially could injure an opposing player.

This way, you can just keep icing the puck without penalty, run time off the clock, plus allows for game-time work on PK. Then, mix in a couple forwards that don't normally get PT, and give them a chance to work on skills.

2) Inform the goalie to cover the puck every chance to get a whistle, then do a line change. This will take 20 to 30 seconds off the running time clock..

3) On 5 x 5, dump the puck in the opposing zone from anywhere on the ice. Either it's an icing, which will take 20-30 seconds off clock, or, the opposing team gets to work on the breakout, and just work on forecheck, get the puck away, and dump back in the zone.

i would say keep pumping the vulcanized rubber in the back of the net, by the time the ref digs it out that would burn 20-30 seconds also. If it is meant to be, what goes around comes around. I would never stop scoring if possible, it is will be a life lesson for both.

[Goldfishdude]

My belief is that the third period will be running time:

How I would approach this is such.

1) Work on your penalty kill.

Just inform your STAR players to start taking "holding" penalties. I don't want roughing, tripping, slashing or anything else that potentially could injure an opposing player.

This way, you can just keep icing the puck without penalty, run time off the clock, plus allows for game-time work on PK. Then, mix in a couple forwards that don't normally get PT, and give them a chance to work on skills.

2) Inform the goalie to cover the puck every chance to get a whistle, then do a line change. This will take 20 to 30 seconds off the running time clock..

3) On 5 x 5, dump the puck in the opposing zone from anywhere on the ice. Either it's an icing, which will take 20-30 seconds off clock, or, the opposing team gets to work on the breakout, and just work on forecheck, get the puck away, and dump back in the zone.

i would say keep pumping the vulcanized rubber in the back of the net, by the time the ref digs it out that would burn 20-30 seconds also. If it is meant to be, what goes around comes around. I would never stop scoring if possible, it is will be a life lesson for both.

Although this line is dang funny, what life lesson is learned? Kick a man when he's down? Bury the wretched?

A life lesson that involves any sort of negative impact is not really a life lesson that should be taught. I believe the MSHSL makes the players sign a contract about fair play and sportsmanship. The MSHSL strives to promote ethical behavior and good sportsmanship - it's among the first pages of the by-laws.

I guarantee you that if a coach acted in the manner I outlined, not only would the winning team fans salute the coach, but so would the opposing players and parents, and that GOOD deed would be talked about in a positive manner a lot quicker than a 16-0 score. If any player on my team had ANY issues whatsoever of playing in that manner or sportsmanship, they would be benched.

There are SO many guys on this forum that preach - what is more important? A team win or personal stats? 90% of us agree it's the win that counts.

If my team is up 10-0, I think it's pretty safe that 1) I will be able to preserve my win while 17:00 running time is wasted, and 2) If my plan is implemented, I don't think that bad habits will develop in the next 17:00 minutes.

I have been on the bad end of many lopsided traveling baseball scores in which the score is 10-0 and the opposing coach is still stealing bases in the 4th inning. I just make sure I say OUTLOUD so that every parent on both sides hears me... "Jimmy and Billy.. don't worry about throwing out the runner. Just get the batter. If he wants to steal with a 10-0 lead and that makes him feel better, let him!"

[hockeyguru]

Great time to let some other lines get some practice and exercise rather than your top lines running the score. Like someone mentioned above. It is hockey, you have to play so you really can't just try not to score.

[wingmaster]

My belief is that the third period will be running time:

How I would approach this is such.

1) Work on your penalty kill.

Just inform your STAR players to start taking "holding" penalties. I don't want roughing, tripping, slashing or anything else that potentially could injure an opposing player.

This way, you can just keep icing the puck without penalty, run time off the clock, plus allows for game-time work on PK. Then, mix in a couple forwards that don't normally get PT, and give them a chance to work on skills.

2) Inform the goalie to cover the puck every chance to get a whistle, then do a line change. This will take 20 to 30 seconds off the running time clock..

3) On 5 x 5, dump the puck in the opposing zone from anywhere on the ice. Either it's an icing, which will take 20-30 seconds off clock, or, the opposing team gets to work on the breakout, and just work on forecheck, get the puck away, and dump back in the zone.

i would say keep pumping the vulcanized rubber in the back of the net, by the time the ref digs it out that would burn 20-30 seconds also. If it is meant to be, what goes around comes around. I would never stop scoring if possible, it is will be a life lesson for both.

Although this line is dang funny, what life lesson is learned? Kick a man when he's down? Bury the wretched?

A life lesson that involves any sort of negative impact is not really a life lesson that should be taught. I believe the MSHSL makes the players sign a contract about fair play and sportsmanship. The MSHSL strives to promote ethical behavior and good sportsmanship - it's among the first pages of the by-laws.

I guarantee you that if a coach acted in the manner I outlined, not only would the winning team fans salute the coach, but so would the opposing players and parents, and that GOOD deed would be talked about in a positive manner a lot quicker than a 16-0 score. If any player on my team had ANY issues whatsoever of playing in that manner or sportsmanship, they would be benched.

There are SO many guys on this forum that preach - what is more important? A team win or personal stats? 90% of us agree it's the win that counts.

If my team is up 10-0, I think it's pretty safe that 1) I will be able to preserve my win while 17:00 running time is wasted, and 2) If my plan is implemented, I don't think that bad habits will develop in the next 17:00 minutes.

I have been on the bad end of many lopsided traveling baseball scores in which the score is 10-0 and the opposing coach is still stealing bases in the 4th inning. I just make sure I say OUTLOUD so that every parent on both sides hears me... "Jimmy and Billy.. don't worry about throwing out the runner. Just get the batter. If he wants to steal with a 10-0 lead and that makes him feel better, let him!"

Maybe we should quit keeping score. that way no one would get there feelings hurt and everyone would feel good about their performance. Even though it sucked! And then when they apply for a job they won't understand why they didn't get it. People win and lose in sports, just like life!

[Goldfishdude]

I think some of you guys have missed the point. READ THE OPENING THREAD!!

The question is what should a "classy" team do...

The point I was trying to strive at is a 10-0 score is a prime opportunity to work on your OWN team game, by playing a penalty kill in game-speed... not a half-sheet of ice in practice. The PK unit is still working hard.. still accomplishing a goal..

But the perspective of "teach them a lesson... what goes around comes around" .... it's a fair question that I asked what lesson are you teaching??

So, I think I answered what a "classy" team would do.

You non-classy teams can go ahead and run up the score....

[mulefarm]

Playing the 3-4th line more and allowing other players to play on special teams would be the thing to do. Taking penalities and not playing hard would turn the game into a farce. As a former player, that type of play would be more embarrassing than getting beat 10-12 to nothing.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Back in my tme at Hill, we played in the St. Paul City conference and many games were blowouts. As games became lopsided, we were instructed to keep playing the game....but add a few extra passes and when it was time to shoot, our target was the goalie, not the net. Often times we would tap the pads of the goalie after making yet another save & say, "great save...ya rob me." The scores were big, but they certainly could have been worse.

You don't wanna make a mockery of the game & it is not necessarily your responsibility to play down to your opponent's level. But there are ways to keep playing the game and yet limit the amout of scoring.

[steelheader]

I think I may know the game we are talking about here.

What if a team spent their whole youth hockey playing up at the A level and took their beatings against the likes of Centennial, Blaine and others in D10?

Now they play a lesser team at the Varsity level and they should be held back?

[HShockeywatcher]

I think it's funny that in some ranking systems people use margin of victory as a praise tool, then we have threads like this where people want the better team to lay off.

[Buck50]

You could just do what Mahtomedi did this week to Kennedy and pummel them into oblivion with your first line all the way to the end of the game. Running with the number 1 power play unit right up to the finish. Classy. 11-0.

[HShockeywatcher]

At what point do you go up to your players and basically say "hey guys, I know you signed up for just as many games as everyone else in the state, but since we're a lot better than the team we're playing today, you're not going to play much?"

There is definitely great times to give back up goalies net time and players on bottom lines experience with other players, but (IMO) you should never sacrifice defense later in the game.

[whos_it]

Classy .......... what if you are scoring shorthanded goals? Part of learning how to kill a tough penalty is killing it against a tough team. A cupcake is a cupcake and going one down will hardly make a difference. If Minnetonka were to play SleepyEye tomorrow, they couldn't go shorthanded enough as the league only alows you to go down by 2 players at a time.

My son had a team instruct their players to "quit shooting" one time. They did the Harlom Globetrotter thing in our end for the entire 3rd period. They didn't score and boy did we feel good about ourselves ........... NOT!! It was so embarrasing that some kids threatened to quit. Of course a couple days later they were over it and the season moves on.

I know this is the highschool post but some Bantam A squads only have 2 lines on the roster to start with.

One person posted to let the 4th line only play. I know they were confused because a 17 minute shift doesn't teach anyone, anything.

I say you rotate all 4 lines. 1st, 2nd and perhaps 3rd take very (30 second) short shifts while the 4th takes pretty long ones. Guess what, I bet they score. These are kids that play 4 minutes a game if they are lucky and if you think it is right to have them "hold back" you and I will have to agree to disagree. They are as hungry as a bear waking up from winters sleep.

Good luck finding something that works for everyone. Perhaps the issue should be resolved through the scheduling process. If you can't compete, don't play THAT game. Take it off the schedule.

[scoreboard33]

If the team thats down just keeps playing hard, I'd just play a more defensive game like goldfishdude came up with but I wouldn't take icing or penalty's intentionally. If the team gets chippy when they get down a lot, bury them.

[HShockeywatcher]

My son had a team instruct their players to "quit shooting" one time. They did the Harlom Globetrotter thing in our end for the entire 3rd period. They didn't score and boy did we feel good about ourselves ........... NOT!! It was so embarrasing that some kids threatened to quit. Of course a couple days later they were over it and the season moves on.

This is exactly what I've been trying to point out without using an example. The "classiness" hits on the feelings/emotions of the team getting beat. I believe most teams (players/coaches) would prefer for the better team to continue to score with their top players instead of a. doing just as well with their bottom players or b. have the other team toy with you with a pass rule.

Maybe the better team should pull their goalie...

[Goldfishdude]

You guys all raise valid points about how to just keep scoring goals. And I won't/can't argue it.

The MSHSL designates running time for the 3rd period after a lead of only 6 goals, because the MSHSL feels that is sufficient enough after two periods. I have no problem in the ability to score as many goals as possible before the rule kicks in. If you're scoring SH goals under my suggestions, then you're scoring in a restricted manner, and your scoring with your third and fourth-liners, but more importantly, just killing the clock.

Obviously, as why this thread was even created, shows that there are people who don't want to be in either the winning end or losing end. the personality of the coach is how the team will decide to play games like this.

And if a good coach continues to pound an opponent, I sure as heck hope he is playing the 3rd and 4th lines, because can you imagine the outcry when the leading scorer gets his arm broken, because some kid is pissed he's losing 12-0 and takes a run at him?

[HShockeywatcher]

And if a good coach continues to pound an opponent, I sure as heck hope he is playing the 3rd and 4th lines, because can you imagine the outcry when the leading scorer gets his arm broken, because some kid is pissed he's losing 12-0 and takes a run at him?

GFD,

I can't speak for anyone else, (without sounding like a broken record) but if I was on the losing end, I would prefer to get handled by the 1st and 2nd lines than the 3rd and 4th lines. Getting it handed to you by the back ups isn't fun.

[Goldfishdude]

And if a good coach continues to pound an opponent, I sure as heck hope he is playing the 3rd and 4th lines, because can you imagine the outcry when the leading scorer gets his arm broken, because some kid is pissed he's losing 12-0 and takes a run at him?

GFD,

I can't speak for anyone else, (without sounding like a broken record) but if I was on the losing end, I would prefer to get handled by the 1st and 2nd lines than the 3rd and 4th lines. Getting it handed to you by the back ups isn't fun.

All the points taken are understood!!! Good feedback by all!!

[Gopher Blog]

Double shift your bottom few lines and maybe mix in the top line here or there...

Sit your top player in the 3rd period (since many teams have one player that is beyond the rest and the offense tends to run through him), etc.

The problem is some coaches lose sight of the big picture and let the kid's desire to run up individual point totals dictate what happens.