Hockey is not a spectator sport...

...not when you're on the ice, anyway! However, it happens a lot in our division: something interesting is happening on the ice and the players are spellbound. They just stand there, on the ice, watching the play. Ack! You should probably be doing SOMETHING, or at the very least not standing still.


Here are some common situations where I've noticed this problem:

1. You're a forward, and one of your own players is carrying the puck up the ice with good momentum, maybe even on a breakaway. Don't just stop and watch her! Follow her! If she gets a shot, it's your job to be in a position to get the rebound. If she ends up in the corner, you should be in the slot, ready for a pass.
2. You just got beaten by an opponent. Don't stop and feel sorry for yourself, or look around to see if anyone's noticed. Hustle back and get into position! You may not have stopped the first opponent but you should be able to reduce the number of options available to her (i.e., people to pass to). And by the way, what others WILL notice is your hustle to repair your mistake, and they will think better of you for it.
3. You're a defenceman, and you successfully pinched and either made a hard, long pass or shot on net, and you're watching to see what happens to the puck. Don't dawdle if you've pinched! Once the puck leaves your stick, it's beyond your control, but you'd better make sure you're back at the point to take care of things if the puck ends up back there. You can skate back to your position and admire your shot at the same time... (can't you?)

As a final note, even on the bench, we sometimes get so caught up in watching the (offensive) play that we don't notice our teammates (defencemen) trying to get off the ice. All of a sudden they're at the door and I'm on my way out and my mind isn't quite in the right place. So if you think the previous line is in a position to change, watch the player(s) you're taking off, not the play, so that you're ready to be useful when you step onto the ice.

Just remember, when you're on the ice - hockey is not a spectator sport!