1. Using the site
2. Different experience levels
3. Prep for first time at JMS
4. On the ice: how it works
5. Keeping it fun, friendly and pedagogical
6. Misc
Using the Site
1. How do I register?
Sign up on the website after creating an account and purchasing some
credits. Please do read the FAQs section before you e-mail me so A) I won't
have to retype what's here and B) you understand how JMS works before you
register.
2. When are registrations usually available?
I post icetimes on Sunday for the following Friday. For midweek icetimes,
such as Tuesdays, I'll post the next week's ice the next day.
3. What do I need to make the website work correctly?
The website is best viewed with Internet Explorer 5.0 or better or Firefox
1.2 or better. Other browsers will most likely work, but are not supported
at this time.
4. What should I do if I have problems signing up on the website?
First, verify you are logged in. You should see your login name at the top
of the screen on the left and a logout link on the top of the screen on the
right. Next, check the system requirements (listed in the previous question)
to verify you are running a supported browser. Finally, if neither of those
things are the solution, please record the date/time, and take a screenshot
of your error or the screen you are having trouble with and email both to
webmaster@jmshockey.com
5. What does it cost?
For one session, $15. I currently offer 5 sessions for $60 (saving $15) as
well. Goalies always play free.
6. When do credits show up on my account?
Credits purchased from Google Checkout do NOT update automatically. This is
good because it means the sensitive financial information is kept on that
very secure server, completely separate from the JMS site which has only
skater credits and no card info. I add credits manually and I do it as often
as I can (in the morning before work, morning break, lunch hour, afternoon
break, after work, throughout the evening, on weekends, etc.)
What this means: If your credits are low, PLEASE don't wait until the last
minute to buy some. I update as often as I can, but I can't sit on the site
all day. If you wait to purchase credits and there's one roster spot left,
my work schedule means I can't guarantee that I'll see your e-mail in time
to credit your account so you can grab that last spot. So don't gamble and
wait until the last minute.
7. I'm registered but I have to cancel and the website won't let me cancel
on my own. What do I do?
The site automatically locks 48 hours before icetime, so e-mail me right
away. Sometimes I have a wait list. If you cancel less than 48 hours before
icetime, you may be responsible for some or all of your session fee. I will
always do what I can to fill the spot (which is why I maintain a wait list)
and you are also welcome to try to find your own replacement, such as a
teammate, provided that person is the appropriate skill level for the
session. But the bottom line is that if you sign up, you are committing to
play. If you need to cancel, we'll try to fill the spot, but that may not
always happen.
Different Experience Levels
8. How do I know what level I am?
Check out the main page--it lists levels corresponding to the AHA and WHAM
as well as basic skills for each. Send a note to Barbara Garn, JMS
administrator, at barbara@jmshockey.com if you still can't figure it out.
9. When do you have sessions for absolute brand-new neophyte skaters?
I run the Level 1 session, for the brand-spankin-newbies, from October to
April. They disappear in the summer and I can't support a level with such
low numbers during that time.
10. I have never, ever played hockey before. Should I come anyway?
Yes. The only way to get better is to get icetime. JMSers are pretty
friendly and we've all been a gawky beginner, usually not too long ago.
Prep for first time at JMS
11. What do I bring to my first JMS skate?
A full set of hockey gear. This includes: jock/jill, shinpads, hockey socks,
hockey skates, breezers, shoulder pads, elbow pads, helmet and stick. I do
have loaner equipment, available free. Also bring a white and a dark jersey.
Dark does not include grey, yellow, orange or light blue as these make it
tough for everyone to tell which team you're on.
12. How do I find the locker room?
Usually the arenas will post which locker rooms we have, but the best bet is
to follow the other adults towing hockey bags and ask if they're going to
JMS.
13. Is there a locker room for women only?
Nope. Most locker rooms have a bathroom where men or women can put on their
jock or jill. I put on my sportsbra and jill in the bathroom and then the
rest of my gear in the room.
14. Should I bring my wallet or purse to the ice?
Don't EVER leave anything valuable in the locker room. Richfield especially
is a problem. I bring only my essential stuff and take valuables to the
bench with me.
On the ice: how it works
15. How do you choose teams?
We toss sticks into the middle after warmup. Someone --usually the person I
have asked to run the session --will divide them up between the two sides.
Whichever team ends up with more white jerseys is white; the other is dark.
PLEASE, no yellow, orange or grey jerseys for either team; they are too
confusing in the whole light-versus-dark dichotomy.
18. What if there is only one goalie?
We'll tip the net; to score, you must bank a shot off the boards. The person
running the session will switch the teams halfway through so everyone gets a
chance to shoot on the goalie. Goalies always skate free, so encourage the
ones you know to contact me about playing with JMS.
19. Will I play the same position all night?
No. We play pick-up style. The subs sit on the bench in order of when they
came off the ice. When the next player comes off the ice, he or she will
call out the position to the first player in line. The person coming off the
ice sits at the end of the line.
20. How short should shifts be? How do I know when to go to the bench?
Shifts should be short: two minutes maximum. **People don't understand how
short two minutes really is. Get in the habit of checking the clock when you
go out and when you get back to the bench.
**This is one of the strange things about hockey: the more tire we are, the
longer we stay on the ice. Why? I don't know, but I'm as guilty as the next
person. WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, GET OFF THE ICE.
21. If there is no ref, how do we manage icing and offsides?
For offsides, watch your own blue line. If you notice a player was offsides
when entering your zone, holler. This is a surprisingly effective learning
tool. For icing, we either chase it or let the goalie send it back up the
ice--usually depending on how tired we are!
22. My teammates and I need practice, can we play on the same team at JMS?
Maybe, it depends on which team you end up on! But *JMS is not a substitute
for team practices.* JMS exists so beginner adults can play pick-up in a fun
and friendly format. There are other venues for games and practice. And it's
a real drag to play pick-up against a line of guys who have been playing
together for two years. If you're plotting to come to JMS to dominate, don't
bother coming.
23. My team needs more practice as a unit. If we can't come to JMS and play
together there, what can we do?
E-mail me. I have lots of people on the distribution list. Someone is always
looking to scrimmage.
Keeping it fun, friendly and pedagogical
24. I want to complain about someone at my session. How do I do that?
Drop me an e-mail. You MUST find out the person's name. Saying "The guy in
the blue helmet was really fast" doesn't help and I won't be able to address
the problem.
Also, please try to resolve any issues yourself. I'm here to run things, but
that certainly doesn't mean you have to keep mum if someone is taking long
shifts or being too chippy. That said, make sure your comment to the other
skater is friendly and adult. Again, if you're going to mention it to me,
you MUST have a name.
25. One person was taking really long shifts. What do we do in this
situation?
Best solution is to remind everyone in general to take short shifts, as
people tend to get crabby when singled out. If it's STILL a problem, contact
the person running the session. If it's still a problem after that, the
person running the session will contact me, though you're free to drop me a
note too. Make sure you get a name or I can't do anything about the
situation.
26. One person was being very chippy and/or a jerk and/or clearly unsuited
for this level. What do I do?
First of all, get a name. Then either suggest to the person (or ask the
captain running the session to suggest) that the person modify their
behavior. I can send a note after the fact, but a few words on scene should
make a difference right away. Once I'm appraised, I will do my best to
resolve the situation via e-mail, etc., not using your name. Also, make sure
you tell the person who is running the session. I pick the captains
specially and they are good at spotting people who are in the wrong level or
who are too aggressive, so I'll need to hear their opinion on the situation
as well.
27. What if the teams aren't even and one is stronger?
People--especially nascent hockey players--have sensitive egos. Skaters on
the stronger team won't realize that the score is 8 to 1; for some reason we
never notice the teams are unbalanced unless we're on the weaker team. So:
some of the stronger players on the dominating team should switch with some
of the weaker players on the other team. If you're on the weaker team,
discuss it with your bench ("Should we try to even up the teams?") and then
send someone over to the other team to ask for some players. Let the weaker
players decide for themselves to change teams. Do NOT start pointing fingers
and telling people they should change teams. If you don't want to handle it
yourselves, contact the person running the session and she or he will even
up the benches.
28. So what is allowed and what isn't?
Slapshots are okay, but don't take one through traffic.
No checking allowed, ever.
Don't take the puck away from your teammates.
Don't give unsolicited advice.
Miscellaneous
30. Can I bring my kid?
Usually: no. I run JMS so adults who would be over their head at other open
pick-ups can play with people of their own skill. There are lots and lots of
places where kids of all ages and abilities can get more icetime. JMS is for
adults. But if the benches are REALLY short and it's less than 48 hours
before icetime, I will consider it... provided YOU are okay with your kid
playing with much larger people who are not very skilled (ie, not good at
stopping and might fall over on your child) and your kid knows pick-up
etiquette (short shifts, no incessant scoring, etc.).
31. Can I play two sessions in one night?
Usually: no. Because I run JMS to help beginner adults get more icetime (and
therefore improve), I'd rather have more people get 90 minutes of ice
instead of less people get three hours. Sometimes I will let people skate
more than one session if the session following theirs is appropriate for
their ability and desperately in need of skaters.
Barbara Garn
JMS Administrator
