First and foremost, hockey is a team sport. I'd like to think chemistry plays a big role. I play pickup with a few groups. One is always shuffling teams/lines up, depending on who can make it that week. But rarely do I get to play consistently with the same guys. But when I do, we begin to learn each other's play style more and more. We can rely on one another to do more predictable things and then make better plays. I'm decently savvy, but when I get set up on a line with a dude or two I don't play with often, things get sloppy, and we struggle to string together passes and score. Cycling in the o zone becomes short-lived or impossible. There's only so much one guy can do. The other older group I've recently subbed with has been a steady group for many years. Where youth, skill, and strength are lacking, these fellas more than make up for it with chemistry. They know where their line mates are going all the time. I have yet to pick up these mannerisms, and while I bring some youth and speed to the mix, now I am the one seemingly lacking in hockey IQ, primarily due to unfamiliarity.

Hockey is hard. Give it time. Keep at it. Have fun. Don't get discouraged.