--- Nathan Hampton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am in a very negative mood today, so since I am on a roll, 
> there are some real problems with this article:
> (1) 3. At the game, sit where the scouts sit ... NHL scouts
> usually sit in the corners of an arena, usually halfway up or
> higher. THIS IS ONLY BECAUSETHEY WANT TO AVOID CONTACT WITH
> OTHER PEOPLE, NOT BECAUSE OF THE VANTAGE POINT. HIGHER IS
> BETTER THAN LOWER, BUT CENTER IS BETTER THAN A CORNER.
> . . . 

Well, I’m not in a particularly bad mood today, but the list has been kinda quiet, and I think you
bring up an interesting topic.

I don’t agree entirely with this statement.  For the past may years I’ve attended the New England
Prep School championships.  It’s a highly scouted event; most of the scouts are college and junior
scouts.  The finals are very well attended, but in the preliminary rounds, the scouts can sit
pretty much where they want and still avoid contact.  Most of them sit behind one of the nets, or
in a corner.

If I’m watching the game as a fan and I can’t move, then I probably want center ice.  But if I’m
focusing on a player, especially if I can move around during the games, I prefer the ends.

For one thing, if you sit on an end, you’re closer to the action that you care about.  If you’re
watching a forward, you get to see what he does in the offensive end closer up.  When the puck is
at the other end of the ice, you’re farther away, but you can see positioning, which is a lot of
what forward play in the defensive zone is about.  Same thing holds true for defensemen, except
switch “defensive” and “offensive.”  It’s especially interesting for watching defensemen, because
you’re seeing the action from the same point of view as the defensemen.  IMO, watching the play
come toward you is a lot more interesting than only seeing it coming across your field of vision.

Also, how a player moves laterally is much better viewed from one of the ends, and often lateral
movement is what separates an excellent skater from a merely fast skater.  For detecting
forechecking/backchecking and offensive zone/defensive zone patterns, spacing is an important
aspect, and is much more visible when you view from the ends.




	
		
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