Frequently asked questions
What new and returning players ask most. Missing something? Ask the club.
Joining
Who is eligible to play?
The club accepts players from age 16 and up: military members from all branches, DoD civilians, DoD contractors, NATO personnel, local nationals and anyone else in the community. You do not need to be affiliated with the military to join.
Are there tryouts?
No. Player assignments are based on season availability, skill level and paid status. Family and military obligations take precedence over consistent attendance.
What skill level is needed?
Novice to experienced players are welcome. You need to be able to skate forward and have decent stopping skills; the club does not have the resources to teach complete beginners to skate.
How do I get started?
Send the interest form and a coach will reply and invite you to a practice at Zweibrücken. Come with full gear and arrive early so a coach can meet you.
Season and league
When does the season start?
The ice season starts in the later part of September and continues into April.
Do you play in a German league?
Yes. The teams compete in the Die Players Liga (DPL), a German hobby league with divisions for ice hockey and inline hockey, alongside friendly games and tournaments.
When and where are practices?
Most practices are held at Zweibrücken Ice Rink on two nights a week; the nights alternate monthly. The live times are always on the schedule and in the calendar feeds.
Where are home games?
Zweibrücken Ice Rink, Europa Allee 11, 66482 Zweibrücken.
Dues and costs
What does it cost?
The cost depends on the sponsor's rank and the euro rate. The season's pricing is posted in September; the current amounts by pay grade are on the Join page.
What is included?
All practices and league games, including the player's fee for the DPL, plus vendor discounts.
When are dues due?
The full season or the first quarter is due 21 September; later quarters are due 15 November, 1 January and 1 March. A 3 percent processing fee applies to PayPal payments.
Gear and jerseys
Where can I buy equipment locally?
Online retailers ship to Germany, and Top-On-Ice in Mannheim is an excellent German vendor; DPL members receive a 20 percent discount there.
Must I buy my own jersey?
Yes. Every player is expected to purchase a set of home and away jerseys and socks, approximately 100 to 120 euros.
What if I cannot afford jerseys right away?
The team has extra jerseys for players who come in late or cannot purchase their own set; a deposit is required.
Attendance and schedule
How do I confirm attendance?
In Spond. Practices are enrolled automatically, so you only reply if you cannot make it. Games start as unanswered and have a reply deadline so the coach can set lines. Attendance is never handled on this website.
How do I get into Spond?
A coach sends the invitation after your first practice. Install the Spond app and accept the invitation.
How do I keep the schedule on my phone?
Subscribe to the calendar from the schedule page or a team page. It works with Apple, Google and Outlook calendars and updates itself when events change or are cancelled. Every event page also offers a one-off calendar file.
Player profiles
What does my profile show?
Name, jersey number, position, shooting side, hometown and an optional photo, plus your seasons with the club. No email address, phone number, rank or unit is stored on the site.
Can my profile be hidden?
Yes. Ask a coach or the webmaster and the profile is removed from the site while your roster history is kept for the club's records.