|
Home
Teams / Schedules
News Updates
TGHA Tournament
Directions /Rinks
TGHA Key Leaders /
Board
Try Girls Hockey /
Join Us
Registration Info
Alumni News
Cub Club
Coaching
Games Reports
Odds & Ends
Links
Page Updated 9/18/2007
|
Equipment Tips for First Time Players and
their Parents
Hockey is a fantastic sport and in order to play it safely and
enjoy the experience
you must have equipment that fits properly to protect
your body.
SKATES
Skating is the most
important and difficult skill of hockey, if you can afford a new pair of good
quality skates it will make a whole world of difference in your child's
development. If you can't, purchase the best possible used skates that fit
and have good ankle support.
Skates must fit snugly but not cramp your toes and have
good upright ankle support. One pair of thin 100% cotton socks is all you
should wear.
Skates are usually one size smaller than street-shoes.
LACING
The crisis-cross method is considered the most
comfortable
- the bottom 3 eyelets should be semi- loose to allow
blood to circulate to the toes
- the middle 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow an
up and down movement of the top of the foot when starting and stopping.
- the top 3 eyelets should be
tight to keep the ankle in an upright position and prevent the child from
going over on his/her ankles.
- Do not wrap the laces around the ankle to tie then,
this prevents the forward flex of the foot and ankle and will impair your
child's skating speed and turning.
BLADES- the skate blades must be sharp, but not razor
sharp, in order for you to stop and start without falling.
- if they are dull, your child
will slip and slide all over the ice and have a hard time standing up.
- if they are too sharp, they
will dig into the ice and prevent smooth stops and create a stutter stop and
possibly cause him/her to fall.
- if you get a deep nick or
burr on the bottom blade you will fall. It should be immediately sharpened by
an experienced skate sharpening professional.
- a good skate sharpening can mean all the difference
between a great game or a poor game
SHARPENING- you should not need your skates sharpened
every game, but 2 to 4 times a season is average unless you are playing in a
'AAA' league that practices and plays 4 to 6 times a week, or get a nick or
burr on the blade..
- a good skate sharpener will
cut a hollow ground U shape in the bottom of the blade,
this provides 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside
edge, both used for different aspects of skating.
- the depth of the cut should
be based on your child's height and weight
- a medium sharpening, not razor sharp is all you
require. It will keep you with a stable upright position and allow you to
bite into the ice, to push and glide without falling down.
HOCKEY STICKS
After skates, the stick is the
most important piece of equipment used for scoring and preventing goals.
- it must fit properly, just like skates if it you are
going to develop you shooting, passing, puck handling and stick handling
skills
- 2 sticks should be taken to practice and games in case
one breaks.
LENGTH: the sticks length when in an upright position, and while you are standing in your skates should
come up to between your chin (maximum) and your collar bone (minimum). If it
is any longer or shorter you will have trouble shooting or carrying the puck..
LIE- is the angle between the stick's shaft and blade.- the higher the angle; example. 125% lie- the
further the puck is away from your feet. The lower the angle; example. 110% lie the closer the puck is to
your feet.
- it's trial and error to see which lie is best for your
child based on the way they skate either bent over like Wayne Gretzky did or
up right like Mario Lemieux does, as no stick
manufacturer puts the lie angle on the stick.
- youth size hockey sticks are now available which are
lighter, shorter and have a smaller shaft radius for a better grip by
children.
CURVE- sticks are made for Left or Right handed shots.
The lower hand on the stick when shooting determines whether you shoot Left
or Right.
- a slight curve is ok because
a straight stick is hard to find and I don't believe is necessary. A big
curve is out of the question until your child gets to Bantam and even then I
don't think it's necessary.
NEW or USED EQUIPMENT
Good equipment which provides solid protection is
essential to prevent injuries.
- used Shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads,
gloves, helmet with visor or cage, jock or jill
strap, garter belt and neck guard are all pieces of equipment that can be
purchased second hand from sports shops or at the annual Minor/Youth Hockey
sale at the start of the season. to help keep the
high costs of playing hockey down..
However having said that, the equipment purchased must
fit properly so it doesn't move or shift if your child falls, gets hit by the
puck, gets body checked or runs into another player.
- the equipment will cushion
the blow or fall providing there is no space between the specific pieces of
equipment.
UNDERWEAR
Light cotton, or a breathable material, long john type,
top and bottom underwear should be worn under your equipment.
HOCKEY BAG
A hockey bag large enough to carry all your equipment is
suggested.
- pockets on the outside to carry your skates and wet
underwear are advisable
- keep an extra pair of skate laces, proper length in
the bag for emergency and a small towel to dry your skate blades after the
game or practice to prevent rusting.
General order for Getting Dressed, either at home or at
the rink
1- light cotton socks
2- light underwear, top and bottom
3- jock or jill strap
4- garter belt to hold up your hockey socks
5- shin pads
6- hockey socks, tape shin pads in place using Velcro
strips or clear shin pad tape
7- hockey pants, use suspenders or a special hockey belt
on some models to keep them up
8- skates, tie your skates now and use skate blade
protectors if dressing at home
9- shoulder pads
10- elbow pads
11- neck guard
12- sweater
13- helmet with full visor or metal cage
14- mouth guard
15- hockey gloves
16- stick, take 2 sticks to the bench in case 1 breaks
Have a great game!
Hopefully these basic tips will help the new players and
their parents get some idea of the equipment their child will need to have
for an enjoyable, safe and rewarding hockey experience.
Yours in hockey,
John Shorey
Author- Hockey Made Easy
Canada's Best Instruction Manual
|
