Monday, January 28, 2013

Essential Protective Gear That A Hockey Player Should Embrace


Hockey is an interesting and entertaining sport to engage in as well as watch. It involves a great amount of smart maneuvering to gain a competitive advantage over your opponents with the aim of scoring a goal. Unlike a bloody sport like boxing, the aim of hockey is not to injure your opponents. Nevertheless, broken noses, fractured limbs and bloody lips are not uncommon injuries for hockey players.
Despite the various rules put into place to discourage overtly aggressive contact, the likelihood of injury is high especially if you are not wearing the proper gear. It does not matter whether it is field hockey, inline hockey or ice hockey, you must put safety at the fore front of this activity. Below is a checklist of protective gear that any hockey player must don. 


  • Helmet
Hockey Goalie
With the exception of field hockey, wearing a helmet is of utmost importance when playing the game. It could spare you from serious and painful head injuries like concussions, broken noses and general head injuries. Always make sure that your helmet fits. If you are playing goalie, then your helmet needs to have added protection as you stand a higher risk of being hit by the high speed hockey balls otherwise known as pucks. Field hockey does not require a helmet as gear except for the goalie. This is because the ground is more stable and the likelihood of sustaining head injuries is lowered. Purchase a helmet for your son or daughter when they are learning the sport.


  • Protective pads
Forlorn Keeper
You should always wear protective pads for your shoulders, elbows and shins. Your hockey shorts and chest guard may also be padded. These insulate you against injuries from falling, and collisions with your opponents. The small size of the puck, coupled with the speed with which it is shot, makes it travel at a high velocity. Any contact with a puck travelling at such great speeds can cause great injury. The padding in these protective pieces of equipment is made of composite artificial substances that make strong so that they may withstand any impact that your body is exposed to. They are also light weight to allow for maneuverability.


  • Mouth guard
So, you want to keep that winning smile and still play hockey? Wear a mouth guard! This protective gear is made of a moldable plastic that helps withstand the impact of any collision that involves your mouth. It can protect not only your teeth but your jaws as well. There are two standard types of mouth guards retailed in the market today; stock and mouth protectors as well as boil and bite protectors.
Stock and mouth protectors are typically cheaper than the boil and bite ones because they come in a standard shape and size. You are not able to alter it to fit your mouth. Boil and bite guards are more malleable and once placed on the teeth, can be bit into, taking the shape of your teeth hence making them more comfortable and offering added protection for your teeth. If you have dental problems or already have braces, you can seek the services of a dentist to customize your mouth gear for you.
Once you have all your gear in place, you are ready to play the game. Since hockey is a high adrenaline sport, you will likely sweat a lot. You need to take proper care of your gear to keep it fresh and to prevent the spread of germs from the dirt and sweat on the same. You must also check to make sure that your protective gear is still in good condition. Make sure you check and repair any cracks, rips and tears in your gear if possible. When repair is impossible, replace them. Adhere to the recommended replacement schedules for these pieces of equipment. For example, a hockey helmet should be replaced after every five years unless damaged earlier beyond repair.
Having defective gear is almost as bad as not wearing any at all as it greatly minimizes your protection. Always make sure that your equipment and protective gear is fully dried out and disinfected after each game. You can of course use any of the various disinfectant sprays available in the market.



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