Among The Most Competitive Sports Comes Hockey! Why Should It Be A Sport Of Your Choice?

When considering competitive contact sports, many people automatically think of football, rugby, basketball and soccer. Hockey is often overlooked except by those avid fans. In actuality, hockey can be a great alternative sport to those mentioned above because it does not have to have the height requirement demanded by basketball or the advanced dribbling skills required by football. As long as you are fast, fit and flexible, hockey may be right for you. Here are a few reasons why you should consider hockey as your premium sport of choice.

• Physical requirements

As stated above, only speed, agility and general fitness are needed to become a great hockey player. These skills can be developed over time and do not have to be inborn. Certain tests may be performed to ascertain your current fitness levels and then regimens created to increase the areas where your performance is wanting. Hockey is also a great way to keep fit and increase your heart rate. You must exercise regularly to decrease instances of injuries and also be able to remain competitive. If you are involved in strenuous sports like hockey, you must remember to hydrate your body constantly so that you do not lose too many nutrients through sweating. 

• Opportunities for college scholarships

If you are a really good hockey player in high school, you may win a scholarship to play for any of the top colleges in the United States. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the main governing body for the hockey at the collegiate level and has competitions based on divisions. The NCAA in conjunction with some Division I and II colleges offers scholarships to qualified students.

The Ice hockey divisions are I, II and III for men and the National Collegiate and Division III for women. Just as is the case with other sports, college is a ripe recruiting ground for professional team scouts and could be a launching pad for your professional hockey career. Oh, and you get free education as well.

One caveat of note is that field majority of the field hockey scholarships are available only for female students. This makes the pool for scholarships for males even smaller and more competitive. Remember that even with the best hockey statistics, a good GPA is required to be considered and you must hit the books just as hard as you hit the puck to qualify for a much coveted scholarship. 

• Affiliation with national leagues and championships

The National Hockey League is the major professional body governing the sport of hockey. There are several minor leagues that are still of a professional nature such as Federal Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League, American Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League.  There are also leagues tailored towards women and the youth. These are great for competing at a local level and they are also a great way for coaches and scouts to source talent and sign fresh athletes. 

• Recognition as an Olympic sport

Field hockey has been a feature of the Summer Olympic Games since 1908 while Ice hockey was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1920. It subsequently featured in the Winter Olympics since 1924. Both men and women may compete in this sport at the Olympic level. This is a platform that can catapult your career into superstar status especially if you are fortunate enough to win a medal for your country. 

• Earnings

This point comes last for a reason; a great sports player should be motivated by passion and love for the game rather than earnings. This is not to say that earnings are not important. If they were not, then professional athletes would not earn the millions of dollars they receive each year. As a professional hockey player, you may earn hundreds of millions of dollars through your entire career. There are also several product endorsement deals available that may also mint cash for you. Should you be fortunate enough to land an endorsement deal, make sure that the company whose product or service you are promoting has ideals similar to your own or are socially and environmentally responsible. Athletes in minor leagues may still earn a decent living from playing hockey full time.

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

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

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.