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.
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