Choosing the Right Equipment for Beginners
Shoulder pads are made so light now that you will hardly know you have them on. Some have back and front plates that extend down your body. They also cover your upper arms. Buying used or new shoulder pads is OK with this piece of equipment. Try them on, move around, lift your arms to make sure that they are comfortable and fit right. Many people buy over sized pads because they will grow during the year and will be bigger next year. It’s a good way to think ahead and can save you some money in the future. I understand about the recession and all but don’t sacrifice size and comfort for a few dollars.
You will also be required to get a safety collar. You can not play if you do not wear one!
Elbow pads are a good buy at bargain shops. You will do most of your falling and trying to break your fall with your elbows. I’ve been there!! A snug fit that covers your triceps and your arms is a must. Again move around with them , make circles. If they pass the test, then get them.
Next are pants. I want to say right here that you have to make sure you are wearing a cup on under those pants!! There are many items to wear that the cup can slip into when trying on pants. The pants mostly have suspenders, so you can raise or lower them to the height of your knees. They have padding around the hips, tailbone, thigh and some on the sides. In contact checking leagues, players wear what we call a girdle. It is a worn under the pants and is pure padding. If you are not going to be in a checking league, I would wait on this.
Shin pads are also something I would look for at resale shops. Bring your skates when trying on the shin pads. This will give you an idea on how they fit at the skate level and you can see if there are any gaps in protection. Check straps and plastic for cracks. I have shin guards that have a heavy piece of cloth which comes around back and protects the calf from minor hits. Tight and snug is key. Protected areas. If they do that , then you are good to go.
Gloves are such a tough thing to tell you what to look for. You should look for the following this when buying gloves:
- Well padded around the fingers and the back of the hand is a must.
- How much protection do they cover up your arm.
- If you have to tug to get them on and off, then those aren’t right.
- If they slip right off that’s not good.
- Good leather at the palms.
Hold a stick with the gloves when you’re looking to buy a new pair. Safe and feels good is always the motto.
I will be getting into getting on a team, what to expect, the coaching, how you are picked and how to pick out a stick. I can’t emphacise the importance of knowing how to skate !! As a official, I have standards set on my skating. I have seminars to attend to go over rules and then back on the ice for more drills. A good pair of skates and the ability to use them is so important. Also make sure you have them sharpened before you use them! Thanks.
Great article. Too many kids are skating around with huge shoulder and shin pads so they don’t feel anything. It’s important to feel a little pain so you know what you should and shouldn’t do. No?
I couldn’t agree more. I think equipment is a big cause of injuries when it is not being used properly.
Amanda, First thank you for reading my article. I officiate players of all ages and I always check helmets and collars. It is hard to skate with larger skates then what would be proper.Skating with shinpads is so much different than without. Your legs need to be a bit wider so you don’t rub pads and slow you down.Good luck!
In any league games they are required. Pond hockey I would definitely wear shin gaurds. Thanks for reading my article.
Shoulder and shin pads are required for league play. I would definetely wear shinguards for pond hockey. Thanks for reading my article. More to come!