Hockey Safety Tips

The nonstop action and high-speed team play makes ice hockey a popular sport. As fun as it is, though, injuries can happen — some of them very serious.

To stay as safe as possible as a hockey player or hockey goalie, follow these tips.

Staying Safe & Preventing Injuries

What Hockey Safety Gear Do Players Need?

Before playing ice hockey, it's important to get all the right equipment and make sure you know how to put it on and use it correctly. All players need:

Helmet

When it comes to preventing serious injuries, a helmet is the most important piece of gear. Helmets should be certified by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC ), include a full-face mask with a protective chin cup and chin strap, and should fit you properly. Keep the chin strap fastened and tightened so the helmet stays in place.

Skates

Be sure to get skates that fit you well. They need to be laced up tight, so the wrong size can really hurt your feet. Skates should have plenty of ankle support and a steel or hard plastic toe cup. Keep skates sharp so they work better and are less likely to get caught in ruts in the ice.

Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads, & Shin Pads

These are all specific to hockey. For example, gear used in soccer or lacrosse won't give you the protection you need for playing hockey. Lower leg (knee and shin) pads should have a hard plastic exterior and reach the top of your skates.

Hockey Pants

Also called breezers, these should come down to the knee and offer padding in the front, rear, and sides of the upper legs and midsection.

Gloves

Another sport-specific item, hockey gloves should let your hands move freely while protecting you well past the wrist.

Athletic Supporter and Cup

These items are available as part of hockey undershorts or may be sold separately.

Neck Protector

Also called a neck guard, this gear protects the neck from injury (for example, from a skate blade or hockey stick). Choose one that fits you well and covers as much of the neck as possible.

Cut-Resistant Base Layers

Even with all the padding worn in hockey, any exposed skin areas are still vulnerable to accidental cuts from skate blades or forceful hits. For that reason, it’s now recommended that all players wear cut-resistant socks, wrist sleeves, and undergarments (base layer shirts and pants).

Mouth Guard

This protects the teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue, and can help prevent jaw injuries.

What Safety Gear Do Goalies Need?

Hockey goalies need a whole different set of equipment to stay safe. If you are going to play that position, you need a helmet, skates, a neck protector, and an athletic cup specifically made for goalies. You should also wear:

Throat Protector

Worn in addition to a neck protector, this gear is worn to block a fast-moving puck or stick from hitting the neck. It is “flapper-style,” which means it attaches to your helmet and dangles just below the face mask, so it can move freely when the helmet moves.

Leg Pads

These need to be the right length and thick enough to protect against hard slapshots. Wear pants and socks underneath leg pads to cover any exposed skin.

Arm Pads & Chest Protector

Arm pads should reach all the way to the wrist. Chest protectors should wrap slightly around the sides to keep your entire front well protected.

Blocker Glove

This glove should let your fingers grip the stick easily but be very thick and cover most of the forearm.

Catcher Glove

Similar to a first baseman's glove in baseball, a catcher glove should have thick padding over the wrist and palm and should come well up the forearm.

How Can I Stay Safe During Hockey Training & Games?

Before starting the season, you should get a sports physical. Your doctor can check for any health problems and talk about sports safety. Most schools won't let athletes play unless they've had a sports physical during the past year. And being in good shape can help players avoid injuries.

It's important to get comfortable on the ice before you learn hockey skills. It can help to take skating lessons and practice how to stop, turn, fall, and get up from a fall. It's also helpful to know how to skate backward and stop and turn while skating backward.

To stay safe, you should:

• Always warm up and stretch before practice and matches.
• Follow the rules and use proper techniques. Learn how to collide with the boards safely and not with your head. This helps to prevent spinal injuries.
• Make sure your coach will be at all practices and games and will enforce all league safety rules.
• In general, never hit another player on the head, never check from behind, and never use the stick as a weapon.
• Stop playing if you feel pain or get hurt. Get checked by an athletic trainer, a coach, a doctor, or a nurse before going back on the rink.
• Know the symptoms of a concussion, like a headache, dizziness, or confusion. If you hit your head or don't feel well, tell your trainer or coach right away. Follow return-to-play guidelines.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids before, during, and after games and practices.
• Know the team plan for emergencies.

What Else Should I Know?

Follow your coach's safe, fair play rules at practices and games. Be respectful of the referees and don't argue with their calls. Stay calm if an opposing player does something you disagree with. Don't take it personally or start a fight — let the referees handle it.

It can help to play different sports throughout the year to prevent repetitive stress injuries (overuse injuries). These injuries happen when someone trains too much or makes the same motions over and over.

Safety in Other Sports

Safety matters whether you're playing hockey or doing another athletic activity. To help prevent injuries in other sports, check out these articles:

• Swimming Safety Tips
• Soccer Safety Tips
• Running Safety Tips
• Volleyball Safety Tips
• Bike Safety Tips