Field hockey is a fast sport that can be played indoors or outdoors. Key pieces of equipment include the stick, the ball, gloves, eye protection and shin guards. Players can also wear mouthguards. Facial protection is optional in field hockey. Goaltenders wear facial protection, a chest protector and goaltender pads to protect them when blocking hard shots.
Stick And Ball
The most important piece of equipment in field hockey is the stick. The stick has a side that is round and one that is flat, according to SportSpectator.com. The only side that is permitted for ball strikes is the one that is flat. All field hockey sticks also have something called a bow, a curve along the length of the stick. This curve cannot be higher than 25 mm when the stick is laid flat in National Federation of State High School Association rules. Many sticks have a mark that indicates the bow's height to comply with the NFHS guidelines. Balls come in different colors and some are designed for specific playing surfaces such as turf, grass and indoor surfaces. Some balls are also designed for practice use only.
Gloves
Since errant sticks and balls may strike player's hands, gloves are typically worn in field hockey. Gloves can also enhance your grip on the stick. Dita, a company that makes field hockey equipment, makes a glove called the foam bone protector. These gloves heavily pad the top of the hand with foam protection and also the fingers. One area that several types of gloves aim to protect is the knuckles. Some gloves also come without fingers. If you're looking for a new pair of gloves, you may have to buy the left and right glove separately.
Protective Equipment
Field hockey players often wear shin guards as well. A lot of stick swinging occurs just a few inches off the ground so a player's shins are usually vulnerable as a result. Many shin guards are often made of plastic or foam, but can feature a plastic exterior with foam padding resting against the player's leg. In addition to mouthguards, players can also protect their faces. These protectors are usually cages that protect the eyes and upper part of the cheeks. These protectors want to stay lightweight and do not want to obstruct visibility in any way.
Considerations
It is recommended that you wear a facial protector during field hockey games and practcies. Balls can be propelled at extremely high speeds and can catch you in this area. Also, make sure you control your stick when playing this sport. Catching an unsuspecting player with your stick can cause serious injury. Consider wearing a mouthguard as well.
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