Hockey jerseys come in a variety of sizes, colors and materials. Depending on the type of material you choose, your jersey might require a bit of breaking in before you are comfortable playing in it. Heavier jerseys, usually made of a polyester and cotton blend, take a bit of stretching before they will comfortably fit over hockey pads, while light, polyester air-knit practice jerseys are fairly comfortable the first time you wear them.
Step 1
Wash your jersey. Turn the jersey inside-out to protect any screen printing or stitching on the outside. Use a color-safe detergent that does not have bleach to avoid discoloring your jersey. Wash your jersey in cold water to avoid shrinking it. Washing your jersey will help remove any sizing, or water-soluble polymers used to protect the fabric fibers during manufacturing, which can make the jersey stiff when you wear it.
Step 2
Dry your jersey. Hang your jersey on a clothesline or on a drying rack. Depending on the thickness of your jersey's material, it might take several hours to dry completely. You can speed up the drying time by placing your jersey in the dryer on an "air dry" setting that does not contain heat.
Step 3
Stretch your jersey. While your jersey is still slightly damp, gently pull on the sides of the jersey to stretch the width of the torso section and tug on the width of the arms. Grab large sections of the jersey when you stretch it to avoid pulling tiny bits of the jersey, which can cause it to be misshapen when you wear it.
Step 4
Pull your jersey on over your equipment and practice in it several times before playing a game. You should be able to notice any tight spots in the jersey or specific spots that are stiff. Make sure you are able to move your shoulders, arms and torso easily while wearing the jersey.
Step 5
Remove your shoulder pads with the jersey still over them to help stretch the material further if you find your jersey is still too tight. You can repeat this step after each game until the jersey is stretched out to your liking.
Tips and Warnings
- Repeatedly washing a jersey will help break it in over time. You will notice your jersey will get slightly looser the more you wash it. Consider putting your jersey in the dryer if it is too large. Avoid using a high heat setting as this can cause damage to the screen printing on the jersey. A low heat setting can help shrink some jersey fabrics.
- Don't use clothespins to hang your jersey on a clothesline. This will make marks in your jersey's material. Likewise, avoid hanging the jersey on a clothes hanger to dry since this can pull the jersey out of shape
Things You'll Need
- Washing machine
- Clothesline or drying rack
Member Comments