Southampton Spitfires - Ice and inline hockey

Kit

Hockey is a fast, full contact sport and players require a large amount of equipment to protect themselves. The different types of kit and diverse range of brands can be confusing to newer players. In this article we try to give it to you straight and simple, without jargon.

Minimum requirements

In order to play for the Spitfires you will need to buy your own kit. However, to begin with you will be able to borrow club equipment, though ideally you would be able to provide your own skates. The very minimum level of kit you will need to play in our taster sessions will be:

• Helmet
• Gloves
• Shin pads
• Skates

Full kit

If you are invited to join (or would like to join) one of the squads that competes in the various UK hockey leagues, you will need to be able to provide all your own equipment. This is not just a requirement of the club, but also of the leagues, as well fitting and maintained equipment is vital for your own (and others) safety.

• All protective equipment – Helmet, shoulder pads (ice hockey), elbow pads, gloves, stick(s), girdle and long pants (inline hockey), hockey shorts and socks (ice hockey), shin pads, skates
• Southampton Spitfires home and away jerseys

Where can I buy?

As hockey is not a major sport in the UK (yet!), it remains somewhat difficult to buy kit. There are various specialist shops around the country, including Basingstoke ice rink, Bisley and Gosport ice rink. Buying from a shop allows you to try on the equipment, see the various brands and get the benefit of the store owners knowledge, which can be especially helpful for newer players.

In addition to the various Brick-and-mortar shops, there are a variety of online retailers. These may offer attractive prices, however there is the risk of ordering poorly fitting equipment and high shipping costs (due to the bulky nature of most hockey kit).

• CrazyKenny’s (UK)
• Hockey Range (UK)
• ePuck (US)
• HockeyMonkey (US)

Glossary

Helmet

An essential piece of equipment, protects the head and face from pucks and hard tackles. Helmets come in different sizes but can also be adjusted to give a snug fit for the player. A full face cage or visor/cage is recommended in order to fully protect your face and mouth. Helmets and visors are sold separately to allow you to choose the kind of face protection you prefer.

Neck guard

Mostly used by goal keepers, but also available to outfield players, this is a simple piece of foam and cloth that protects the neck from the sharp edges of hockey skates

Shoulder pads

Used mainly in Ice hockey, shoulder pads protect the player’s upper body and back from hard tackles. Lighter versions that offer less protection are also available for Inline hockey, which does not allow tackling to the same extent as Ice hockey.

Jersey

Players competing for the Spitfires in a league will need both a home and away jersey with their name and player numbers. These can be bought via the club and cost £35 each. We order batches periodically and will notify club members through the mailing list when this will take place. Fans and casual players are also welcome to buy a jersey!

Elbow pads

These protect the elbows and upper arms from falls and tackles. They come in a variety of sizes but are generally only need a rough estimate as they will usually fit a wide range of players.

Gloves

A good fit for hockey gloves should allow the hand to move freely while not allowing the glove to shift position on the players hand. Gloves are fairly loose fitting and not held in place with straps. Some provide greater wrist protection, while others allow more freedom of movement.

Hockey stick

Sticks come in left and right handed versions. Stick side is not necessarily related to handedness and many players use sticks that are the opposite to their natural handedness. The best way to determine your stick side is to simply try out both types and choose whichever feels most natural.

Hockey sticks are made from a wide variety of materials and can cost anything from £20 to £200 (or more). A beginner will be fine with a cheap wooden stick to begin with. These are heavier and sometimes more liable to break than expensive composite sticks, but are perfect for players who are just starting hockey and do not want (or need) to spend lots of money on expensive sticks.

Sticks come in a variety of lengths, though generally a stick that is the same height as a player’s chin (while standing in skates) will be suitable for most beginners. The angle (the ‘lie’ of the blade) and curvature of the blade can also be customised, however this is not something that new players will need to worry about.

Girdle and shorts

Ice hockey requires a heavily padded pair of shorts that protect the players’ lower body. They can be easily adjusted with straps to fit the players waist. In some cases they will have a sewn-in cup, though not all models offer this protection.

Inline hockey players use a lighter version of the Ice hockey shorts which is usually referred to as a girdle. These have much less padding and usually mainly protect around the hips and waist, not the upper legs and back. However, they offer the advantage of being lighter, more flexible and less insulating.

Hockey long pants and socks

In Inline hockey, players wear less padding than in Ice hockey. As there is not as much contact, less protection is required. A lightly padded girdle can be worn under ‘long pants’ which cover (and protect) the player’s lower body and legs.

Ice hockey requires more protection around the hips so players wear a larger, padded girdle which covers the mid-rift and upper legs. The lower legs are covered by long socks that help to hold the shin pads in place.

Shin pads

The player’s shins need to be protected from the impact of pucks, sticks and skates while their knees need protection from falls. Shins pads have a solid plastic shell with soft padding inside that help to deflect and absorb impacts. They come in different sizes and a good fit will protect from the top of the knee to the lower part of the ankle. In addition to the straps provided, they can be secured with leg tape (similar to sellotape) which prevents them from shifting around under hard skating.

Skates (Ice/Inline)

A good fit is essential for any skate and buying skates can be a particular hurdle for new players. Buying a good pair of hockey skates can be particularly challenging as there is such a wide variety of models, makes and styles at a wide range of price points. The sheer choice can be overwhelming.

The very best way to buy a pair of skates is from a specialist hockey store where you can try a wide variety of different skates, brands and sizes. You can then take your time to find a skate that fits your feet well and take advantage of the knowledge and advice that the staff can offer. Some stores will even be able to heat mould your skates to give an almost perfect fit. Unfortunately, due to the lack of specialist hockey shops, this is rarely available to players in the UK.

If you are unable to travel to a hockey shop, your next option is the internet. This can be somewhat risky if you do not know the specific make, model and size that you will require. If you are considering this option, see if you can try on other people’s skates to get an idea of your size and which make you would prefer.

A decent, entry-mid level pair of skates should not cost more than £200. The price can obviously vary wildly, depending on where you buy them, however new players should not try to learn with a pair of high end skates. They will cost far more than is necessary for the skill level and will be stiffer and more unforgiving than a pair of mid range skates.

Skates (Ice)

Ice skates do not offer many options for customisation, though you can choose the type of edge to have on the skate. They will need regular sharpening (when lightly scraped against a nail, they should be sharp enough to graze it) which can be done for a modest fee at a skate shop (found at most ice rinks).

Skates (Inline)

Inline skates are more complicated than ice skates and have wheels, bearings, axles etc that will need regular cleaning and maintenance. The type of wheels you choose will have the biggest impact on your skates, these can vary from hard (for outdoor use) to super-soft (for indoor use only). Soft wheels will provide better grip but will wear faster. High end skates will have bearings that rate over 7 on the ABEC scale. Bearings above ABEC 7 are unlikely to offer much benefit for the extra cost, especially to new players.

Kit bag

Due to the full contact nature of the sport, hockey requires a large amount of protective equipment. Kit bags make it easy to transport your kit to and from matches and training. Most models are essentially large hold-alls with wheels, though less common alternatives (such as backpack type bags) also exist.