Hockey : General > Equipments > Best Players


Equipments

Sticks

Hockey sticks usually weigh around 12-28 ounches and are 28 inches-36 inches in length. The main difference in types of sticks is its shape of head. And the type of stick you choose depends on the type of player you are and your role in the team.

There are three main shapes.
Shorti sticks have a more centred "sweet spot" which means they are ideal for striking the ball.These are usually preferred by defenders who like to hit the ball hard.
Midi and hook heads are designed for dribbling, reverse stick play and flicking. Attacking players who like to use a variety of shots usually go for this type.

Ball

The ball used in hockey and cricket are of same size. It is covered by a hard plastic coating which is usually white. It can be colorful but both teams should agree it. When hit correctly a hockey ball can travel at around 100mph.

Boots

Now a days hockey is played on artificial surfaces so you'll need a special pair of boots called Turf Boots. They have rubber pimples on the soles which give you added grip.

Gloves

While playing hockey make sure your hands get some protected by wearing special hockey gloves. They are padded on the upper side but not so bulky as to affect your grip on the stick.

Goalkeeper Equipments

Headgear

Wearing a helmet and faceguard is most compulsary for Goal keeper. They are made of a tough polycarbon shell and come with faceguard attached.

Pads and Kickers

Goalkeepers wear pads over their legs, and because they use their feet to kick and stop the ball, they also have to wear protective footgear over their boots, called kickers.

Gloves

Goalkeepers often have to stop or block shots with the palms of their hands. The blocking glove - usually the left one - will be heavily padded on the palm and the back of the hand. The other, which is used to handle the stick, is padded to protect the thumb and fingers rather than the palm of the hand.