How does a hockey goalie protect themselves?

Hockey lovers usually agree on one thing: it is an extreme sport that is either loved or left indifferent. The middle term does not fit in this sport, which depending on the country or area may be a minority or, on the contrary, the one that is most practiced. The type of hockey will also influence this, since there are several: each one with its particularities, with field hockey being the only one that is Olympic to date.

Although those who do not know much about hockey may consider it somewhat dangerous because of the hardness of the ball, in reality hockey players do not hurt themselves much more than soccer players.

The field hockey goalie kit receives special attention in this regard, which protects them to the maximum from the hardness of the ball. Note that the hockey goalie wearing full protective gear can stop the shot at goal with any part of their body or with the flat face of the stick. Thus, the vital importance of hockey goalie helmets is understood due to the special vulnerability of the head.

The Hockey elbow pads, chest, neck, arm, foot protectors, gloves, or guards (leg protection) are part of the field hockey goalie kit.

Even with everything, one must avoid being alarmist: although the use of protective equipment in hockey is essential to be a goalkeeper, any form of this sport is highly recommended for children.

Knowing the advantages of hockey practice

As a team sport, hockey fosters the value of sharing, responsibility and the fight for a common goal. Another positive value is the discipline that compliance with the rules the game requires, something that will especially favour children. To become autonomous adults who know how to function properly in society, it is necessary for them to know and respect the limits from a young age, and the practice of hockey can be favourable in that sense.

But adults will also benefit from complying with the rules of the game, as they promote respect and tolerance for oneself and others.

In the case of the hockey goalie and the special role they play, their integrationist into the team during training is important, although they will also require specific training, always with the appropriate equipment.

As for what is established by the regulations of the Spanish Hockey Federation on the equipment of the field hockey goalkeeper, it indicates that “you must wear a complete protective equipment consisting of at least helmet, guards and feet”, also “you are allowed to wear a glove specific goalkeeper protector ”, as well as other protective equipment that we have discussed previously, such as hockey elbow pads.

But going back to the advantages of practicing hockey, on a physical level it should be noted, in addition to its heart-healthy properties, that it is a very complete sport, since it works both the upper body (the upper part of our body, from the abs up) like the lower body, activating a large part of the muscles. As it is also an intense sport, many calories are burned during its practice, so hockey would be one of the recommended sports to lose weight.

The hockey goalie: the most protective protege

The hockey goalie kit is reminiscent of a warrior or a samurai: protected for the fight, the goal is the “fortress” they must defend. His shield is his own body and also the stick: he will skilfully use both to stop, clear or reject the throwing at the goal of the defending team.

Every time he makes a stop, he will control the ball to play it later: that is one of his weapons, in addition to the stick. He also uses his defensive tactics every time he clears or rejects the path of the ball to a teammate or another more favourable area.

The balance of movements is also an art that the hockey goalie must master: he will have to move in such a way that he can stop any type of ball. At the same time you must develop a high speed of movement: you can achieve this by taking small and very frequent steps.

Placing the weight of your body on the balls of the feet with the trunk forward, in addition to the position of balance at the time of the shot will also help you to achieve the speed of response.

If your field hockey goalie kit looks cumbersome, it really isn’t an obstacle to moving with surprising speed and agility. And that may be what gives the figure of the hockey goalie a certain spectacular: the fast defender, always ready or prepared to stop the hardest blows.