What to wear under your gear.

This is personal preference that you player will discover over time

Here is what is recommended to start

-Comfortable ¾ to full length NOT BULKY  socks

-T-shirt or long sleeve shirt

How to get dressed

1-Jock/Jill groin protector shorts

2- Shin pads (LOOK at the tag to see what leg to put them on)

3- Hockey socks- connect them to the velcro of the Jack/Jill shorts

4-Hockey Breezers

5-Skates

6-Shoulder pads

7-Elbow pads (LOOK at the pad to see what arm to put them on)

8- Hockey shirt

8- Put tape around the hockey socks to secure the shin pads (Make sure the tape does not go behind the knee)

9-Helmet and snap the straps

-Gloves

After playing

-Use a rag to wipe off skate blades before putting them in the bag

-Put items back in the bag as you take them off so they don’t get left behind

- Hang or lay out items when you get home

Time to Play

Skates need to be sharpened regularly. The length of time between sharpening is personal preference, but a parent can tell if a skate is dull by scraping the top of their fingernail over an edge. If the blade does not scrape the nail it is definitely time for sharpening. Most arenas and local hockey shops have skate sharpening services for a nominal fee.

There are some items that are not necessary equipment but are handy to have in the hockey bag. A rag to dry your skates will help prevent rust and skate guards will protect the blades and your other equipment. A helmet fix-it kit is a good emergency precaution, as helmet screws and straps do go missing and your child will not be able to take to the ice without the repairs.

All of the equipment and registration fees may seem costly but when you have seen your child’s enthusiastic grin after they have made a play, you will know it’s money well spent. Now that you are #1 cheerleader and fan, it’s time to get your mandatory gear. A good travel mug, a nice warm seat blanket, your camera, and noisemakers are must-haves for the arena. So rest up, you have got early morning games, thousands of miles of driving ahead and a lot of photo opportunities to look forward to.

Tips - F.Y.I

A great way for your child to get used to dressing and moving in the bulky equipment is to practice dressing at home.

Have your child learn to dress himself. Having dad or mom help is important to ensure that the equipment gets put on properly when they start playing, but the day will come when it is their turn to do it alone. That day will come quicker if you have more than one child playing!

Pack a pair of socks and a t-shirt for after the game so your child does not have to wear and you don’t have to smell, sweaty, stinky clothes all the way home.

Lay out the equipment or put it on a “hockey tree” for drying after each use. This is an excellent habit for your player to get into when they are young and it will prolong the life of their equipment.

Buy stick tape in the bulk rolls. If you want to save money, this is the way to do it.