With everyone carrying wooden sticks and hitting a hard plastic ball, you can get an idea of the risk of injury field hockey players face.
To stay safe while playing field hockey, follow these tips.
A safe field hockey team
Proper safety equipment is important when playing field hockey. Included in this kit are:
- Sneakers: Choose a pair of sneakers with molded spikes and rubber grooved soles. Sneakers with screwed spikes carry an increased risk of injury; therefore, only use them when you need more traction, such as when the playing field is wet. Make sure the shoes are your size and fit well and tighten them every time you train or play.
- Shin pads: Made of plastic and foam rubber, field hockey shin guards provide better shin protection and ankle protection than football shin guards. Some players prefer to wear thin socks under the shin guards to make them more comfortable.
- Safety glasses: Since 2011, American high school field hockey players have been required to wear goggles. Most glasses have a metal frame that protects the eyes, but some players prefer to wear plastic glasses for better peripheral vision. Mouth guards. Mouth guards are a good way to protect your teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue. Many field hockey leagues require players to wear them.
- Gloves: Field hockey gloves help reduce the risk of finger fractures and help keep your hands warm in cold weather.
- Mask: During short corner kicks, defenders may prefer to wear a protective mask to reduce the risk of injuring their face. The rules on the use of the mask vary depending on the league.
The goalkeeper’s team
At the highest levels of field hockey, players can throw the ball at about 100 miles per hour (160 km / h). Even when the ball is not going that fast, field hockey balls are very hard. Apart from courage, goalkeepers need:
Head protector
Field hockey goalies should wear helmets or a protective mask that fully covers their face. The use of throat and mouth guards is also often required. Leg and foot protectors. Goalkeepers must wear special padded pants, pelvic protectors, leg protectors that cover the entire lower part of the leg and give freedom of movement, as well as shoes of the appropriate size (with foam protectors on the cleats). Trunk and arm protector. Goalkeepers should wear padded chest protectors, as well as arm and elbow protectors, which are usually attached. All pieces of equipment must be sized appropriately to prevent slipping or insufficient protection. Hand protectors. Both hand guards must be sized appropriately and well padded to cushion strong shots.
A safe workout
To prevent possible injuries while playing field hockey, players should:
Get a sports medical check-up before starting to practice this sport. Always warm up and stretch before training or starting a game. Inspect the field to make sure there are no holes or other obstacles, including trash and broken glass. Store leftover clubs and balls, along with other equipment, well away from the sides of the playing field.
Learn and use proper techniques
Stop training if they are injured or in pain. Injured players should be evaluated by a coach, monitor, doctor or nurse before returning to the field of play. Stay well hydrated, drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after games and training sessions. Know the team’s plan in case of emergency.
A safe game
During matches, players should:
Observe all safety regulations while playing field hockey. Learn and use proper techniques, especially when it comes to carrying the stick, blocking or tackling and shooting. Be respectful to the referees and do not argue when they are sanctioned. Remain calm if a player on the opposing team does something that you disagree with. Inform the coach and referee, and let them resolve the situation.