With the warm seasons now upon us, it’s time to start thinking about outdoor activities and how to enjoy them more. One such outdoor activity that has recently risen in popularity is hockey – we’ve even seen professional hockey leagues pop up in the UK and Canada in the past year! If you’re looking to get involved in outdoor hockey in the UK, you’ve probably considered whether or not to build a backyard rink. While it’s true that building a rink in the back garden can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, it can also be a lot of work, especially if you’re doing it by yourself. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about constructing a backyard hockey rink, including the tools and materials you’ll need and the steps you need to follow.
Table of Contents
The Basics
First off, let’s talk about the basics: what is a backyard rink anyway? Broadly speaking, a backyard rink is a temporary outdoor skating rink that you build in your garden or other open spaces for the purpose of practicing hockey. Most rinks are 8’x8′ or larger in size so that skaters can easily move around when playing. Backyard rinks can also be found in parks and open spaces which means that anyone can go there and use it whether they are a local sports enthusiast or just visiting the area. The best part is that they’re usually quite affordable and simple to put up.
What Other Skating Rinks Are There?
While building your own backyard rink is a fun idea, it’s not the only one. You might consider looking at other options as well. For example, some people choose to build an outdoor pool and install a ladder so that skaters can practice diving boards. Others choose to build a half-pipe and strap it to the side of their house for the same purpose. There are even some who choose to build a track and use bails (pieces of wood) to block out the portions where they want people to skate, much like in an indoor rink. The options are really endless!
Is It Legal To Build A Backyard Rink?
This is a great question and the answer is mostly yes. With most countries following the “no building within 0.5 miles of a road” policy, it is rarely an issue. That being said, you must abide by local ordinances and restrictions which may prevent you from putting up signage or providing any other types of recreational equipment. In most cases, building a backyard rink is perfectly legal, as long as you hold up your end of the bargain and keep the area clean.
How Many Sets Of Skating Rinks Do You Need?
This depends on how many people you have skating. For example, if you have a family of six and you want to give each person their own individual rink, you’ll need six sets of skates. If, however, you have a family of four and you want to share one large rink between them, you’ll only need four sets of skates. When it comes to building a home rink, you’ll inevitably want to consider the size of your family and how many people you want to invite to join in the fun. This is another issue where it’s best to be practical: too many people, and you won’t have enough space for everyone to skate comfortably; too few people, and you’ll have none for yourself!
Time Commitment
This one is pretty self-explanatory: the more time you spend on it, the more enjoyable it will be. When you’re first getting started, it can take a lot of time to level the surface and lay down the hard surface. Once this is done, it will be time for you to strap the rink into position and add the finishing touches. Depending on how much time you want to devote to it, this may or may not be a fun hobby to participate in.
The Materials
This is another area where it’s good to be practical: what are the materials you need to build a decent sized rink? Firstly, you’ll need hockey sticks (the longer the better – 15′ is conventional and you can get longer ones for a bit more money). Next, you’ll need pucks (similar to golf balls but smaller). You can get these either from an outdoor hockey store or from a supermarket. Then you’ll need to get a hold of some plastic sheeting which you can either buy by the roll or cut into smaller portions and seal with tape or glue. You’ll also need a few hockey jerseys, a few sets of pants and a pair of skates. Don’t forget to get a helmet too (but apparently, you don’t need one for hockey).
The Tools
You don’t need to have a full toolbox just yet – simply take your car and some spares (just in case something goes wrong). When it comes to tools, you’ll need a pair of gloves, a sturdy pair of gardening gloves and a wrench (click here to see an example). Don’t forget about those plastic sheeting rolls too – they make great band-aids and give you something to protect your hands from getting cut while working. Another thing you can use to protect your hands is mittens – it’s better to use tools with padded hands as they will reduce the impact when hitting the puck or other objects. Of course, safety comes first and it’s best to wear protective gear (goggles, a hat and a jacket) whenever you’re handling paint or other chemicals. This will help ensure that your health is protected and that you can enjoy your time working on the project.
The Steps
If you’re doing this by yourself, it can be pretty handy to have a step-by-step guide to follow. This way, you won’t make too many mistakes and have to start over again. When following a guide, make sure that you read the instructions carefully and connect the dots properly so that you can avoid any potential frustrations down the line. Remember: if this is your first time building something like this, it’s probably a good idea to take it easy and do what the instructions say without any extra instructions (this is especially handy if you’re short on time). Once you’ve built your backyard rink, you can use it as soon as the weather permits which makes all the difference. Remember to remove it when the weather turns cold or worse, as it will damage the grass if left there for too long. This will also create a lot of unnecessary work for you if you have to remove it and reattach it each time it’s frozen over.
That’s all there is to building a backyard hockey rink. While it can be a lot of fun, building one is a lot of work – particularly if you’re doing it by yourself. If you’re looking for an affordable and simple way to enjoy the outdoors, why not give it a try? Don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media if you end up creating something awesome!