The other day, I was in the hallway outside of my son’s bathroom and overheard the following conversation:
“Mom, what do hockey players wear under their pads?”
“Well, son, hockey players wear a lot of different things under their pads. You’re gonna have to be more specific.”
“Okay, what do they wear? I want to be able to tell my friends.”
“Well, there are a few different things that hockey players wear under their pads. First and foremost, they wear tight clothing, like spandex or yoga pants, to keep their body heat in and the cold out. Next, they wear wristbands to keep their hands from freezing during hockey play. Lastly, they wear knee pads to protect their knees during pivoting or turning movements. That’s what I know so far.”
“Thanks, Mom. Your friend Katie is gonna think I’m so nerf when she finds out I’m talking about hockey.”
So as a parent of a little hockey fan, what do you tell your friend Katie when she asks about what her son will wear to his first hockey game?
Since sports bras and mesh shirts aren’t appropriate for hockey players, you’ll typically see them in spandex or yoga pants with socks or slush pants with the knee pads. This is to keep their legs warm and to protect their knees from getting damaged. As a parent, isn’t it your duty to protect your child from getting hurt?
The thing is, when it comes to sports, your child will probably grow out of some clothes faster than others. When they’re young, they’ll need more coverage. As they get older, they’ll start demanding more fashion choice. So as much as possible, you don’t want to deny them the fun of sports by forcing them to wear inappropriate clothing.
If your son or daughter shows interest in hockey, I recommend talking to your pediatrician about what size equipment they should be using. It’s also important to find out how they’ll be playing the game, whether it’s outdoors or indoors, so you can make sure their outfit is appropriate for the environment. Finally, make sure they’re comfortable in what they’re wearing. It’s a tough league, and it’s gonna be a long season, so they’re gonna need comfortable clothes.
Table of Contents
Understand The Game Better
If you have never watched hockey, let me briefly explain the game to you. The objective of hockey is to score goals by applying heavy pressure to the puck using various body movements, including the pivot, which is a fancy word for turning your body to the right or left while on the ice.
To score a goal, you will need to get the puck past the opposing team’s goalie. To do this, you will need to utilize your body, including your speed, to get past the goalie and into the net. When a player is born in the winter, they are given a certain amount of protection from the cold, called their base layer. This is what most of the players wear under their uniform to keep themselves warm. The more layers below, the colder the player becomes. Once a player is determined to be hockey-ready, they will be given a pair of equipment: skates and a helmet.
The key to playing hockey comfortably is to practice wearing and fitting into your equipment. You’ll need to find a hockey trainer who can show you the correct way to move and how to apply pressure to the puck. Once you have good technique, you’ll feel right at home. Additionally, make sure to have fun as often as possible during practice. Hockey is a fun game to play, but it can also be extremely stressful if you don’t have the right equipment or if you’re not used to handling the amount of pressure that is required to score a goal. Also, if you’re not a natural athlete, it can be difficult to develop good habits, which could lead to injuries. So make sure you have fun with the equipment you have and continue to improve your game, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Be Confident
Hockey players, especially those who are larger than most people, are often times perceived to be arrogant. If you want to be the best parent you can be, be confident in your child’s abilities and give them the support they need to be successful. Even if your child is not yet old enough to play hockey, they will be able to see you standing up for yourself, which is an important role model for them to learn. Additionally, make sure they know how proud you are of them, and let them know that you are there to help them when they need it.
Practice Responsibility
As a parent, it is your duty to protect your child from getting hurt. One of the requirements for becoming a hockey player is to have good sportsmanship. To practice good sportsmanship, you will need to watch out for your teammates and hold them accountable when they are not following the rules. For instance, you are on the ice during a break in the action when a player on your team skates by and fails to salute the goalie. You can easily signal the goalie to freeze the ball, which would lead to a stoppage in play. During this time, you should explain to the player the rule and why they failed to salute the goalie. In addition, make sure that they know they are accountable to you, the parent, for their actions. This will help them establish good behavior as a new habit and allow you to continue to have fun with your son or daughter while also promoting good sportsmanship.
As a parent, it is your duty to show interest in your child’s activities. If you are interested in encouraging your child to play hockey, make sure to attend some of their practices and games. This will allow you to get to know the other parents and will allow you to help the coaches and referees make the game as safe for your child as possible. In addition, at the end of each game, they will most likely be giving out awards to the players who showed the most sportsmanship. Your child might be a nominee for an award, so you could represent them in accepting the trophy.
Enjoy The Game
As much as possible, you don’t want to take the fun out of sports for your child. When they’re young, they’ll need something to keep them warm, so it’s important to be consistent with this. However, as they get older, they’ll start demanding more fashion choice and will want to express themselves through their clothes. If you can, make sure that the clothes your child wears are appropriate for the environment, whether it’s winter or summer, so that they can enjoy the game without feeling too hot or cold. In addition, make sure that their equipment is comfortable and fits them well, which will make a significant difference in their overall experience. Finally, have fun! Enjoy the process of becoming a hockey player, and when the time comes that your child is ready to play, be sure to let them know how much you enjoyed this time together and how much they mean to you. This will help establish good feelings between the two of you so that they can have fun playing the game and feel confident enough to try new things.
As you can see, there are many different things that hockey players wear under their pads. To keep your child warm, make sure that they are dressed appropriately according to the environment, that their equipment fits them well, and that they have proper instruction and practice during the off-season. With these things in mind, you will be able to have fun while also encouraging your child to be responsible and make the right decisions. Be confident that they can do this, and enjoy the time you spend together playing hockey.