While many people regard the sport of hockey as “gentler” than that of football, more players are getting injured than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were almost 80,000 sports-related injuries reported in 2015. That’s practically one injury every hour of every day. It’s also more than double the number of injuries seen in 2004. So what exactly is causing all these injuries?
Well, in hockey, as in any sport, equipment can play a crucial role. One of the most essential pieces of equipment is the helmet. Let’s take a quick look at the significance of a good hockey helmet.
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Identifying The Best Hockey Helmet
When choosing a new helmet, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the helmet fits well and doesn’t move around too much while you’re playing. If the helmet is moving around during play, it can seriously impact your safety. It also needs to be comfortable, and it has to match the rest of your hockey gear. Of course, the ability to reduce head injury is also vital, and that’s why you’re looking for a good helmet in the first place. Once you’ve found that perfect match, you can be sure that you’re investing in something that will serve its purpose well. So how can you tell if a helmet is good?
There are several features that you should look for in a hockey helmet. First off, you need to check for fit. You don’t want to purchase a helmet that doesn’t fit you perfectly. That could lead to serious injuries if you don’t have the right size in the first place. Another important factor to check for is the construction. You want a helmet that’s been manufactured using premium materials and advanced technology. Finally, you want to make sure that the ventilation is adequate, especially if you’re playing outdoors in cold weather. If the air is getting chilly, you’ll definitely want to be drawing in some fresh air through proper ventilation.
Why Are Helmets Important?
Hockey helmets are important for several reasons. First, they protect your head. Without them, you’re leaving yourself completely vulnerable. Second, they reduce the risk of skull fracture. A good helmet can reduce the trauma to your head by up to 70%. Third, they can protect your ears from the impact of body checks. They do this by mitigating the shock wave that is usually generated by impact. So fourth, they can help maintain your sense of balance while playing. Fifth, they can help prevent concussions. Finally, they can save your life in an accident. That’s something that no other type of equipment can do.
As you can see, there are several significant roles that helmets play in hockey. It would be a shame to own a helmet that doesn’t perform well or isn’t safe to use. That’s why it’s important to spend some time finding the best NHL helmet before stepping on the ice. You can also help protect your head by wearing the proper helmet for your body size.
What Is A Body Check In Hockey?
A body check in hockey is also known as a “crash play.” It’s essentially a very hard check to the body (more specifically, the area below the neck) that can cause injuries. These usually occur when a player is making a hard hit or is chasing down a puck across the ice. However, there are several ways that body checks can be dangerous. One of the more serious risks is spinal cord injury. So it’s important to know the rules governing these hits. Here they are:
- A player may not check an opposing player from the front.
- A player may not check an opposing player from behind.
- A player may not check an opponent from the side.
- A player may not hit a player in the head or neck area.
- A player may not check a player from behind who isn’t going for the puck or who has it in mind to pass or shoot it.
- The hits that are above the shoulders are illegal but can sometimes lead to serious injury (e.g., a slipped disk).
When Is It Okay To Check An Opponent?
It is never okay to check an opponent in hockey — that is, unless you’re in the right circumstances. For instance, if they’re leaving you no choice but to prevent them from scoring, you can legal check them. Otherwise, you’re looking at a serious penalty and/or an injury to yourself. Still, checking an opponent is usually a taboo in hockey. There are exceptions, such as when a team is playing against a wall of defenders or blockers. In these cases, the team’s most aggressive players usually find a way to get the puck to the net. Even then, checking can lead to injuries. Another situation in which you may consider checking is if there’s a clear and present danger to yourself or others. In these cases, you are allowed to get out of the way so that everyone can get back to safety. It’s important to note here that sometimes, especially early in the season, it’s not yet safe to check an opponent. Wait until the defense has a bit more experience and is keeping the opponents more to the sides where it’s safe to hit them.
The Importance Of Equipment In General
It’s important to keep in mind that equipment plays a crucial role in any sport. Without good quality equipment, the injuries would be much worse. This is especially true in hockey. The other teams’ equipment is much better than what the home teams are using, which leads to more injuries. In fact, in one study, researchers looked at the most common causes of injury in the NHL and saw that the majority of injuries could be attributed to either poor equipment or lack of training. So make sure that you’re investing in quality gear whenever possible.
Reducing The Risk Of Injury
Now that you know what a snipe in hockey is, you can better understand how it’s different from a regular slapshot. A snipe is a quick, high-speed forward move in which the player shoots the puck between their skates before the opposing team has a chance to move.
This type of shot puts the puck on a direct line to the net, regardless of whether the goalie is quick enough to get there. While a regular slapshot is more about getting the shot by any means necessary, a snipe is all about placing the puck in the net with as little effort as possible.
Since most of the action takes place in the front of the net, scoring is much easier. Moreover, without the goalie between you and the net, the puck can float into the net a little bit more easily. This is why, overall, snipes are more dangerous than a slapshot. The only way to prevent injuries from a snipe is to learn to shoot it properly. Start by raising your arm and holding it above your head before you take the shot. Keep your elbow tucked in and follow through with your lower body. This will help generate power behind the shot and make it go further. Finally, make sure that you release the shot quickly and with as much accuracy as possible. This will help you avoid injuries. It also depends on the speed of the skaters and the position of the goalie at that moment. So it can be difficult to predict where the puck is going to go. Plus, if you’re a goalie, it’s hard to track the puck when it’s moving quickly.
Helmet Safety
The helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment for the hockey player. Not only does it protect your head, but it also protects your ears from injury. If you’ve ever seen a movie where someone falls off of a ladder and hits their ears on something hard, you know what kind of damage that can cause. These types of injuries are very common in hockey, and they’re often hard to recover from. Luckily, there are several tips and tricks to avoid these injuries. First off, make sure that your helmet fits you well and isn’t moving around too much while you’re playing. This happens when the helmet is too loose or too tight. When you’re feeling nervous or anxious, your head will move around a lot inside the helmet, which can cause serious injuries. Another important tip is to find a good balance between protection and ventilation. You don’t want to put too much mesh on the inside, or it could cause overheating. But you also don’t want to take it off, either, because then you’ll be losing the protection that the helmet provides. Find that perfect middle ground and you’ll be buying a helmet that suits your needs. Last but not least, make sure to clean your helmet regularly. This will keep the rust down and maintain that good “neon glow” that hockey players are known for.