Hockey nets vary in size and shape depending on the requirements of the hockey rink, but there are some standard measurements that can be applied to them. This blog post will focus on the dimensions that matter most when trying to determine the size of a regulation hockey net.
Table of Contents
Length
The length of the hockey net can be measured from the front of the net to the back of the net, or from one side of the net to the other side. In general, the longer the hockey net, the more voluminous it will be when filled with water. Taller players generally need longer nets than shorter players do because they have more room to manoeuvre. Shorter players may need shorter nets to be able to reach the ball when shooting on goal.
The overall length of the hockey net (from front to back) should be between 95 and 105 feet (30 and 32 metres). In some instances, especially in very large rinks, longer hockey nets are used to allow shooters to throw a longer pass to a team member who is positioned at the other end of the ice. This can help the team to be more effective in placing the ball in the other team’s zone. In smaller rinks, the overall length of the hockey net should be between 80 and 90 feet (24 and 27 metres). If possible, the shorter the net, the faster the game will go because the players won’t have as much space to maneuver around.
Width
The width of the hockey net can be measured at its widest point, which is generally at the top of the front wall. The wider the hockey net, the greater the surface area that is available for water to flow through. Theoretically, a wider hockey net will cause the water on the surface to be faster and heavier than usual, resulting in improved gameplay. There is no set width for a regulation hockey net, but to be effective, it should be at least 48 inches (122 cm). If possible, the wider the better because a wider hockey net will give the goalie more room to move while he is positioning himself between the mesh and the puck.
The overall width of the hockey net (from front to back) should be between 66 and 74 inches (167 and 188 cm). This measurement can vary depending on the positioning of the netting on the front wall (and the location of the ball when the game is halted for a face off). Additionally, wider hockey nets are used in adult leagues for the same reason as the previous point: to give the goalie more room to maneuver. In some instances, wider hockey nets are used in high school and middle school games because the players are smaller and generally have less physical contact than in adult leagues. This can make it more difficult for the opponents to score goals because there is less room for error when one player hits the puck.
Height
The height of the hockey net can be calculated by adding the depth of the hockey net above the surface of the ice. The further the height of the hockey net, the greater the potential for interference when the puck is in the air. The top of the net should be as close to the ceiling as is feasible, but it should not be allowed to touch the ceiling because the height of the net limits the ability of the goalie to quickly get to high balls. Too many high balls can result in injuries to the goalie or his supporting players.
The overall height of the hockey net (from the top of the net to the ceiling) should be between 48 and 60 inches (122 and 152 cm). The further the height of the hockey net, the more room the goalie has to play the sport without being limited by his positioning. In some instances, especially in smaller rinks, the upper limit for the height of the hockey net is 45 inches (114 cm) to keep the gameplay moving at a quick pace. Smaller rinks also use this strategy to keep the playing surface as close to the size of a soccer field so there is less space on the ice for mistakes to be made. Another advantage of a shorter hockey net is that it makes it easier for the players to see the puck when it is in the air because it is closer to the eye level of the players as compared to taller hockey nets. This improves the quality of the gameplay because it makes it easier for both coaches and players to follow the action closely. Every inch counts when it comes to hockey and even the tiniest details can make a difference in the outcome of the game.
Volume
The volume of the hockey net is measured in gallons per minute (gpm). The larger the volume, the more water will flow through it. Theoretically, a larger volume will provide more water for the players to skate and maneuver around in, as well as result in larger ducks on the pond when it is time to drain the ice during a game.
To determine the volume of your hockey net, simply measure the total amount of space between the ball and the back wall, then add the height of the ballroom above the surface of the ice. The total volume of the hockey net should be between 5.5 and 7.5 gallons per minute (19 and 26 litres per minute). To be effective, the volume should be somewhere in the middle of the range. If the total volume is too high, this could create problems when the water level reaches the top of the container. Additionally, if the total volume is too low, this could leave the goalie with very little support as he tries to navigate the puck around the rink.
Shape
The shape of the hockey net can be classified in two ways: the wall shape and the net shape. The front wall shape and the rear wall shape determine how the water flows through the hockey net. The general rule of thumb is the straighter the wall, the faster the water will flow. This can lead to some interesting shapes that are formed when the walls are straight, such as a diamond shape or an hourglass shape. Some rinks have walls that are at a slight angle (generally between 15 and 45 degrees), which leads to a smoother flow of water that travels farther before breaking off and going in a new direction. The angled walls can also cause ice to build up along the walls over time, leading to some serious pond cleaning procedures during the off-season. The shape of the hockey net is generally rounded, but there are some exceptions such as in very large rinks where the hockey net is more angular to help direct the flow of water towards the middle of the rink.
To determine the overall shape of your hockey net, measure its width at the widest point (usually at the top of the front wall) and add the depth of the net at its lowest point. The shape of the hockey net can be any regular, even or irregular polygon, but the straighter the walls, the faster the water will flow and the larger the volume.
Position
The position of the hockey net is determined by the location from which it is set up relative to the goal. The nearer the position of the net to the goal, the lower the volume will be because there is less space in between for the water to travel. The further the position of the net from the goal, the greater the volume because more space is available for the water to flow. For instance, if your regular goalkeeper is positioned at one end of the rink and a backup is at the other end, then there will be less than 5.5 gallons per minute (19 litres per minute) of flow when the game is underway because there is less than 5.5 feet (1.7 metres) between the two goalies. In some cases, such as in very large rinks or when facing extreme temperatures (either too hot or cold), the position of the hockey net can be adjusted to suit the needs of the game. The general rule is the closer the position of the hockey net to the goal, the faster the water will flow and the larger the volume.