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Wrangling kids into their equipment in crowded, noisy locker rooms can be stressful even for pro hockey players. If you’ve never played hockey, the equipment can be a mystery—and it offers plenty of opportunities for do-overs: Put the shin guards on before the breezers, for example, and you’re sunk. Try it under time pressure, and it’s a recipe for frustration for you and your player. Follow these tips from veteran parents and you’ll be dressing your kid like a pro before long—plus teaching him or her to take over.
Get-Dressed Quick Tips
- Sorry, there is no “quick.” It can take a good 20 minutes to put hockey gear on a young player, and that’s if nothing goes wrong. Get to the rink 30 minutes early minimum.
- Prep at home as much as possible. Put on a clean base layer of moisture-wicking pants and tops (such as UnderArmour) plus skate socks (if worn) at home. If your locker rooms are particularly crowded, consider dressing the bottom half at home: jock/jill, shin guards, socks and breezers.
- Do a few dry runs. Lay out all the equipment in order and see what your child can do and what he or she needs help with.
- Be available to help. Mites almost always need help tying and untying their skates, but other than that, it is possible for them to dress themselves. Just be available to help in case they’ve lost an elbow pad, can’t find their tape or need help snapping the helmet strap.
14 Steps from Start to Finish
Players may have or develop individual preferences for how they get dressed, but in general, follow this order:
- Base layer (moisture-wicking pants and tops, skate socks)*
- Jock/Jill (or shorts that come with a pelvic protector and Velcro straps)
- Shin pads
- Hockey socks (attach the socks to the Velcro shorts or garter belt)
- Hockey pants (aka breezers)
- Clear tape (to keep socks and shin pads snug; wrap around below the knee and again near the bottom of the shin pad)*
- Skates (the tongue of the skate can be put over or under the shin pads)
- Neck guard*
- Shoulder pads
- Elbow pads
- Jersey
- Helmet
- Mouth guard
- Gloves
*Optional items, although the neck guard is highly recommended.
With all this in place, all your little player needs to do is grab their stick and hit the ice!
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, an intern with the Grow the Game Initiative and a member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, for this article.
