Hockey Parents Make The Difference

Ice hockey is played on a rink, a sheet of ice which is approximately two-thirds the size of a football field, usually between 185 and 200 feet long and about 85 feet wide.

The game is played in three periods of equal length; twenty minutes for each period at most levels, but often twelve or fifteen minutes in youth classifications. The sport involves four basic skills: skating, passing, stick-handling and shooting. These skills can be learned at any age, and the good hockey player continually works to improve and refine his or her skills.

Physical size is not an important factor in becoming a skilled and successful hockey player. Every player has an opportunity to be a part of the action. given the speed of the game, the number of players on a team and the size of the surface upon which the game is played.

The Four Basic Skills Of Hockey

Skating is the skill that makes hockey unique, and it’s something that players at all levels of the sport continually strive to improve. Without adequate skating ability, players are less able to perform the other essential skills of the sport.

Stick-handling is perhaps the most difficult of the basic skills to master. It allows a skilled player to maneuver around opponents and create better offensive opportunities.

Passing is what makes hockey a true team sport and helps make the game fun. Passing gets everyone on the ice involved in the action and turns scoring into a team effort. Helping teammates experience success is what the game is all about, and passing allows the thrill of scoring to be shared.

Shooting is the end result of an offensive team play and is the action that produces a goal. Many players spend most of their time practicing shooting because they believe scoring is the most fun. Players should, however, place an equal emphasis on the other basic skills of hockey, given the fact most players generally take fewer than six shots in an entire game.

The Team

A team is comprised of a maximum of six players on the ice at any one time (see ‘penalties’).

The goalkeeper is responsible for guarding the team's goal and preventing the opposing team from scoring.

The primary responsibility of the defensemen (two) is to prevent the opposing team from having a good shot at the goal. The defensemen also attempt to gain possession of the puck and pass to teammates to initiate an offensive scoring opportunity.

The primary responsibility of the forwards (three: right wing, center and left wing) is to score. However, forwards also assist the defensemen by back-checking after their team has yielded control of the puck to the opposition.

The Playing Zones

The ice surface is divided by blue lines into three zones: defensive, offensive and neutral.

The defensive zone is the area in which a team protects its goal and attempts to keep the opposition from scoring. This same zone is the opposing team's offensive zone, or the area in which they are attempting to score.

The neutral zone is the area between the two blue lines.

The Officials

At higher levels of ice hockey competition, three officials - one referee (identified by a red arm band) and two linesmen -- are utilized. At the youth level, two officials - both of whom are referees - are common. The referee is the ultimate authority during the game and is primarily responsible for calling penalties and determining if goals have legally been scored.

The primary responsibilities of the linesmen include determining violations of off-side and icing while assisting the referee in enforcing the rules of the game.

The Rules

The playing rules of hockey are divided into three basic categories:

• Violations that result in a face-off
• Violations that result in a player being awarded a penalty shot
• Violations that result in a player being sent to the penalty box for a specified period of time

Selection of hockey equipment is a key issue for coaches, players and parents. When purchasing and fitting hockey equipment, remember two important factors:

1. Make certain the player is adequately protected and
2. Be sure the fitting allows freedom of movement so the player can properly perform the necessary skills. By carefully considering these two factors, your child will be more comfortable and will better enjoy the game.

A complete set of hockey equipment can be purchased for a relatively reasonable cost. Shop around for the best values and remember that you need not buy the most expensive equipment. Inquire about local equipment swaps and team discounts, but keep in mind the equipment must fit properly to provide maximum protection.

• Skates - Purchase skates that will fit your child today, with no more than 1/2" allowed for growth. Seek adequate protection in the ankle, toe and instep areas. Improperly fitted skates will hamper your child's ability to skate.
• Helmet - Must be of a design and construction approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC). Must be sized at the time of purchase to fit properly. The chin strap must always be fastened.
• Facemask - Must also be of a design and construction approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC).
• Mouthpiece - Required for players in 14-or-under through junior age classifications. USA Hockey encourages players of all ages and ability to use a mouthpiece.
• Stick - Length should generally extend from the ice to the player's chin (with skates on). Quality and price differ greatly, so the choice is yours.
• Shin Pads - Check for proper length so they protect the knee and shin completely.
• Supporter and Cup - Essential protective equipment.
• Gloves - Check for proper fit, with good finger and hand mobility.
• Shoulder Pads - Adjust to fit the individual at the time of purchase. A fiber cap is extremely important in preventing shoulder separations and should extend to the tip of the shoulder.
• Pants - Held in proper position by suspenders. Provide protection for the lower spine, hips and thighs.
• Elbow Pads - Properly fitted so that they do not slide.

For goaltenders, special equipment is necessary, such as: gloves (catching and stick), chest and stomach protector, goalie skates (with protective shell), leg pads, shoulder and arm protectors. The goaltender’s equipment is especially important, so seek advice from a knowledgeable source.

How To Properly Fit Hockey Equipment

From Head to Toe. . .

Helmet: Comfort is the key!  A helmet should fit snug, have an adequate protective foam lining and a properly adjusted chin strap that gently ``cradles" the chin when fastened.

Full Shield or Screen Face Mask?  Although the full shield offers better fields of vision, they can fog up from moisture.  Defoggers are available for this.  A Screen face mask provides much better ventilation but only adequate vision.

Mouth guard: Very important in not only injuries to the mouth and teeth, but head injuries such as concussions. Because of their importance, be sure to follow the package instructions for proper fitting and changed frequently when they become ``thin" or broken.  Many brands now come with a small insurance-type guarantee on the back if there is an injury while wearing the guard.  Look for those and keep your receipts to show proof of purchase.

Shoulder pads: This is the players major protection for the upper body (collar bone, chest, back, ribs and upper arms).  The shoulders should fit directly into the shoulder caps and there should be plenty of padding in to chest area.

Elbow pads:  Again, make sure the very tip of the elbow fits directly into the center of the elbow cup.  The cuff should also be long enough to cover the lower arm that extends to the cuff of the glove*Check the Velcro straps for signs of wear and make sure they aren't so tight they cut off circulation to the arms and hands.

Gloves:  There should be plenty of room inside the glove for finger movement and the comfort ability is an individual choice.  The cuff of the glove and the end of the elbow pad shouldn't leave room for unprotected skin.

Pants: Fit around the waist should be secure with the rest of the pant being loose with room for maneuverability.  The pant should overlap the shin pads by only by 1 or 2 inches for the best fit.

Shin pads: The cup of the shin pads should fit directly over the kneecap.  The lower legs should be fully covered but make sure the pad doesn't extend too long .

Skates: Always the most difficult of all they equipment to fit correctly, especially on the newer skaters.  Begin by looking for a skate size that is  1 to 1 1/2 smaller than your normal shoes.  Wear socks that would normally be worn with the skate and slide your foot in all the way to the toe of the skate.  a space the size of one finger should exist between the  heel and inside of the back of the skate.  Walk in the skates (with guards on) for 15 minutes or so to get a good feel for the comfort of the skate.  If red areas or discomfort develop on the foot, recheck to see if the skate fits properly.  Check the blade frequently for chips and cracks and always have a professional sharpen the skate.

Stick: Aluminum, Wood or Graphite?  Individual choice is the key, but wood is heavier, least expensive and breaks easier.  Aluminum  is durable, cost more than wood and can bend.  Graphite (composite) shafts vary in shape and weight.  they are the most expensive yet are not as durable as the aluminum shaft.  To measure proper length, stand without your skates with the stick straight in between.  Mark the stick where it touches your nose and this is where a professional should cut the shaft.  To double check, put on your skates and hold the stick in the same position.  The mark should now come to your chin  or below instead of your nose.