Talk to me about hockey

[Bunnybigears]

So hockey (not ice hockey the normal one). DS2 aged 8 has been to a family fun day thing where you can try out different sports. Despite already playing cricket, rugby and swimming competitively he seems to have some natural hockey ability and really enjoyed it, spending the whole 3 hours doing hockey and nothing else. Now he wants to go along to hockey training, maybe join the team etc. What do I need to know? What equipment will he need if he decides to join properly? Is it going to cost me an arm and a leg (like blooming swimming!)

When DS joined the local hockey club they had sticks you could borrow. The only equipment he had to buy was a gum shield, which as your DS plays rugby I assume he may already have, and shin pads. As he has got into it we have bought him a stick (they vary hugely in price) and a bag to put it in. He wears astro trainers to play in, but assume you can wear normal trainers. There are special hockey boots but we haven't bothered with them.

Thanks ineedholidaynow yes we have gum shield. Will footie shinpads be ok or are they a specific type? It sounds reassuringly low on specialist equipment thank God!

Just don't encourage him to be a goalie!

Think footie ones would be ok. DS plays more hockey than football. so wears his hockey shin pads for football

Goalie daughter/swim mum here. Counties and open meets mean that DD hardly ever plays for her club (who train/play on Sundays). Quite a few schools round here also host hockey camps/training days, which might be an option if your son has a similar number of clashes.

At her non-school squad she just had to buy a team games shirt, shin pads and a stick. A wooden one will do at beginner level.

Do you have a local sports shop? Sticks come in different heights/length. I think DD was using a 34 at 8/9.

Luckily we are able to use club/school goalie kit (though it does take up a lot of room if we need to dry it). If she ever stops growing I'll try to find her some on eBay.

My DS plays hockey both at school and for an outside club. To start only a gumshield and shinpads (footie ones fine if he has them already) are necessary. He should be fine in trainers. If he starts training regularly and playing matches then he may like to have some astro/hockey shoes and his own stick. Composite sticks tend to be lighter than wooden ones although a bit more expensive. If he’s not fussed about having that season’s new release stick then you can pick up some bargains.

Gun shield, shin pads and trainers to start.
It can get expensive as dd plays for team, county and school now so different kits and has a couple of pairs of boots and it takes a lot of our time with training and matches and have two children competing at county as well as several other activities so constantly on the go.
But if money/time isn’t an issue then I would always try to encourage an interest in a sport.
I’d say the most expensive is subs. Luckily no subs for school team.

Thank you everyone. We have his gum shield from rugby, shin pads from footie and trainers from cricket. He can borrow a stick from the club to start with. Madcats I think clashes are going to be an issue as he currently plays rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer (both on Sundays) factor in swimming galas which his coach says he is going to start entering him into from the end of April and I don't know how he is going to fit any hockey matches in! Im hoping they are on a Saturday but then they clash with my other DS's footie matches. Unicornmadeofpinkglitter its encouraging an interest in anything other than sport I have a problem with!

encouraging an interest in anything other than sport I have a problem with!

We have this problem also, however ds1 is making a career from his interests in sports at 21, ds2 who is now 17 wants to go in the army and if not successful there will go to uni to become a sports physio or pe teacher so maybe not all wasted.

Not sure for dd yet. She wants to be a nurse or an author!