How to Wear Hockey Goalie Pads

Putting on hockey goalie pads is a challenge the first few times, but gets easier with repetition. The pads are critical to a goalie's safety and must be worn during practices and games. Pads protect your legs, arms, chest, face, throat and head from the blades of players' skates and sticks. Cumbersome at best, the pads may feel heavy and take some getting used to. Goalies learn to use the pads to deflect the puck and save goals.

Instructions

    • 1

      Put on your jock strap and cup, hockey pants, undershirt, tights and skates.

    • 2

      Sit down and lay your goalie pads on the floor in front of the toe-end of your skate. Thread the toe ties through the holes on your skate, then wrap them around the skate and tie them over your laces. Toe ties help to keep pads securely on your skates.

    • 3

      Pull the pads up onto your legs. Push your leg snugly against the front of the pad. Secure all buckles and Velcro straps. Repeat with other leg and pad.

    • 4

      Stand up and check the security of your pads. Tighten any straps that feel loose. Pull up your pants and put the suspenders over your shoulders. Put the chest protector over your head.

    • 5

      Put your arms in the "sleeves." Secure all of the straps around your wrists, arms and elbows.

    • 6

      Put your shirt on over the chest protector, then put on your helmet. Goalie helmets protect your face and head, and often have throat protectors attached to the bottom.

    • 7

      Slide your left hand into a goalie glove, and your right hand into a blocker. Hold the goalie stick in your right hand.