Checklist for Roller Hockey Gear Suit Up

Roller hockey is a fast sport. Surfaces are hard, sticks are sharp, the ball painful against bare skin. Impacts are heavy and sudden. Because of this, protection is required for most areas of the body. The equipment is, with the exception of the skates, interchangeable with ice hockey gear. Like ice hockey the head and the front of the body, limbs and hands are the areas most often hit.

  1. Most Important - head, hands, shins, elbows

    • Protect the head against the ground, and the face against sticks and balls.

      Heads can crash into the boards or the ground, so the first requirement is a good quality helmet that fits well. Eyes, teeth and the jaw should be protected by a solid cage or plexiglass shield. The hands get chopped with sticks, so acquire hockey gloves with no holes for fingers to slip through. Shins and knees take the impact of balls and sticks, so shin pads with foam or felt lining that wrap around the outside of the knee and the sides of the calf are a must. Elbow pads are necessary since falling backwards can break or shatter elbows, which will end more than a hockey career. Always remember a jockstrap.

    Some Essentials for Playing

    • Soft skates don't provide the best protection.

      At least two sticks should go to every game and practice in case one breaks. Skates must be well-fitted as loose skates can cause injury through inadequate support. Skates that are too tight can cause blisters, and when struck with a stick or hard shot can transmit the blow to the foot instead of cushioning it. In particular, the toes should not be touching the outer shell of the skate.

    Additional Pads and Coverings

    • Hockey pants and socks or a hockey girdle and a roller hockey shell provide protection for the hips, thighs and tailbone. Shoulder pads, including a chest protector, are the least important --- they are useful if there is a lot of contact or the game is being played at a high speed. They provide cushioning on collisions with the boards and Plexiglas and protection to the chest from errant balls and sticks.

    Bits and Pieces

    • A good jersey is designed to fit over pads.

      A roll of hockey tape is necessary for the stick, or to hold shin pads in place under socks, though elastic binders for the shin pads work well. A garter belt is needed if hockey socks are used, and suspenders for shells or pants. A hockey jersey works better than a sweat shirt or t-shirt, as it fits over bulky pads. A water bottle with a favorite beverage is welcome at breaks. An internal mouth guard will guard the teeth from incidental contact to the jaw.