What are hockey gloves called

Hockey, like all other sports games, has its own special attributes in the form of sports equipment (stick and puck) and equipment of players. Since this is a contact and tough sport, the equipment of athletes is primarily protective. Protective ammunition includes a helmet, a goalkeeper mask, protective shields and special gloves.

Hockey Glove Feature

Gloves for playing hockey, which are called leggings, are one of the elements of sports protective equipment .

Appointment

Their main task is to provide the maximum possible protection for the player’s hand from being hit by an opponent’s club during game contact. The protection of the hand from the flying washer is also relevant, given that it can develop a flight speed in excess of 100 km per hour. At the same time, the gaiters of the player should provide him with the convenience of using the club, and, therefore, not hamper the movements of the hand in the joints.

Attention! The presence of gloves is a prerequisite for playing professional or amateur hockey. The absence of this subject of sports ammunition of a hockey player is fraught with serious injury during the game.

Design

In accordance with the requirements for hockey gloves, they have a special design . Standard hockey player gaiters consist of several elements.

External protective plates

Today they are made from lightweight but durable polymeric materials arranged in several layers. This allows the plates to effectively absorb the energy of a flying washer or club hit. They are distributed throughout the outer part of the glove and have a different shape, depending on the location.

Thumb Protector

The thumb occupies a separate position on the hand and, when the stick is covered, stands separately from the rest of the hand. This increases the risk of injury during the fight for the puck . Hitting it can lead to a bone fracture or dislocation of the joint.

IMPORTANT! To avoid injury, the thumb in hockey leggings is reinforced with a separate insert.

Cuff

This is another shield located at the top of the glove . It covers the wrist joint and lower arm. The purpose of the protective cuff is to prevent fracture of the forearm or dislocation of the wrist.

Palm

The inner surface of the gaiters in direct contact with the club.

It is made of soft, but at the same time durable materials - often it is genuine leather or leatherette. Recently, the palms of cuffs are also made from various synthetic fabrics with high abrasion resistance. The palm tissue is single or multi-layered.

Foam pad

Are established under external guards of gloves . They serve to prevent the transfer of impact energy from a stick or puck, through a hard shield directly to the hockey player’s hand.

Sometimes also soft shock absorbing pads are sewn between layers of fabric on the palm of the glove . They soften vibrations when a club hits the puck sharply.

Types of Hockey Gloves

By appointment

According to their characteristics of use, gloves are divided into amateur and professional .

Professional gaiters are usually made better, using expensive wear-resistant materials . Gloves for professional athletes are also lighter and more comfortable to use.

REFERENCE! The cost of a professional item of ammunition is much higher than that of amateur gaiters.

By design

Hockey gaiters, in addition to amateur and professional, are divided into 2 groups by design .

  • Anatomical, tight-fitting arm and more expensive.
  • Classic, suitable for any brush, depending on size.

The nuances of choice

When choosing gloves for playing hockey, a number of rules should be considered. This will allow you to choose leggings that can protect your hand as efficiently as possible during the match.

Attention! According to the code of practice of the world hockey association, adopted in 2014, a protective gait should completely cover the hockey player’s wrist and wrist.

  • When trying on gloves, you should pay attention to whether the gaiters cuff is adjacent to the elbow shield . If there is unprotected space between them, you should buy a larger glove or buy additional protection - a wristband, worn on the forearm.
  • The glove put on the brush should not squeeze the palm too tightly . The brush in it should feel free both in a compressed and an open state.

But the choice of a specific model should be made exclusively on an individual basis, to ensure the most comfortable possession of the club during the game.