We have discussed the importance, for our young athletes, to be responsible for their own equipment. Making sure that their gear is ready for the next ice time is a responsibility that all hockey players have to attach a great deal of importance to. We will discuss many ways to take care of our equipment this season, but let's begin by understanding what's involved in it.
"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."
-Alexander Graham Bell
Making sure that our equipment is up to the challenge is just as important as making sure that our own bodies and minds are up for the task. While you may get assistance from an Equipment Manager, a Trainer or other members of your team's staff during your hockey career, ultimately the responsibility of being ready for your game falls to one person only: YOU!
There are no excuses when you are on the ice. If your gear is not in good order, it will break, fall, move, glitch or cause an injury. Ultimately, you are the teammate letting the rest of your team down. Or, you can take pride in carefully making sure that you are ready for the task at hand, and you can be present throughout the whole battle alongside your team. This is an individual choice. You can rely your entire life on people to take care of your own gear for you and blame them when things go wrong, or you can assume the responsibility of being ready for your ice times and never let your team down.
Let's name a few items to consider when getting ready for your ice times:
- Apparel: Ensure that you have clean socks, underwear and training apparel. As required, pack your shower kit and all of your training gear, including a pair of warm-up shoes.
- Skates: Ensure that your skates are sharpened, dry and the blades protected. Verify your laces and pack extra laces as required.
- Pads/Pants: One piece at a time, verify that your equipment is dry, exempt of mold and complete with all detachable parts. Inspect all the "hard" protection (i.e. plastic shells, ...) and verify all the fixation systems (i.e. laces, straps, velcros, ...).
- Neck guard: Verify that it is dry and clean. Ensure its integrity and that it is in good order to protect all of the neck. Ensure that it isn't "rolling" and that the fixation system is in good order (i.e. velcro holds on).
- Mouth guard: Verify that it is clean and that the shape molds to your teeth. Ensure that it doesn't hurt the inside of your mouth and that it can be worn comfortably during physical activity and maintain its seating.
- Helmet: Ensure that the outer shell is exempt of cracks or bumps. Ensure that all the inside padding is in place and has been cleaned. Verify the cage/visor and ensure that it is exempt of rust. Verify all the fixation systems and adjustment "clips" to make sure that they are sturdy and well adjusted.
- Gloves: Ensure that they are dry, fitting and that the palm is fully protected.
- Stick: Remove tape as needed, verify the integrity of the blade and the shaft. Ensure that there are no significant cracks that could impair your performance or present a risk of injury. Tape as required.
- Additional Items: Pack clear tape, stick tape, extra laces and a clean water bottle in your bag for every ice time. You may bring more material as needed, but if you have inspected your equipment when packing, the odds of needing specific repair equipment, such as screws, are pretty low.
- Jerseys: All game jerseys will be clean and "wrinkle-free". They will be carried on a coat hanger, ideally protected in a carrying pouch. Verify that the lace is present and decent looking and that the jersey is generally clean and exempt of large tears. Both colors are to be carried to every game. Practice jerseys are to be worn at practices.
- Game Socks/Practice Socks: Game socks will be worn for games only. Both pairs will be carried to every game. They are to be clean and exempt from any large tears. Practice socks are at the discretion of the player, as long as they are not the game socks.
- Dress: Whether the dress code is tracksuit or it is shirt and tie, make sure that your dress reflects the pride you have in your team. Your clothes should be clean and generally wrinkle free. Lay out your clothes before the rush that precedes all ice times. Ensure that they are ready to be worn and that all of your items are ready to go (i.e. belt, tie, shoes, ...).
- Travel Gear: Bus rides and long car drives can be challenging for the mind. Avoid boredom. You can plan for books, electronics, homework, ... If you rely on electronics, plan to have enough charge to last both ways or have with you a portable charger. Electronics will NOT be allowed in the dressing room, so you will not be able to charge your devices on the road. Plan ahead! Also plan to stay hydrated. Water bottles are never superfluous.
- Routine Gear: We all have our own little routines before a game. Prepare the items required for your routine ahead of time. It is always so very frustrating to be stuck twice as nervous as we should be because we forgot what we need to get ourselves in the zone. Give yourself a chance to be ready.
There are so many logistical details that go in getting ready for a hockey game. Give yourself a chance. Make of this preparation a routine. One for practices, one for games. Take every ice time seriously. Verify your equipment, take the time to work on it, maintain it, clean it, take care of it. It is a difference maker. Be the difference. Be a team player. Be ready!