Hockey for children it will be! In high school I remember well that we played hockey intensively for a season. Great to chase after that puck, although I always found it a bit exciting when that thing came roaring towards me. Is your child also a hockey boy or girl in the making? Hereby the ins and outs about hockey as a sport for your child!
Would you like more information about children's football? Read our blog about this.
Table of contents
The first time hockey was played in the Netherlands was a long time ago, in 1891. But it has been around for much longer and also has different names. That's what the Irish call it hurling and the Scots call it Shinty. In the beginning, the sport was played on ice and this still happens with ice hockey, but we play it on artificial grass here.
The Netherlands scores highly in hockey and regularly earns prizes, including during the Olympic Games. For example, a well-known hockey player is Naomi van As, the girlfriend of skater Sven Kramer. Many girls who play hockey are fans of Naomi.
It is also a family sport. When parents play hockey themselves, they quickly take their children with them, who start playing hockey for children at a young age. And it is a team sport, a close-knit sport in which close friendships are also formed.
Your child can start playing hockey at a very young age, namely from the age of 4! No real stick is used and no hard hockey ball. It's mainly about having fun in the game and moving.
From the age of 6, children can start with the real hockey training and they also use a hockey ball and stick. Hockey matches start from the age of 7 and are then practiced in threes.
Here is an overview of hockey in age category:
ClassificationAgeType of activityF-youth6 and 7 yearsGame activity, preparation for playing matches in threesE-youth8/9 yearsSix and eight hockeyD-youth9 – 11 yearsteamhockeyC – youth12/13 yearsTeam hockeyB-youth14/15 yearsTeam hockeyA-youth as well as seniors from 17 years to 17 years parentTeam HockeyThese attributes are mandatory if your child plays hockey:
Hockey sticks come in different lengths. Tip:have your child stand upright and hold the head of the stick under the armpit. Does the top of the stick reach the back of the knee? Then you have found the right length! A stick can be made of wood or plastic. Most kids' hockey sticks are made of wood. The position in which you play affects the choice of your stick.
Is your child's position a defender? These often opt for a heavier and stiffer stick than the attackers. Attackers benefit from light, flexible sticks to gain momentum.
Hockey sticks can be found here
A shin guard is required by the KNHB. During a training you can know this yourself, but it is recommended because a hockey stick and ball can both hit you hard on or against your shins. The shin guards are made of soft foam or of harder materials (carbon, glass fiber or a combination of both).
Make sure you don't buy them too big, so try them on before you buy them.
It is nice if they are easy to put on and take off and also stay in place during the match, a shin guard that slides is not useful.
Shin guards can be found here
A mouthguard has been made mandatory from the 2015-2016 season. And as a mother myself, I think this is a great idea. The mouthguard reduces the risk of broken teeth or worse, a broken jaw. A mouthguard is easy to put in and take out, it must of course fit well, it is taste and odorless and very important:to keep it clean.
There are several options:
You can find mouthguards here
Training Outfits consist of a pants / skirt, shirt, shoes and shin guards. During a match, almost all associations have their own club uniform. This consists of a shirt, pants or skirt and stockings. And also your own mouthguard.
Tips for purchasing hockey shoes:
You can find an affordable training outfit here
Hockey is known as one of the more expensive sports, mainly because of the membership fee. Each association determines this itself and therefore there are differences. On average you can count on €250 for the contribution only. A hockey outfit costs on average €60 to €100
There is weekly training, usually once a week.
As a parent, you are more like a taxi with this sport than with freerunning, for example, because there are weekly competitions on Saturdays. The young children have a game in the morning and the older children in the afternoon. If you have two children of different ages in this sport, there is a good chance that you will be riding both in the morning and in the afternoon when there is an away game.
They can also use your help in the canteen or as a referee. Know that this request can come!
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