Everyone knows at least one thing about hockey, and that it is a dangerous sport regardless of the level of play. There seems to be no end to the opportunities to become injured while playing hockey. One major opportunity for injury in hockey comes from a move on the ice known as checking. Checking is allowed in most age groups and allows one player to crash into another player in order to impede forward progress. Just about anything can happen when checking occurs. A player can hit the ice or crash into the boards, and many a fight has erupted over a check. Keep reading to study different safety tips that can make hockey a safer bet.

There are important safety considerations with hockey skates, and they come down to just a few common sense type points. Don't buy any skates that aren't a good fit for the foot. Wearing skates that are too small can injure the foot. Foot pain is a major distraction from what's taking place in the game. When you're not paying attention to the game, you're more likely to be injured. You should also make sure the skate you choose offers adequate support. Do not invest in skates that lack a hard plastic toe cup for protection. Make sure to properly care for the skates to keep them in top working order. You need to keep them in good repair and that means keep the blades sharp.

The pants for hockey also provide important protection. The pants that are designed to pad against collides, falls, and puck and stick hits are called breezers. You don't want to get side-lined from a painful hit that could have been dulled by proper padding. Padding in the rear also works to protect the tender tailbone. When you fall back or down on your back area, you can easily bruise your tailbone which is no laughing matter. In addition to being quite painful, it can take you out of the game for while. Never mind the fact that sitting could prove problematic for a while.

Face masks are required in all leagues below professional hockey at every age group. The helmets worn generally have face masks permanently attached to them. This is an important enough safety requirement that you should still wear a helmet with face mask even when playing friendly hockey matches among friends. The primary reason being to protect your face from damage by pucks and sticks that are part of a hockey game. A few players continue to complain that the face masks actually interfere with their ability to see well enough to play hockey. Despite the complaints, face masks are a requirement for most youth hockey leagues. Gathering as many facts about hockey safety tips as you can will help prevent many injuries.