Before the first practice

What your player actually needs

Field hockey gear is simpler than it looks, but a couple of items are easy to buy wrong. Here is the short list, plus how to get the right size and pay less for it.

Start here

The checklist by program

	Grades 3–5	Grades 6–8	High School
Stick	Required	Required	Required
Shin guards	Required	Required	Required
Mouthguard	Required	Required	Required
All-black skort	Not needed	Required for games	Part of team uniform
Pinnie / uniform	Not needed	Provided, covered by your $200	Team uniform
Goggles	Optional	Optional	Optional, required for the defensive corner unit
Cleats	Recommended	Recommended	Turf cleats, most play is on turf
USA Field Hockey	State Chapter, Great Lakes	State Chapter, Great Lakes	Through the school

Sticks

Getting the right stick

Two ways to save

Longstreth is our main supplier and has good online help for choosing a stick. Use code GLRFH for 20% off and FREESHIP for free shipping. They also sell a beginner package with a stick, shin guards and a ball.

Coach Amy keeps a limited number of sticks if you would rather buy locally and skip shipping: 35″ and 36.5″ for $40, 37.5″ for $30. First come, first served.

Stick size by height

35″	Player is 5′1″ to 5′3″
36″ or 36.5″	Player is 5′4″ to 5′6″
37″ or 37.5″	Player is 5′7″ to 5′9″

The stick should sit well out in front of the player when they are moving with the ball. If you are between sizes, the shorter stick is usually the easier one to learn on. For players shorter than 5′1″, size down and ask a coach.

Beginner or advanced?

Buy the beginner stick. Beginner sticks have less carbon, which means better touch and control and less power. For a new player that trade is entirely in your favor. Apart from goalkeepers, there are no position-specific sticks, so it comes down to what feels comfortable.

Shin guards

The one thing parents buy wrong

Do not buy these

Soccer shin guards are not allowed. They are the wrong shape and do not protect against a field hockey ball. Also avoid the navy blue ones with slits in them, which come up often in searches and are not what we want.

Buy locally	Bloomfield Sport carries field hockey shin guards. Selection is small but correct.
Acceptable styles	ADD THE TWO ACCEPTABLE SHIN GUARD TYPES
Not sure?	Send a photo before you buy. Ask us →

Everything else

The short list

Mouthguard

Required at every practice and game, for every age group. Any standard boil-and-bite mouthguard works. Buy two, because they get lost.

Goggles

Optional for most players, but required for the defensive corner unit at the high school level. Lacrosse goggles are fine to reuse. If your player wants to wear goggles full time, buy their own pair rather than sharing team ones.

All-black skort, grades 6–8

Middle school players need their own plain black skort for games. Pinnies are provided and covered by your registration.

Cleats and footwear

Most high school practices and games are on turf, so turf cleats are the right call there. Middle school and the 3–5 clinic practice on grass at the Seaholm and Groves baseball fields, where normal cleats or athletic shoes are fine.

Water

Two full water bottles for every practice. Michigan Septembers are warmer than people plan for.

Still not sure what to buy? Send us a note before you spend the money. We would rather answer a question than have you return something.