Best Field Hockey Equipment for training at home

Field hockey may be a team sport played on a large field. However, you don’t need a team or a large open space in order to sharpen your skills and become a better hockey player. With the right gear, you can practice effectively at home while also staying safe, and, most importantly, having a lot of fun.

While many of these items are standard equipment for playing field hockey, some are not. These items can be used creatively to come up with your own drills and practice sessions. Luckily, all this optional equipment is pretty inexpensive as well.

Excited? Then let’s get into the list of the Top 10 Field Hockey Equipment for training at home.

Table of Summary:

Hockey stick
Field hockey practice balls
Hula hoop
Field hockey star rebounder
Field hockey shin guard
One-timer hockey passer
Field hockey gloves
Hockey revolution lightweight stickhandling training aid
Soccer cones set for field hockey
Rebound board

1. Field Hockey Stick

Of course, you can’t play field hockey without a hockey stick. This is the first and most important item to buy, so make sure you put extra effort into picking the best choice for you.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a hockey stick, such as:

Length: You should choose a stick with a certain length based on your height. For example, if you’re under 4’, you’ll typically use a 28” stick and a 38” stick if you’re 5’9” or over. According to the U.S. method, you can also see if a stick is appropriate for you by standing it next to you and seeing if it ends 2” above your waist.

Weight: Different weights will suit different playstyles better. If you want better control and wrist mobility, go for a lighter stick. If you want more power, go with a heavier option.

Toe Design: Defensive players tend to favor hockey sticks with a maxi toe design for a wider surface area to receive and strike balls. Offensive players use shorter toes for maneuverability. Midfielders and beginners typically use Midi toes since they offer a good balance.

Material: Hockey sticks are usually made from wood, carbon, fiberglass, or a mixture of these three materials. Wood sticks are more flexible and forgiving, making them great for beginners. Carbon adds power, so it’s more suitable for more experienced users. Fiberglass is usually added to reinforce and strengthen the stick.

Goalies also have their own special sticks.

So, which hockey stick to pick? To make sure you make the right choice, you have to consider your skill level, size, position, and personal playstyle. You should really take your time to browse a large selection of field hockey sticks from a retailer like Dick’s Sporting Goods.

2. Field Hockey Practice Balls

Next to the stick, you will also definitely need some field hockey balls to train with. Practice field hockey balls are slightly different than legitimate game balls. They are usually made from plastic and hollow or filled with cork on the inside. The corked options are typically more durable.

Practice balls are also typically smooth instead of covered with indentations like regulation balls. This makes them suitable for a wider range of playing surfaces. They also whey roughly the same as game balls so that you can get used to the feel.

Practice balls usually come in a variety of colors and designs, so you can pick one that’s the most fun. However, just make sure it contrasts whatever surface you play on so it’s easier to follow.

3. Hula Hoop

A hula hoop is a popular piece of equipment in field hockey for a variety of drills. It’s also super cheap and easy-to-use, so it’s a great addition to your home training kit. You should get multiple hula hoops for the most fun and interesting drills.

For example, you can create a slalom drill by arranging hoops in a line and then threading the ball in between them from one end to the next. You can also try to get balls into the hoops without using any hands.

If you train with others, you can even make up fun games like “musical chairs” with hula hoops where the last person to get their ball in the hoop is knocked out. Or, passing the ball around hoops to improve your interplay.

4. Field Hockey Star Rebounder

A rebounder is another simple but extremely effective piece of home training equipment. Its main function is for you to hit the ball towards it and then the rebounder will bounce it back to you.

By repeatedly practicing like this, you can improve fundamental skills like passing and receiving the ball.

Rebounders typically come in the form of boards. However, you can find strung rebounders like this that are capable of returning balls at higher speeds. This specific model can also be flipped to rebound balls through the air.

5. Field Hockey Shin Guard

If you’ve ever gotten hit by a hockey ball at full speed, you know why a shin guard is a must.

Typically, Field Hockey shin guards consist of a hard plastic shell with a thick layer of foam on the inside. While some people use football or other shinguards, it’s not recommended for a couple of reasons:

Field hockey shinguards are often thicker for better protection
They wrap further around your legs to protect from more angles
Field hockey shinguards typically mold better to your legs

Overall, this means you’ll get better protection and comfort from field hockey shin guards.

You should always pick shin guards based on your size and by trying them on to feel how they fit. Otherwise, it can be really uncomfortable and hamper your movement. You should also get a rash guard or breathable socks to wear underneath to prevent chafing.

6. One-Timer Hockey Passer - NHL Approved

A ball passer is another great tool for someone who wants a bit more of a challenge. Passers shoot a ball out at you to practice catching or shooting at a moving object.

This “one-timer hockey passer,” for example, is meant to be used to set up a “one-timer” pass. In other words, you let it pass the ball in front of the shooter who intercepts the ball and shoots at goal.

Different passers can be loaded with and shoot different numbers of balls. The timing between balls can also differ. So, pick one based on the speed, intensity, and repeatability that you want.

7. Field Hockey Gloves

Field hockey gloves protect your hands from chaffing and wearing against the grip of the hockey stick. It also prevents sweat from making it hard to grip the hockey stick properly. Some gloves even come with a hard shell coating to protect against hits from balls or other sticks which can be really painful.

For home practice, you probably only need basic gloves with some padding to protect the skin of your palms and fingers as well as wick sweat. Try to pick gloves that are breathable and comfortable to wear.

8. Hockey Revolution Lightweight Stickhandling Training Aid

You can find different types of stickhandling training aids online. However, this is one example of an extremely useful, flexible, and affordable option for training at home. It’s also portable, so you can take and set it up anywhere.

You can use it to improve your Puck Control, Reaction Time & Coordination, and set up your own drills. For example, you can set it up in a horseshoe shape to practice controlling the ball within a small area. You can also practice hitting the ball through specific numbered gaps to improve your aim.

9. Soccer Cones Set for Field Hockey

Soccer cones (or, any other cones) can be used just like hula hoops to set up your own training drills. You can dribble around single cones or practice slaloming by setting up multiple cones in a course.

Soccer cones are usually cheap and come sets 10 to 50 which make them a great addition to your kit. You can also use them to mark out a playing field.

10. Rebound Board

A rebound board is another simple piece of equipment that you can even make it home. The only thing it needs to do is be able to take a hit as you hit balls into it and bounce them back to you.

However, you’ll have a much better time if you invest in something like a high-density rebound foam board. These boards provide more bounce which returns the balls to you quickly and more smoothly.

The Final Whistle

As you can see, it’s possible to train all your field hockey skills at home by investing in the right equipment. While these are all the most useful and cost-effective things you need, you can improvise even more. For example, replace the hula hoops with tires or make your own rebound boards.