In the world of field hockey the goalie can take some serious abuse.  The heavy padding worn on the legs, feet, hand and body is very important in protecting the goalie from speeding field hockey balls.  Goalies know that there is more to the padding than just protection and looks though.  High end leg guards and kickers are designed to affect the rebound of the ball.  The best sets make the ball drop at the goalies feet so the goalie can control where the ball goes after it’s stopped. 

Much like the other goalie protective gear the helmet worn can affect the goalies performance.  A helmet that’s too bulky for the player or a helmet that has limited vision is certainly not going to help a player perform at their best.  So how do you decide what’s right for you.  Let’s look at some of the options, all of which can be found at www.morleyathletic.com for purchase.

We should start our helmet tour with the basics.  The least expensive model available is for lack of better term a modified ice hockey helmet.  Manufactured by ice hockey companies these helmets are basically an ice hockey players helmet with a modified face mask for field hockey.  They certainly aren’t loaded with features but they come in a few size choices and they can be adjusted.  The chin strap keeps them secure on the field and they offer the protection needed at an affordable price.  Cascade helmets also makes a model like this that has always been popular.  The best features of these helmets, other than that low price tag, is that they offer incredible visibility and they are lightweight.  They are great for younger players and more experienced players alike although they are most commonly used at the high school level of play or lower.

The rest of the options out there more resemble ice hockey goalie helmets and they offer a much higher level of protection.  Of course the trade off is either a heavier weight or much higher price.  In this class of helmet the lighter the weight the higher the price tag.  Another feature built into the design of these helmets is usually a shape designed to deflect the ball away from the forehead area of the helmet.  High end models such as the Obo Robo PE Helmet offer a cat-eye style mask for optimal visibility.  The cat-eye design offers the widest space between steel framing possible without allowing the ball to pass through.  This design is very popular and should be considered as the main choice for competitive players.

Before you buy I recommend looking over the helmets available.  You can find a wide selection at www.morleyathletic.com along with a full online field hockey catalog featuring everything from Chingford multi turf balls to competition field hockey goals.

So often we see products get improved upon in this industry that I’m always wondering what they’ll come up with next.  Some items out there always need replacement; one such item is field hockey bottom boards.  Sure field hockey goals can last decades but wood bottom boards need replacement occasionally.  The problem with that is not all goals can use all bottom boards.  After the goals have been around for a decade people forget who made them and where they bought them.  In addition many of the markings that help tell which goal you have get worn off.  It can be a costly guessing game.  Bottom boards aren’t cheap and shipping them is expensive too.  Needless to say it’s best to order the correct bottom boards the first time around.

So there’s the problem.  No here’s the solution, bottom boards that don’t need to be preplaced.  Enter the M18470 Official Field Hockey Goals.  What sets the M18470’s apart from the others is that their bottom boards are made of 1/2″ thick High Density Polyethylene.  Sounds really fancy but in every day terms what it means is that the bottom boards are made of plastic.  As we all know plastic is pretty durable.  In fact the manufacturer proudly exclaims that these bottom boards will never fade or break!

The M18470’s have other quality features that you should consider as well.  They feature heavy duty 2” square steel faces with 1-5/16” OD galvanized steel rear frames.  That’s a durable combination that will keep them on the field.  Both goals are completely powder coated white which provides a lasting finish in all weather conditions.  The side frames of the goals are skillfully welded for maximum stability and additional longevity.

When it comes to convenience the goals features a “,money clip” style net attachment system.  These “money clip” style attachments make it simple to attach your net.  You can also buy wheels kits for the goals to make it easier to move them on an off the field.

So if your bottom boards need replacement or your goals have seen better days consider buying the M18470 official field hockey goals.  They feature unbreakable bottom boards and money clip net attachment for convenience.  Their construction is durable and the powder coated finish will keep them looking new for a long time.  You will find the M18470 field hockey goals and all of the other field hockey equipment you need to play at www.morleyathletic.com.  A family tradition since 1931!