In many clubs the start of October is the last moment when the kit is still lying exactly where we dropped it after the final outdoor session. Any minute now the indoor season arrives, and with it a hard floor, side-boards and play at short range. Half an hour of checking before the first session settles something that cannot be settled on a Friday evening: either the kit is ready, or something needs buying and you have to wait for the delivery. Below is a list of things worth looking over one by one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Composite does not break the way wood breaks, and laminate damage can look like an ordinary scratch. That is why the check is about looking, not about passing judgement: take the stick under a lamp and inspect the whole surface, turning it in your hands. A suspicious crack, exposed fibres or a change in how the stick behaves in play mean one thing: do not use it until the matter is cleared up, and hand it over to the manufacturer or retailer for assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to play indoors with a stick used all season outdoors, check whether that is a good idea. Indoor sticks have a different profile and a different weight, and we described the differences in the post the indoor stick, how it differs from an outdoor stick<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The grip works all season long, soaks up sweat and rain, and then hardens. The effect is not obvious: the stick does not fall out of your hand, you just have to squeeze it harder to stop it turning. Indoors that extra squeeze takes away feel and tires the forearm faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A grip is replaced when it is worn through to the adhesive layer, slippery once dry, or has lost its springiness. The way to wrap it and the order of layers is described in the post stick grip, chamois or synthetic<\/a>. While you are at it, check the underlay tape beneath the grip, as that is what collects moisture most often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shin guards look indestructible, and that is exactly why hardly anyone inspects them. Over time the shell cracks from the inside, at the edges, and the foam can be flattened where it sits against the bone. Velcro and elastics stretch, so the guard slides down during play. Check too that the size is still right, especially on a child who has grown over the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Judge a mouthguard by its condition and fit, not by the date of purchase: does it stay on the teeth without clenching the jaw, are there any cracks or worn spots, and what do the instructions for that particular model say about use and any remoulding. We gathered the requirements and how to choose in the post shin guards and a mouthguard<\/a>. If you defend at penalty corners, inspect the face mask too: cracks in the shell, play in the fastenings and the state of the padding inside. Details in the article on the penalty corner and defenders' protective equipment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You go onto the court in clean footwear with a non-marking sole, whatever its colour, and that is the first thing the venue manager checks. The second is the state of the sole itself: a worn-down tread stops gripping when you stop. Look inside the shoe too. A compressed, hard insole can usually be replaced and does not by itself end the life of the shoe. Assess the sole and heel separately; if they are damaged, do not return to play without clearing up whether the footwear is fit for further use. We gathered the differences between turf shoes and indoor shoes in the post hockey shoes, turf or indoor<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a season on artificial turf there is almost always sand and rubber granulate in the bottom of the bag. Shake it out upside down, wipe the inside with a damp cloth and leave it open to dry. Check the zips and the seams at the straps and the handle. If you carry the stick together with the protective gear, think about dividing it into compartments. We described practical packing layouts in the post stick bag<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrip: the cheapest thing that causes the most trouble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Protective gear and face mask<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shoes for the court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The bag after the outdoor season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cheat sheet: what to look at and what to do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th> What to look at<\/th> What needs action<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Stick<\/td> the whole surface: head, transition to the shaft, shaft<\/td> suspicious crack, exposed fibres, change in the stick's behaviour \u2013 for assessment by the manufacturer<\/td><\/tr> Grip<\/td> wear, hardness, slipperiness once dry<\/td> you have to squeeze the stick harder to stop it turning<\/td><\/tr> Shinguards<\/td> shell from the inside, foam, Velcro and elastics<\/td> cracked shell or flattened foam; Velcro and elastics for repair or assessment before use<\/td><\/tr> Mouthguard<\/td> shape, fit, condition after moulding<\/td> does not stay in place without clenching the jaw, cracks, advice in the instructions<\/td><\/tr> Penalty corner face mask<\/td> shell, fastenings, padding<\/td> crack, play in the fastening<\/td><\/tr> Shoes<\/td> sole tread, insole, heel<\/td> worn or detached sole, slipping when stopping<\/td><\/tr> Bag<\/td> zips, seams, bottom<\/td> worn-through material on the bottom; zip and seams for repair or assessment before use<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n An order that saves time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n