How the right tape can prevent injuries in hockey

Summary: Tape does not prevent injuries on its own, but it ensures that the equipment does its job. Shin guard tape keeps the guards in place so that they cover where the hits come. Cloth tape and grip provide control over the stick, and the right taping reduces chafing and discomfort during long sessions. The wrong tape, or the right tape applied incorrectly, does the opposite: the guards slide, the stick slips, and the legs become stiff. Here we go over what tape does what, how to apply it, and what mistakes to avoid.

Introduction

A shin guard only protects if it is where the puck hits. It sounds obvious, but that is exactly where many miss. After a period of tackling, falling, and sudden stops, the guard has slid down a bit or twisted to the side, and then the shinbone is suddenly more exposed than the player thinks.

The tape is the little detail that holds everything together. It costs a few kronor per session and takes a couple of minutes to apply, but makes the guard and stick work as they should from the first to the last shift. In this guide we clarify what the tape actually does for safety, what it does not do, and how to choose and apply it correctly. This applies regardless of whether you are a parent of a junior or play yourself.

How tape and injuries are connected

It is easy to think that tape protects the body directly, but that is not how it works in hockey. The tape on the shin guards and stick does not stabilize joints and does not prevent sprains. It does something more everyday but important: it ensures that the equipment is in the right place and works as intended.

It is noticeable in three ways:

• The guards cover where they should. A shin guard that has slid down leaves the knee or shin partially unprotected. Taped damask and guard move as a unit and stay in place even after hard situations.
• Less chafing and irritation. When the guard stays still, it does not rub against the skin or the skate. It reduces chafing and discomfort that otherwise disturbs the whole session.
• Control over the stick. Tape on the blade and grip on the shaft makes the stick not slip in the hand. You need less force to hold it and can focus on the game.

Wrong taping gives the opposite effect. Tape that lets go in the middle of the match makes the guards start to move. Tape that is pulled too tight restricts blood flow, and the legs become heavy and stiff. It is not dangerous in itself, but it is also not a good situation when you are going into a close fight.

If you already have an injury, for example a sprained ankle or a sore wrist, that is another thing. Taping of joints is its own area with its own techniques, and you should do that with the help of a physiotherapist or the team's chiropractor who can assess the injury. This guide is about the tape that holds the equipment in place.

Shin guard tape – keeps the guards where they protect

The shin guard is the protection that is most affected by taping. The Velcro straps hold it in place for a while, but rarely for a whole match. Therefore almost all players, from kids to elite, tape the guards to the damask.

Shin guard tape is a thin, stretchy tape that follows the shape of the leg and withstands sweat, ice, and cold. It is the property that makes it stay without squeezing.

• Shin guard tape PRO is made of 0.18 mm PVC film with rubber-based adhesive and is 24 mm wide and 20 m long. It withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and also holds in matches with many close fights. It is our first choice for active players.
• Shin guard tape is the classic variant for hockey and bandy, and a good choice for training.
• Advance AT7 Shin guard tape is tearable by hand and available in ten colors, so the tape can match the team's damasks.

So you apply it: Put on the shin guard and pull the damask smooth over. Bend the knee slightly and wrap 2–3 turns just below the knee, around both damask and guard. Then lay 2–3 turns just above the skate, where the guard usually wants to twist. Never tape directly to the skin, and do not pull harder than a finger fits under the tape. The whole technique step by step is in the guide on how to tape shin guards.

Cloth tape and grip – control over the stick

The stick has two zones that are taped in different ways, and it is easy to mix them up.

The blade and knob are taped with cloth tape. The cloth tape is woven and has strong adhesive. It gives the puck grip against the blade, dampens receptions, and protects the blade against wear. On the knob, at the top of the shaft, it gives the upper hand a clear grip so that the stick does not slip out of the hand.

• Howies Cloth Tape is premium tape from the USA with 68 threads per inch. The dense weave holds match after match. It is available in white and black.
• CCM Cloth Tape is 25 mm wide and has 25 m per roll, strong adhesive, and water-repellent surface. It suits you who tape often. It is available in white and black.

Finish with Howies Hockey Stick Wax. The wax prevents ice and snow from building up on the blade, and it prevents the tape from absorbing water and making the blade heavier during the match.

The shaft gets grip. Where the hands work, friction against the glove is needed, not cloth tape. Grip tape is stretchy, made of cotton and spandex, and can be built up in layers. LizardSkins is a self-adhesive grip band in polymer, 0.5 mm thick, with a smooth and non-slip surface. With a good grip, the stick sits firmly even with sweaty gloves, and you do not need to squeeze it as hard.

More about the technique is in the guides on how to tape the hockey stick and grip tape or LizardSkins.

Common mistakes – and the routines that keep the whole season

Most problems with tape are not about the tape but how it is used. Here are the most common mistakes:

• Too tight. Tape that restricts blood flow makes the legs heavy and can cause cramps. A finger should fit under the tape.
• Too loose or too few turns. The guard slides and the tape does no good. 2–3 turns per place is enough.
• Wrong tape in the wrong place. Cloth tape on the legs cracks and squeezes. Shin guard tape on the blade wears out immediately.
• Tape on a damp or dirty surface. The adhesive sticks poorly, and the tape lets go in the middle of the session.
• New tape on top of old. It sticks worse and makes the blade heavier. Always remove the old tape first. Tape on top of tape sticks worse, becomes uneven, and makes the blade heavier. Let the blade dry properly before you tape, because tape on a damp blade lets go faster. Wax after every taping, so the tape lasts longer and does not absorb water during the session. This means that a lot of tape is used during a season. CCM Cloth Tape has 25 m per roll and lasts for many tapings. If you want to avoid keeping track yourself, you can choose a subscription like CCM Cloth Tape (3-pack), so you get tape sent home at regular intervals.

Common questions about tape and injuries in hockey

1. Can tape really prevent injuries in hockey?

Tape does not prevent injuries on its own, but it makes the guards work as they should, and that is where the win is. A shin guard only protects if it is where the puck or stick hits. A guard that has slid down or twisted after a few tackles leaves parts of the knee or shinbone more exposed. When damask and guard are taped together, they move as a unit and stay in place the whole match. The tape also reduces chafing and irritation, which otherwise disturbs the game and can give chafing wounds. On the stick, cloth tape and grip give better control, so that the stick does not slip in the hand. What the tape does not do is stabilize joints or prevent sprains. It is its own area, and if you have an injury, the taping should be done with the help of a physiotherapist. To keep the guards in place, a real shin guard tape like Shin guard tape PRO is the easiest and cheapest thing you can do so that the equipment protects as intended. The whole technique is in the guide on how to tape shin guards.

2. Why do you tape the hockey stick?

An untaped stick is slippery. The puck easily bounces away from the blade and the stick can slip in the hand. The cloth tape on the blade gives the puck grip, so that it stays in place during receptions and drags and you get better control in the shot. It also dampens the puck and protects the blade against wear from ice, boards, and other sticks, so that the stick lasts longer. On the knob at the top, the cloth tape gives the upper hand a clear grip and makes the stick easier to pick up from the ice. Howies Cloth Tape, with its dense weave of 68 threads per inch, is a safe choice that holds match after match. Finish with Howies Hockey Stick Wax, which makes the tape water-repellent and prevents ice and snow from sticking to the blade. The grip zone on the shaft is instead taped with grip tape, which gives friction against the glove. The whole technique step by step, including how you build the knob, is in the guide on how to tape the hockey stick.

3. How often should you change the tape on the stick?

Change the tape when it is worn, broken, or has absorbed water. For most active players, it is before every match and a few times a week during training. New tape gives the same puck feel every time, and therefore many have re-taping as a fixed part of match preparations. Always remove the old tape completely before you lay new. Tape on top of tape sticks worse, becomes uneven, and makes the blade heavier. Let the blade dry properly before you tape, because tape on a damp blade lets go faster. Wax after every taping, so the tape lasts longer and does not absorb water during the session. This means that a lot of tape is used during a season. CCM Cloth Tape has 25 m per roll and lasts for many tapings. If you want to avoid keeping track yourself, you can choose a subscription like CCM Cloth Tape (3-pack), so you get tape sent home every other week, every month, or every three months, depending on how much you play.

4. Can you use electrical tape as shin guard tape?

It is not recommended. Electrical tape is not made for cold, sweat, and movement. The adhesive loses grip when it gets cold and damp, and the tape often lets go already during the warm-up. Then the guard starts to move, and the whole point of the taping disappears. Electrical tape also creeps over time and can leave sticky residues on the damasks that are difficult to get off. Cloth tape is not either the right choice for the legs. It does not stretch, so it cracks or squeezes when the leg works, and it absorbs moisture. A real shin guard tape is thin, stretchy, and water-repellent. It follows the leg's movements and stays through sweat and ice. Shin guard tape PRO withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C and is made just to keep the guard and damask in place. For training, the classic Shin guard tape works well. The difference in price compared to electrical tape is small, but the difference in how the guards sit is noticeable already in the first period.

5. What tape suits younger players?

Younger players need the same type of tape as adults, but the technique needs to be extra careful. Children's equipment is often bought with little room for growth, and then the guards do not always sit perfectly. This makes the tape even more important, because it holds the guard in place despite that it is a bit big. Use a thin, stretchy shin guard tape and be careful with not pulling too tight. A finger should fit under the tape, and the upper turn should be laid with the knee slightly bent. Shin guard tape PRO is flexible and easy to get just right tight. Advance AT7 Shin guard tape is tearable by hand, which makes the taping fast when you help a child in a tight changing room. Teach the child to tape themselves when they get older. It creates a routine and makes the player more independent. For the one who is going to start from the beginning, collect Start kit – New player tape, grip tape, and laces in a kit.

6. What is the difference between shin guard tape, cloth tape, and grip tape?

The three tapes have different jobs and cannot replace each other. Shin guard tape is thin, stretchy, and often made of PVC. It is used to lock damask and shin guard, follows the leg's movements and withstands sweat and cold. Our first choice is Shin guard tape PRO. Cloth tape is woven and has strong adhesive. It is used on the stick's blade and knob, gives puck control and protects the blade against wear, but does not stretch. Choose Howies Cloth Tape if you want the tape to last long, or CCM Cloth Tape if you want a lot of tape on the roll. Grip tape is stretchy and made of cotton and spandex. It is used on the shaft where the hands sit and gives friction against the glove without sticking. Grip tape is available in seven colors. The most common mistake is to use cloth tape on the legs, because it is in the bag anyway. It cracks or squeezes when the leg works. The right tape on the right place is the easiest way to equipment that sits and works the whole session.

7. How much tape is used during a season?

More than most people expect. An active player tapes their shin guards before every practice and match, and with two legs and several layers in each place, it takes a meter or two at a time. The blade is taped up before every match and often several times a week too. Add grip tape, which is replaced when it gets worn, and that makes many rolls per player and season. The most common problem is not the cost, but that the tape runs out just before a match. The easiest way to avoid this is a subscription. With Shin Guard Tape PRO (3-pack), you get three rolls delivered to your home every other week, every month or every three months. The same arrangement is available for the stick with Howies Cloth Tape (3-pack). If you prefer to buy everything at once, the Monthly Kit includes Shin Guard Tape PRO, Howies cloth tape, and grip tape in one kit, and the 3-Month Tape Kit lasts for an entire period of the season.

8. Can you order tape for the whole team?

Yes, and there are two options. The first is suitable when the club wants to earn money for the team fund. The team gets its own team link, and when players, parents, and hockey friends buy any of the selected Team Packages via the link, 20% of the sale goes back to the team fund. The team does not need to buy anything or handle payments, because the families order themselves. There are four packages: Team Package Basic, Team Package Standard, Team Package Pro and Team Package Season, where the latter roughly corresponds to an active player's consumption during one season. Read more about how you earn money for the team fund. The other option is suitable when the team wants a shared supply. Then you can buy tape in bulk, for example Howies Cloth Tape – Box or Shin Guard Tape PRO (10-pack), as a subscription, so there is always tape in the equipment room.