How to Prepare for a Bandy Match

Summary: A good bandy match starts the day before. Get a good night's sleep, eat a carbohydrate-rich dinner and pack your bag in the evening, with tape, extra laces and wax. On match day, eat a lighter meal 2–3 hours before throw-off, drink steadily even if it is cold and dress in layers for the cold. Warm up longer than you do indoors, and tape the stick and shin guards indoors on dry equipment, so everything stays in place throughout the match. Here you get the full checklist step by step.

Introduction

A bandy match is 90 minutes at a high pace on a surface as large as a football pitch, often in sub-zero temperatures, snow or wind. It places demands that few other team sports have. The body must be able to handle long skating stretches, the hands must have feel despite the cold and the equipment must withstand moisture and ice.

That is why much is decided before you even get out on the ice. Players who have slept, eaten and packed correctly, and who know that the tape is secure, can focus on the game from the first throw-off. In this guide we go through the preparations from the evening before to the last minute in the locker room, with the details that are unique to bandy.

The day before – sleep, food and a packed bag

Get a good night's sleep. Sleep is the most underestimated part of preparation. The night before the match matters, but so do the nights before. Aim to go to bed at a normal time and get a good night's sleep. Nervousness the evening before is normal. A calm evening routine helps more than forcing yourself to sleep early.

Eat a carbohydrate-rich dinner. Pasta, rice or potatoes together with protein and vegetables replenish the muscles' energy stores. Eat as usual and do not try any new dishes the evening before a match.

Pack your bag in the evening. It is the best way to avoid morning stress and forgotten items. Use the checklist:

• All protection: helmet with cage, neck guard, shin guards, gloves, pants and suspenders or groin guard
• Shin guards, base layers and extra warm layers
• Skates, newly sharpened if necessary, and skate guards
• Stick, dry and freshly taped, plus a spare stick if you have one
• Shin Guard Tape PRO, which withstands cold down to −10 °C
• Cloth tape for the blade, for example Howies Cloth Tape
• Howies Hockey Stick Wax, which prevents snow from sticking to the blade
• Extra skate laces, for example Waxed Skate Laces
• Scissors to cut the tape
• Water bottle and something small to eat during the break

Small things like tape, laces and wax easily get lost in a large bag. Howies Hockey Accessory Bag has two compartments and a transparent name pocket, so you can find everything immediately.

Match day – food, hydration and clothes for the cold

Eat a lighter meal 2–3 hours before throw-off. Choose something you are used to and that contains carbohydrates, for example pasta, rice or a hearty sandwich with fillings. Avoid heavy, fatty or very high-fiber food just before, because it takes longer to digest. Close to match start, a banana or other fruit can provide quick energy.

Breakfast matters for morning matches. If the match is played early, breakfast is your most important meal. Eat something you know makes you feel good, such as porridge, cottage cheese or yogurt with muesli, or sandwiches. Allow a little extra time so that the food has time to settle.

Drink steadily, even when it is cold. In the cold, thirst feels less, but you still sweat during a match. Drink steadily throughout the day and bring water to the match. With the 760 ml Water Bottle and Water Bottle Spout, you can drink through the cage without taking off the helmet.

Dress in layers. During a bandy match, you go between high pace and waiting on the bench, often in sub-zero temperatures. A thin, moisture-wicking base layer closest to the body and a warmer layer on top will keep you warm without getting soaked in sweat. Have a warm jacket and hat for the bench and warm-up, and an extra pair of dry base layers for the break if it is very cold.

Warm-up and mental preparation

Warm up longer than you do indoors. In the cold, it takes longer for the muscles to become warm and supple. Start with a light jog or cycling indoors and continue with dynamic mobility for hips, groins and calves. Finish with bandy-specific movements: lunges, skate jumps and short accelerations. Then continue the warm-up on the ice with skating and ball control. Stay warm between the warm-up and throw-off.

Have a match routine. A fixed routine creates confidence: the same order when you get dressed, the same warm-up and perhaps the same music. Many players tape in exactly the same order every match. It becomes a way to get into match mode.

Visualize. Go through situations in your head: a reception at full speed, a won shoulder-to-shoulder battle, a pass that reaches its target. It prepares the brain for what is going to happen and strengthens self-confidence.

Be a good teammate. The atmosphere in the locker room is part of the preparation. Talk through the match plan and encourage each other. Teams that know what they want to do get a better start.

The equipment in the locker room – tape so that everything stays in place

Out on the bandy pitch, the equipment is exposed to cold, snow and moisture. The most common reason tape lets go is that it is applied to damp equipment. Therefore, always tape indoors on completely dry equipment, and let the adhesive have a few minutes to bond before you go out.

The blade: Remove old tape, let the blade dry and wrap cloth tape from the bottom up with half the tape width overlapping. CCM Cloth Tape has a water-repellent surface and 25 m per roll. Rub the tape in with wax, so the snow does not stick. Remember that the blade, with or without tape, according to the rules must differ clearly from the color of the ball. Black or white tape is a safe choice.

The grip: Wrap Grip Tape in a spiral over the grip zone on the shaft. With cold and wet gloves, a good grip is extra important.

The shin guards: Pull the shin guard cover smoothly over the guard and apply 2–3 wraps of tape just below the knee and 2–3 wraps just above the skate, around the shin guard cover and guard. Do not pull tighter than so that one finger fits under the tape. Shin Guard Tape PRO has rubber-based adhesive and withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C.

The full technique for blade, grip and shin guards step by step is in the guide on taping in bandy.

Never be without tape. Always have an extra roll in your bag, both for yourself and for a teammate. With Shin Guard Tape PRO (3-pack), you get tape delivered home at regular intervals. Monthly Kit combines Shin Guard Tape PRO, Howies Cloth Tape and Grip Tape in one kit. If you are responsible for a whole team, you can get your own team link, and then 20% of every sold Team Package goes to the team fund. Read more about how you earn money for the team fund.

Common questions before a bandy match

1. How long is a bandy match?

A bandy match at the senior level is played in two halves of 45 minutes, i.e. 90 minutes of effective playing time, with a break at half-time. With warm-up, break and possible interruptions, the total time on site is significantly longer, often around two hours. Account for this when planning food, clothes and drinks. In youth series and lower divisions, the playing time may be shorter. Check what applies in your series. The fact that the match is long and often played outdoors in the cold affects the preparations more than in most other team sports. You need energy that lasts the whole match, so eat a proper meal 2–3 hours before and have something light to eat during the break. You need clothes that keep you warm during the moments you stand still on the bench. You also need equipment that withstands 90 minutes in the cold and moisture. Tape that has been applied to damp equipment or does not withstand the cold often lets go in the second half. Therefore, tape indoors on dry equipment, and choose a tape that withstands the cold, for example Shin Guard Tape PRO, which withstands down to −10 °C. It is a good idea to have an extra roll in your bag for the break.

2. What should you eat before a bandy match?

Eat a proper, carbohydrate-rich dinner the evening before and a lighter meal 2–3 hours before throw-off. Carbohydrates from pasta, rice, potatoes or bread replenish the muscles' energy stores, which you need during 90 minutes with long skating stretches. Complement with protein and vegetables, and eat food you are used to. Match day is not the right time to try something new. Avoid heavy, fatty or very high-fiber food just before the match, because it takes longer to digest and can feel heavy in the stomach. About an hour before, a banana, a sandwich or other light food can give a little extra energy without straining the stomach. Bring something simple to eat during the half-time break, for example fruit or a sandwich. In the cold, more energy is used, and many experience that they get hungry during long matches. Do not forget drinks. In the cold, thirst is less noticeable, but you still sweat. Drink steadily throughout the day and have a bottle with you. 760 ml Water Bottle is easy to grip with gloves. For younger players, the same principles apply: regular meals and enough energy are more important than exact amounts.

3. What should you eat for breakfast before a bandy match?

For morning matches, breakfast is the most important meal, because there is no time for lunch before. Eat something you know makes you feel good and that contains carbohydrates: porridge with fruit, cottage cheese or yogurt with muesli, or sandwiches with fillings. Complement with eggs or cheese for protein, and drink a glass of water or juice. Allow time so that breakfast has time to digest, preferably 2–3 hours before throw-off. If the match is played very early, you can eat a smaller breakfast a little earlier and complement with a banana or a sandwich an hour before. Avoid eating something new or unusual on match day, and avoid too much fat and fiber just before, because it can feel heavy in the stomach. If you are nervous and have difficulty eating, something liquid, such as a smoothie or cottage cheese, can be easier to get down. Pack your bag the evening before, so that the morning can be spent on breakfast and calm preparation instead of searching. Include tape, extra laces and Howies Hockey Stick Wax, so that you can prepare the stick in peace in the locker room.

4. How much should you drink before a bandy match in the cold?

More than you think. In the cold, thirst is less noticeable, and therefore many players drink too little before and during bandy matches. But you still sweat during 90 minutes at a high pace, especially under several layers of clothes. Even a small fluid deficiency can make you tired earlier and lose focus. Drink steadily throughout the whole day, not just right before the match. A glass of water with every meal and a few sips now and then is a good base. Bring a bottle to the match and drink during the warm-up, breaks and on the bench. Lukewarm water can be easier to drink when it is really cold. 760 ml Water Bottle is BPA-free and has a grip-friendly design that works with gloves. With the Water Bottle Spout, you can drink through the cage without taking off the helmet, which makes it much easier to drink on the bench. A simple way to see if you are drinking enough is the color of your urine: light yellow is good, dark yellow means you need to drink more. Mark the bottle with a name, so that no one takes the wrong one on the bench.

5. What should you pack in your bandy bag?

Pack your bag the evening before and use a checklist. The foundation is all protection: helmet with cage, neck guard, which is mandatory in all series, shin guards, gloves, pants and suspenders or groin guard. To that come shin guard covers, base layers and extra warm layers for the bench. Bring skates with skate guards, the stick and preferably a spare stick. Then comes what is often forgotten: Shin Guard Tape PRO for the guards, cloth tape for the blade such as Howies Cloth Tape, Grip Tape for the shaft and wax against snow on the blade. Pack extra skate laces, because a lace that breaks in the middle of the match is difficult to fix on the bench. Also bring scissors, a water bottle and something to eat during the break. If it is very cold, an extra dry base layer for half-time can make a big difference. Keep the small things in your own compartment or a small bag. Howies Hockey Accessory Bag has two compartments, so that tape, laces and wax are kept dry and easy to find. Unpack the bag immediately after the match and let everything dry, so the equipment is ready for next time.

6. How do you get the tape to stay outside on the bandy pitch?

The most important rule is to tape indoors on completely dry equipment. The most common reason tape lets go in bandy is that it is applied to a damp surface, and equipment that has been in a cold car or gotten snow on it is often damper than it looks. Tape in the locker room and let the adhesive have a few minutes to bond before you go out into the cold. Store the tape at room temperature. Cold tape is stiff and bonds worse, so do not let it lie in the car. Choose tape that is made for the cold. Shin Guard Tape PRO has rubber-based adhesive and withstands everything from −10 °C to 80 °C, so it stays on the shin guards even on a cold match day. On the blade, the wax makes a big difference. Howies Hockey Stick Wax makes the cloth tape water-repellent, so that it does not absorb melted water and let go at the edges. Always remove old tape before applying new, because tape on top of tape bonds worse. The whole technique for blade, grip and shin guards is in the guide on taping in bandy.

7. Can you use hockey tape in bandy?

Yes. The tape used in hockey works just as well in bandy, and there is no special “bandy tape” that differs from hockey tape. What differs is how the tape is used and what it must withstand. Cloth tape is used on the bandy stick blade instead of on the hockey stick blade. It gives the ball grip on reception and protects the blade against wear and moisture. Howies Cloth Tape and CCM Cloth Tape both work excellently. Choose black or white, because the blade according to the rules must differ clearly from the color of the ball. The shin guard tape is used in the same way as in hockey, around the shin guard cover and under the knee and above the skate. The biggest difference is the cold. Bandy is often played outdoors, so the tape must withstand sub-zero temperatures and moisture. Therefore, choose tape that withstands the cold, tape indoors on dry equipment and wax the blade. The grip tape is also the same, and with cold gloves it is extra important. If you play both hockey and bandy, you can therefore use the same tape in both sports.

8. How often should you change the tape on the bandy stick?

Retape the blade when the tape is worn, broken or has let go at the edges. For active players, it is often before every match. During training, the same taping can last a few sessions, depending on how much it wears and how wet it gets. New tape gives the same ball feel every time, and many have re-taping of the blade as a fixed part of the match routine. Always remove the old tape completely and let the blade dry before applying new. Tape on top of tape bonds worse, becomes uneven and makes the blade heavier. Also remember that according to the rules the stick can be at most 7 cm wide with the tape included. Finish with wax, so the tape lasts longer. You tape the shin guards before every training and match. This means that a lot of tape is used during a bandy season. The easiest way to never be without is a subscription. With Shin Guard Tape PRO (3-pack) or Howies Cloth Tape (3-pack), you get tape delivered home every other week, every month or every three months.