Playing without padded shorts!!!

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[garli]

2 words ur skrewd

There's two words in this post?   

[Jay]

I played without padded shorts for a couple of trainning sessions..... Then Niall Stott hit me in the thigh. OUCH!!!!


Lets just say i always wear them now, even upgraded to OBO Robo hot pants.

[Grim_D]

Interesting theory that ties in with the modern concept of lowering protection in games to maximise speed of movement and reaction, in order to gain advantage over the  speed of the game, for shot stopping. The last time I played without shorts was as a junior in knock-about games when the club had no shorts. I felt unhindered ; shots weren't exactly great standard so never got hurt!

Although not a topic from this forum, this is a fairly interesting discussion (pages 3 - 4 especially):
http://www.talkinghockey.net/index.php?topic=414.45


As for American football shorts, they look ok, but don't fulfil the exact requirements. They've got padding round the lower leg, but would leave the upper thighs/groin area exposed. As has been said, they're designed for high impact knocks, so may stand up to lower level shots ok.

http://www.americansportsuk.co.uk/listproducts.asp?subtypid=6&subtypdesc=Protection&prodtypdesc=AMERICAN%20FOOTBALL&prodtypid=1

What about lacrosse shorts?

Lax goalies face up to 75mph shots (90 + at the top levels) and sometimes get hit in the thighs. Bruises are seen as a badge of honour; not sure what a lacrosse ball is like though...

Most of them don't actually bother with shorts, as they play a reflex type style based on making active saves with the stick, rather than ever making simple blocks. However, hard shots can actually calcify (with a calcium deposit making a 'stone' lump. The shorts have thin padding with potentially great movement. Box lacrosse (the indoor version with a tighter style of play) would have greater protection levels due to the nature of shots, but not sure how the movement would be.

Some of the lax goalie shorts actually look pretty good (seems that the main stockists don't actually have player's shorts):

http://www.lacrossemonkey.com/stx-lacrosse-goal-protectors-deluxe-gp-07.html

Interesting thread on this lacrosse forum topic:
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=140311


There's also cricket shots. Given that cricket players do face hard and high speed balls on a regular basis they could be ok for protection, however I'm not sure about movement and you wouldn't want a short that bunches up if you're looking for greater movement.

The shorts themselves have thigh inserts. You would have to customise them, as they have more protection on the inside leg when set in the batting stance. So you would need two of a right leg if wearing a pair designed for a left hand stance. The padding itself goes round the curvature of the leg, so you'd have to bring it across to cover the middle of your leg...

I think Tim Jessulat (Der Club an der Alster) does not wear any padded shorts even though he faces top players.

Having watched him on the EHL highlights, he defintely doesn't wear padded shorts - looks like he just wears a pair of baggy basketball shorts. Had interesting technique to cover his upper legs when sliding out; bringing his pads up to cover the thighs. Would be interested to know how much extra movement he gets: looks like he got more spring when shuffling around and got extra stretch with full splits, without the interference/weight and baggage of padded shorts.

This is certainly not the case with thigh protection. Your legs are simply not quick enough to get your leg guard up to cover in time.

Theoretically, I think it would be about bringing your glove down in front of the thigh to cover.

I think the hips would be the most important area to protect. A shot off the hip could cause shattering/a break. Maybe wear something with dense padded foam at the hips to protect them. Then there's landing on the hips if your diving technique involves that. The Obo shorts designed for cricket have a feature for that:




How about customising a pair of shorts to suit your needs for protection?? Possibly get a pair of normal or compression shorts and then sew some thigh guards (possibly cut to size) in the places you think need protecting, which should provide you with optimum protection and medium between movement. Both cricket and american football producers make individual thigh pads that you can insert into shorts.

Lots of ideas to try out, which would need someone crazy enough to test!!

[garli]

Lacrosse balls are rubber, but also not hollow.  They sting way worse and also tend to hit you much faster then hockey balls.

[Grim_D]

Lacrosse balls are rubber, but also not hollow.

Thanks for the info Garli; but which ball (lacrosse or hockey) do you think would do more damage?

He is a top keeper and can therefore do as he pleases.  But one thing is for sure - if he sustains a preventable (preventable by wearing padded shorts) injury that will keep him out the game for half a season his coach will be severely ****ed off.

At the higher levels most shots are going to be raised, unless they're tipped plays or slap shots from passes. If you're facing drag flicks aimed at the top of the net, on a regular basis, then you're not going to be hit in the leg! It therefore may be a risk worth taking for the extra movement around the D, to get rid of the padded shorts. However, like you said, you're in trouble (injury wise and putting your team in a tight spot) if you ever end up getting hit where you're left exposed.

[floz]

I suppose if you wanted to experiament then you could get two cricket inner thight pads, one left, one right handed and wear then at the same time.... then you could add a left and right handed thigh pad as well if you wanted some front quad protection.

I'm a cricketer too... you would need to shop around the "shorts" are OK but they don't tend to have the best protection and limit cutomisation... on the other hand, speparate thigh pads tend to be really bulky, which defeats the point. Gray Niccolls do foam wrap-around ones in the ultimate range. they would take the sting out of most hits. Mind you even the most protective arrangements are going to have huge gaps.... with cricket you know exactly where a player will get hit, the technique is very prescriptive, also most of the blows will be glancing. In hockey niether of these will be true!

Personally if you want light and flexible, get the Old OBO yahoo/OGO shorts they just have a sheet of foam in each leg and weight nothing... might be worth customising with some larger inner thigh pannels...and perhaps cutting the crotch for fit! Still have them in my parents garage I think!

F

[AndyGaut]

Without F'ing and Jeffing on this forum!

It is the most ridiculos idea to take away protection for the sake of taking it away. Its not hard its not clever. There ARE impressional people on here that would do this and get really hurt!

Lets look at just a few cons shall we:

1. Balls can easily screw up the blood flow in your legs, creating untold damage!
2. Over exposure of the knee area can well you see where this one is going.
3. Say your box moves cos its not quite as tight as it should be, no shorts to have a fall back to take the punishment. Therefore have a third or just one testicle or ladies having big problems down there too.
4. Get hit in the hips so under 25 and having a hip replacement sound good?
5. Body armour moves kidney shot very much ouch!

Some of these are extreme situations but still no less likely by taking your shorts away. I bet our resident internations have never entertained the idea of going up against the best and fastest shots in the world with no shorts on.

I am an advocate of "Going Dutch" in certain types of games even tho starting to rethink that too, I'd never NEVER let a keeper under my supervision or one that I can talk to, to do it. Especially if they are under 18


This could quite possibly be my longest post so sorry for putting you through this but its something I feel very strongly about. 

[garli]

Grim, not sure.  I know lax balls sting much worse when they first hit you, but I'm sure it's 100% dependent on how fast they are going when they hit your skin and where they hit you.

[Grim_D]

There ARE impressional people on here that would do this and get really hurt!
I'd never NEVER let a keeper under my supervision or one that I can talk to, to do it. Especially if they are under 18

Honestly sorry  if this is the case and hopefully no-one's been wrongly influenced; don't want anyone to get themselves messed up trying this! Completely understand where you're coming from. If you're not old enough to understand fully the risks you are undertaking, then you shouldn't be putting yourself in danger. All the cons you've outlined are all correct and medical reasons to put people off!

Was purely discussing the concepts surrounding the idea, plus the top keepers doing it. There's theory and then there's putting it into practice!

I personally wouldn't go without shorts as I do go down on the play and often block with my shorts. If you're interested in gaining a slighter edge with movement and don't block with the legs then it's something they may consider. Like you say, going Dutch has its reasons, but you wouldn't see purely reflex keepers like Fransisco Cortes going without padded shorts...

I know lax balls sting much worse when they first hit you, but I'm sure it's 100% dependent on how fast they are going when they hit your skin and where they hit you

Thanks. I know a hard shot to an unprotected arm could break it; are there any lacrosse goalies/players that have had fractures?

[garli]

Not that I know of, but I never played that seriously. 

I do know a girl who was playing goalie and got a concussion when the ball rebounded from the cross bar on the goal and hit her right under where her helmet was sitting on her neck.

[Frenchy]

i saw a gryphon short who looks good and facilitate your movement. may be can be solution ??

[DoubleR]

Finding myself agreeing with Andy G in terms of whether its a wise move or not. 

With modern stick technology you have poor standard players able to *sometimes* hit the ball very hard and lifted, making goalies at all levels require decent protection.

If your shorts are hindering your movement you may be wearing the wrong size or wrong type for the way your body is shaped or the way you like to move.  Not everybody has the luxury to be able to buy their own kit so it may be a case of swapping bits around your club/ school kitbags to make sure everyone has the right fit.  I used to do this at school and found all kinds of wonderful stuff hidden away in cupboards!  I even ended up keeping a forgotten Cooper girdle and using as my own for 2yrs until I could afford my own!

Girdle style shorts suit my body shape best.  My Monarch girdle was too big (now capably worn by Snoody who must be a slightly taller chap than myself!) so I bought a TK GX1 at a reasonable price and in medium size and hey-presto, my movement is unhindered and the proteciton is great!  Everyone's a winner.   

[bigpez5]

Cricket shorts are dire! if youve ever copped a fast bowlers delivery on the thigh then you'll know what i mean!
Also the only padding on those is on one outer thigh and the opposite inner thigh, and running in them is quite cumbersome as they arent very well designed with a large range of movement, which a goalkeeper needs, in mind

[silky]

Shorts hardly restrict movement and there is little to gain from getting rid of them...just make sure you wear them high enough so they don't infringe on your LGs and your fine! Don't get rid of them and tbh it isn't really even worth discussing the idea.

[YoungKeeps]

After the injuries that my (male) friend has had playing in goal without wearing shorts, i always wear shorts- i can't believe some people are so stupid not to (including my mate) I don't want to even talk about the injuries he has had when he hasn't been wearing padded shorts.