Special Boot For Hockey

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 13

Special Boot For Hockey

'M’EW ZEALAND hockey players have always had to buy football boots for playing hockey and players have been at a disadvantage as a result when playing overseas teams. In recent years much hockey has been played on summer grounds, and the heavy football boot has proved a considerable handicap to players. In 1955 the manager of the Indian team that toured New Zealand recommended the introduction of summer hockey. Preparation for and competition in the Olympic Games in November, 1956, necessitated much play on the harder summer surfaces. This year the Pakistan Olympic team is touring New Zealand in April, and summer rather than the usual winter hockey will be played. Weight The ordinary football boot with its hard toe, stout upper, and long sprigs is too heavy and cumbersome for hockey, especially the fast type of play the hard, smooth surfaces will make possible against the Pakistanis. Gym shoes will not hold on green grass and rubber boots are heavier than leather boots. A mixture of these can be seen at present at hockey practices and matches held all over the country in preparation for the Pakistan visit, and players and coaches are far from satisfied. Some months ago the New Zealand Hockey Association took up the problem with a Christchurch firm, and a special boot was built for trial at the national coaching school in Masterton on February 1 and 2. The surfaces in Masterton were hard and fast, and it

was found that the sprigs would have to be modified. This was done, and the boots were worn by different New Zealand players during the national trials, again at Masterton at the week-end March 1 and 2.

Use In Test It was generally decided that this new boot is at last the answer. An order was placed immediately for every player in the New Zealand team, and these boots will be available when the players report for the last coaching period on April 4 at Lincoln College before the first test in Christchurch on April 12. The new boot is considerably lighter than the ordinary football boot. The hard toe is eliminated and the upper is cut down almost to a shoe. There are side loops and a back loop for the laces to go round just below the ankle and hold the boot tightly to the foot.

Lighter material is used throughout and the sole is thinner, although it has a stiffener to prevent the sprigs from pushing back. Plastic, aluminium, and rubber sprigs were experimented with, and the rubber, pared down to suit the harder ground, has been chosen. The whole boot is strongly built and should stand up to the hard surface play just as well as the old football boot. It will be ideal, with longer sprigs, for winter play. Players will now be able to move faster, turn more quickly, and pull up without fear of slipping, and hockey generally throughout this country should improve as a result.