Broomball Equipment

Equipment Rating system	A brief Summary	Broomball Shoes
Broomball Stick	Broom-Balls	Broomball Gloves
Knee Pads	Elbow Pads	Helmets
Visors	Broomball Pants	Protection
Blockers	Other Equipment

Equipment Ratings System

Two ratings indicated below are designed to grade equipment based upon their subjective properties of "Performance and Durability". I've tried to be as objective as possible, and eliminate any personal preferences I have for particular equipment. All ratings are my own choice.

Performance

I have six ratings from Useless through to Excellent. The rating is given on the performance of the particular piece of equipment, in isolation from other equipment. The performance takes into consideration such things as handling, control, feel, protection, grip, balance, weight, size etc. All as appropriate to the piece being rated. Some may score highly on one aspect, but fall down in other aspects, which may not score the item as highly as expected.

Useless
Poor
Fair
Adequate
Good
Excellent

Durability

I have six ratings from Useless through to Excellent. The rating is given on the Durability of the particular piece of equipment, in isolation from other equipment. The durability takes into consideration such things as materials used, wear, recovery (from deformation), rot factor (every kept anything in your broomball bag too long ?), fastenings, maintenance, etc. All as appropriate to the piece being tested. So whilst some equipment may be the excellent in one area, it may well fall down in others. All ratings are my own.

Useless
Poor
Fair
Adequate
Good
Excellent

A brief summary

Specially designed Broomball shoes which have about an inch of soft rubber on their sole are the basis for the unique traction on the ice. The ball, of similar material to a basketball, but about 5 inches in diameter. The stick, originally a straw broom, dipped in water, and frozen to provide stiffness, has been progressively replaced over the years with high tech rubber, paddle shaped sticks, with either a wooden or aluminum shaft. Ice Hockey helmets are used to provide protection to the head and temple region and are mandatory. Knee and elbow pads are used to provide protection for these extremities upon contact with the unforgiving ice surface. Some players use padding around the hips and rear, to provide additional cushioning. Protective gloves, less bulky and specifically designed for broomball are worn to provide protection for the fingers and wrists. Genital protection is worn by both male and female players to protect those sensitive regions.

Broomball Shoes.

There are two basic sole types available for Broomball. Indoor and outdoor Either sole type offers good performance on our ice, with the Radial/Spider having the clear edge (indoors). There are now two broomball shoe manufacturers, D-Gel and Forest Ice. D-Gel continue to produce their "Radial" and "Air-O" soled shoes, whilst Forest Ice has purchased the Acton molds and sells the Forest Ice shoes under the "Spider" and Traction banners. The durability of these shoes is perhaps the major problem. Their effective life is about 12 months (of weekly play), after which their effectiveness starts to deteriorate although this will depend on how well you look after them, and how good your ice is. Don't wear them to the car park! Dunlop volleys (an Australian, canvas tennis shoe), offer a cheaper (at $20 a pair) option to broomball shoes, and are nearly as effective, but Broomball shoes offer do offer better traction on the ice, (which are unquestionably better on very wet ice). Broomball shoe sizes are US sizes, but are comparable to our own Australian sizes, so just order the size shoe that you (men's shoe sizes only) require (there are NO half sizes, so choose the larger size).


Indoor

D-Gel Radial - No.884

D-Gel have produced a new shoe. Keeping the same sole styles as before with the Air-O and Radial. The new shoes sport a wider traction area than before and a new spongier rubber. A special 1/4 inch (0.64cm) foam now entirely covers the shoe (sandwiched between the durable covering) which offers a better level of protection than previous models. A nylon toe cap adds additional protection for the toes. Gone are the rubber ankle protectors and a new style of lace up has been used, matching some sneaker style. The lace tabs are a weak point and may deteriorate or break early on in their lifetime. A better solution would be to go back to the eyelets, despite the less sporty look. The sole is stiffer, which has the effect of keeping more of the foot on the ice surface, thereby enhancing traction and is overall a step up from the D-Gel shoes of old.

Forest Ice Spider

The Forest Ice Spider is a canvas upper shoe, that offers superior grip and traction based on the sole, but suffers severely from the lack of durability with the canvas upper, and to be honest, a less stiff sole. The durability of the shoes is perhaps their downfall. A change in colour and a variation in the ankle protection really has not improved these since their last model release.

Dunlop Volleys (Australian Canvas Tennis Shoe)

Volleys offer fair performance, and are excellent value for money. If you are going to buy a pair, the Green tag offer marginally (I mean marginally) better performance than the Blue tag ones. They do not however offer any protection to the toes, ankles or feet. They offer far better traction on wet ice as they do not 'soak' and become water logged. It's possible that they offer better traction on surfaces covered with drifting snow (but I have not tried them, too damn cold), as they don't clog the same as broomball shoes. They are a great alternative if you are playing in a league that does not permit broomball shoes (some intramural teams) (About AUS$20 - similar size to US/Canadian). These as far as I know are only available in Australia, similar shoes in the USA and Canada are canvas deck shoes

Outdoor

D-Gel Air-O

Sole with anti-clogging cups for better traction on outdoor rinks. Designed for surfaces often covered with drifting snow. Offer ankle and toe protection (hard rubber cap for the toes, rubber pad for the ankles). There is some difference on heavily snowed surfaces over the Radial, as they do offer a minor performance improvement. However if you play indoors, even on lightly snowy or scraped surfaces, the Radial is the best choice

Broomball Stick

There are five types of broomball stick available, actually there are about 9 styles I know of, but these are the basic types. Some are just now no longer available.

D-Gel (BDG) Plastic Broom

Flat roughed surface offering a good control of the ball, pre-cut broom angle, polyethylene broom head, but does not offer the control of the rubber headed broom. Most durable of the brooms, dimples on the broom, are hard, and slippery and do not offer the 'grip' of the rubber brooms heavier than rubber head. A good general purpose broom, suitable as a 'club' stick, or for schools and Ice Arena's. Subject only to breakage on the shaft (diam 2.8cm - 1 1/8").

D-Gel Rubber Senior Stick

Rubber head stick, allowing optional trimming of the stick on (make sure that the distance between the chamfer's are 2.5 inches) either side of the blade. Flat roughed surface offering very good control of the ball. Lighter than the plastic head broom, is subject to breakage on the shaft, and to 'tearing" of the rubber, particularly if the blade is not trimmed. But this will be after a considerable amount of punishment (Diam 2.8cm - 1 1/8") probably round a couple of years of weekly play.

D-Gel Rubber Junior Stick

Offering the same features and faults as the Senior broom, but in a much lighter package. This broom is not as strong as the Plastic or Senior broom and is subject to breakage when hit. However, this broom does offer, excellent ball control (due to it's lightness). Head of broom is slightly smaller than the senior model, to cater for the smaller shaft size, this in turn reduces it's weight. However I've played with one of these for several years without breaking it. (diam 2.5cm - 1")

D-Gel Aluminium Broom

The aluminium broom weighted between the Senior & Junior stick, is an alternative for some players. The main difference with the aluminium stick is the weight distribution. Because of the light shaft most of the weight is concentrated in the head of the broom, which balances it differently, not to everyone's taste. The aluminium shaft is strong and will take a reasonable pounding (both dealt & received). However, once bent, although the shaft can be re-straightened, the shaft becomes increasingly easy to bend. A good alternative to the more traditional broom for those not prone to breaking brooms, offering handling on par with the Senior broom.

Forest Ice Junior Broom

The new kid on the block, Forest Ice, have recently introduced some advances in the broom. The stick whilst at a glance is similar to the standard D-Gel stick, has a few subtle changes. Immediately obvious is the shaved shaft, which is shaved on both sides of the stick in line with the plane of the head. The stick is also and is about one inch (2.5cm) longer than a 'standard' broom, this offers better grip on the stick. Another advantage of the shaved shaft is that just by the feel you know if the head is correctly aligned on the ice. Additionally the head of the broom is manufactured of a different compound than either of the D-Gel ones, and falls somewhere between the rubber and the plastic in stiffness. It also has the dimpled surface for 'grip' on the ball, but in addition has a slightly concave surface that has 3 highly beneficial effects. The first being that it is MUCH easier to flip the ball both forehand and backhanded, and much more reliable to do so. Secondly the concave surface means the ball 'sits' better when dribbling the ball. The third effect is on one face of the broom is a small 'circle' bare of any dimples, this allows the ball to slide around the head whilst being pushed along the ice, thereby improving control. The head of the broom is also equally balanced, in that neither side of the broom head is any thicker than the other, so that the broom can be used with either edge of the broom on the ice and therefore can be cut for a left or right handed player. Weight is on par with the D-Gel junior, handling is excellent and is a great alternative. And it's eco green in colour !

Forest Ice Senior Broom

The Senior stick is identical to the Junior, except with the thicker shaft. Weight is on par with the D-Gel senior, handling is excellent and is another great alternative.

Forest Ice Aluminium Broom

This Forest Ice aluminium has all the features of the Senior brooms, other than the shaved shaft. It only has the one weight aluminium shaft. Handling is on par with the Forest Ice Senior broom. It is slightly lighter in weight than the Senior broom, and the weight is distributed differently than a wooden broom. An excellent alternative to the wooden broom.

Future Sport Aluminium Broom

Mick Sletten from Future Sport has released a new broom based on designs from a lacrosse stick and the old straw brooms produced by D-Gel. The design incorporates an octagonal shaft which is very stiff and strong. Probably more so than the traditional Aluminium ones. The shafts are also available in a number of other weights and alloys including Titanium. The head is smaller and chunkier than most other designs, which seems to offer better shooting, but falls off a bit in stick handling and control.

Australian Aluminium Broom

Parties in Canberra and Adelaide (Australia) have been experimenting recently (Due to the costs of importing the brooms, which cost now in the region of $50 a piece) with rebuilding some broken brooms (replacing the wooden handles with aluminium ones). Currently these are not sanctioned for use in South Australia (SA) or at a National or International level. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) however have accepted the use of these re-manufactured brooms in their local competition. Some early testing with some re-manufactured brooms (aluminium handles) was also done in SA, but these have been abandoned after some early trials, whilst satisfactory, they tended to be weaker than commercial aluminium shafts.

Castle Nut Aluminium Broom

This is a re manufactured shaft by Scott Ankeny. They are handmade and come in three different weights as well as your preference of length (subject to USBA Rules). Forest Ice or D-Gel heads are fitted and pinned to the shaft. The shaft is made of a strong (aircraft quality ?) aluminium (we spell it differently here OK :-) tubing. It is stronger (considerably), which may be to the detriment of other sticks. Handling should be on par with the D-Gel or Forest Ice sticks. Note however that some leagues will not allow re-manufactured brooms.

Broom-Balls

There are four types of ball available for varying conditions and uses. There are only two manufacturers (D-Gel & Baden leather ball]), but Forest Ice have one currently being evaluated in some locations.

 

Outdoor

Blue vinyl

 
Rough finish for players who prefer better ball contact & control. Ball remains flexible at lower temperatures, may prove too bouncy for indoor games. They have been designed for outdoor use. The main complaint with these are that they usually break/split around the valve.

Leather Ball

The Baden leather ball is of similar panel construction to a soccer ball. But somewhat smaller. It's a bright orange in colour and seems to be slightly heavier than a (not significantly) D-Gel ball. It has a smooth outer covering that does not offer the stick grip. But it's a great ball for those that are playing a more social style of Broomball. Or where the equipment used is of the more traditional style. It seems to work very well in the colder outdoor temperatures, but is not sanctioned for use in competition by the USBA or the CBF.

Indoor

Orange vinyl

Rough finish for players who prefer better ball contact & control. Ball does not remain as flexible at lower temperatures. Designed for indoor use. The main complaint with these are that they usually break/split around the valve.

Elastomeric/Orange plastic

Very Rough finish, for better control, however, dimples are slippery and not as grippy as the vinyl models. Useful as a practice ball. Can become brittle in colder temperatures, and is not suitable as a match ball. However can be an OK training ball. But does feel different on the stick.

Forest Ice Ball

Currently undergoing trials, and it is expected to be available around August 98.

Broomball Gloves

There are innumerable gloves that can be used for broomball. And in fact there are at least 4 makes that are manufactured specifically for broomball. Having tried all 4 types of Broomball gloves and many others over the years I would not hesitate to recommend the (in no particular order) Forest Ice, D-Gel, Cooper and DR gloves all of which work well for the job they were designed for, Broomball

D-Gel

Strong grey nylon material. Foam padding, soft cowhide leather palm. Wrist velcro adjustment. One size fits all (S - Women's, M - Men's). A relatively durable glove. Recent changes to the glove have meant a more durable palm material has been used and should last a season or two, even if an abrasive gauze is used on the stick grip. The palm has a double leather layer, offering good durability. Offers a cowl over the wrist giving extra protection. However their weakness is still the stitching near the underside of the wrist. Offers good protection, is light and flexible and fits snugly. Relatively cheap and still the best Broomball glove around. Offers wrist protection. Black or black.

DR

Another broomball glove, not as comfortable, but a durable leather. Will last two or more seasons and offers a similar protection to the D-Gel glove. Relatively cheap. Wrist protection is not as good as the D-Gel glove. Green, blue, red or black. One size. Sometimes the leather in the palm will "fold" making the grip very uncomfortable. But they are durable and offer protection similar to the D-Gel.

Cooper/Mylec

Not exactly a broomball glove, actually designed for ringette but interchangeable, and of very similar construction to the D-Gel glove. The palm material, is similar to the D-Gel glove and should last around two seasons if any form of gauze is used on the stick. The palm has a double leather layer, offering good durability. Offers a cowl over the wrist giving extra protection. The glove has a wrap around wrist strap, which can be adjusted to vary the tension on the wrist, unlike the D-Gel glove which just allows easy egress of the hand. The wrist protection is on par with the D-Gel glove. Relatively cheap, offering good protection, and wrist protection. Black, red or blue.

Forest Ice

The Forest Ice glove is similar in construction to the Cooper/Mylec glove. Orange palm leather and a black upper along with the wrap around strap make the two gloves look very similar. The palm material is durable and will last two or more seasons if any gauze is used on the stick. The palm has a double leather layer, offering good durability. Offers a cowl over the wrist giving extra protection. The wrap around wrist protection allows easy egress of the hand and excellent wrist protection

Other Gloves

Roller Hockey

These are (at least all the ones I've seen) relatively cheap, and are sometimes of cheap and nasty construction. They offer similar design to the Broomball gloves above, but many are definitely made of inferior materials. Often cheap nylon/plastic palms they aren't at all durable but some of the better one (look for the NHL label on the glove) offer good quality materials and leather palms. However they are cheap and may suit someone on a budget. But if you want this style, spend the extra on some Broomball gloves or ensure that one of the NHL Roller Hockey gloves is one that you choose.

Ice Hockey gloves

Expensive, durable but stiff, excellent protection. Palm of the glove is of soft leather and is more durable than the broomball gloves. Bulky. Offers protection to the wrist as well. It is possible to buy replacement palm inserts for these gloves, making them a cheaper long term proposition.

Lacrosse gloves

Expensive, durable but stiff, excellent protection. Palm of the glove is of soft leather and is more durable than the broomball gloves. Bulky. Offers protection to the wrist as well. (see Ice Hockey Gloves).

(Snow) Ski gloves

Cheap, very durable, very little protection (knuckle scuffing only). You'll probably wear the internals through, before you wear these gloves out (vinyl type). No wrist protection.

Cricket gloves

Durable, relatively cheap, but stiff, offers very good to excellent protection. Bulky, but not as bad as the Ice hockey or Lacrosse gloves. No wrist protection. And does not offer any protection to your trailing thumb which is left exposed and I've seen resultant injuries.

Field Hockey Gloves

Durable, very cheap, offer no protection to the fingers, and none to the palm of the hand. offer knuckle scraping protection only. Usually of a wet suit material construction they are durable, but offer nothing to broomballers. Useful only if you don't like wearing gloves, but want some knuckle protection.

Golf Gloves

These gloves are relatively cheap (imitation leather style), but you will need to buy two as they are sold singly. Make sure you buy a left and right handed one ! They offer no protection at all and would be a waste of money if not for their exceptional facility to offer grip, even when saturated with sweat. If you don't like wearing gloves, but have trouble with the slippery stick. Put some tape on the stick and forget about these. They offer nothing to broomball.

Baseball Batting Gloves

Durable, cheap, offer minimal protection to the fingers, offer knuckle scraping protection only. Usually have a wrist strap to allow tightening to a comfortable level. But offer no wrist protection.

Soccer Goal Tender Gloves

Durable, cheap, offer minimal protection to the fingers, offer knuckle scraping protection only. Usually have a wrist strap to allow tightening to a comfortable level. But offer no wrist protection. Very similar construction to baseball batting gloves.

Knee Pads

Like gloves, there are innumerable types, styles, sizes and protection levels. Rather than describe makes, here I'll just describe the various styles. There are four main styles. Again within these individuals styles there are various models and sizes offering varying degrees of protection.

Plastic Knee/Shin pads - (Ice Hockey style)

Traditional shin guard, designed with thick felt, strong cotton sling suspends pad off shin, knee cushion. Strong plastic outer Excellent coverage of knee and calf area. Some designs offer excellent protection to the side of the knees. Varying strap styles, or none. Some models offer protection to the top of the foot and to the ankles (in which case this will need to be trimmed off, if the equipment is to be worn underneath the clothes, and it certainly will not fit inside a pair of broomball shoes, broomball shoes offer ankle and toe protection as well, some pads may not fit comfortably over the broomball shoes) Excellent protection. Can be heavy, difficult to strap, subject to movement unless strapped correctly. Often expensive, but very durable. These pads typically last 3 or more years. Often used in conjunction with the foam knee pads to offer additional knee padding. As the padding on these is sometimes deficient/insufficient. Make sure you buy ones that will perform well in cold conditions. And are not already stiff or brittle, these type are usually designed for Motocross. Ensure that the ones you choose are not too heavy as they will triple their weight by the end of the game (or you are just getting old :-).

Plastic knee pads - (Skateboard style)

These pads offer no protection to the shins, purely covering the knee area. The quality and price of these pads varies greatly. Ensure that they will not become brittle in colder temperatures. These pads offer good protection, are of light weight and usually come with a velcro tab to attach them. They will require tape to strap them as they age. Usually last quite a few seasons (if you get the right pair) and maybe as long as the full pads. These pads will leave the shins exposed. But perform well and if used in conjunction with field hockey shin pads, offer protection on par with the full shells.

Shin pads - Field Hockey

There are a couple of styles of field hockey shin pads. These offer no knee protection. But they offer varying degree's of shin protection.
Plastic Wrap around - These shin pads off full length shin protection. They have a plastic shell that is underlaid by a thin foam cushion. They are a plastic shell that is heated, and then formed around the calf molding to shape, they still need to be held in place beneath a pair of socks. They offer reasonable protection and they are light. They may need some taping but that will be an individual preference. Use in conjunction with other knee padding to offer full knee calf protection.
Traditional Field Hockey style - These pads require placement beneath socks or taping, otherwise they will move (no straps). They have a thin vinyl coat over a soft metal plate which follows the shin line. Underneath which is a 1cm foam padding. They offer ankle protection (but the ankle protection will need to be cutoff for broomball shoes) but no knee protection. The protection level is quite good, and are light enough not to impede running. Use with knee protection though.

Shin pads - Soccer

These pads often are nothing more than a thin layer of foam inside a durable covering. Some offer a slightly higher level of protection with the inclusion of ribs either of wood or plastic. They usually are not full shin length (usually half shin height) and are not recommended. You would do better to purchase some field hockey pads if this is the level of protection you require. Or at least use them in conjunction with other pads.

Foam Knee pads

Personally I would not recommend these by themselves, but many a player has and still do wear these with no problems. They offer little protection, are still relatively expensive and may last only a few seasons. However, they are light, easily attached, and must offer some other attractions, as plenty still use them. Ideal for those who don't fall over. If you do use them I would recommend that they only be used as additional padding underneath other pads.

Elbow Pads

The elbow pad comes in two basic styles, the skateboard type, or the foam block type, with every variation in between. These two types offer vastly different protection levels, and consequent price differences.

Vinyl Pad - (Ice hockey Style)

These pads (see photo) are often, nylon covered foam, with thick rubber cushion giving protection to the elbow. These pads usually offer varying degrees of protection to the forearm and often have a plastic insert or shell to offer extra protection to both the point of the elbow, and the forearm. They are durable, and expensive, but offer the highest degree of protection, particularly the pads that have the plastic inserts (Some leagues do not allow plastic shell pads). These pads will last several years without maintenance. They usually come with elastic, velcro straps which allow a reasonable range of adjustment. The selection of the right size with these pads is critical to their effectiveness.

Foam Block Pads

These pads much like the knee pads offer minimal protection, but many a player has and still do wear these with no problems. They are still relatively expensive although cheaper than the vinyl type and may last only a few seasons. However, they are light, easily attached, and must offer some other attractions, as plenty still use them. Ideal for those who don't fall over or have lost all sense of feeling in their elbows.

Plastic Pads - (Skateboard style)

These pads offer a good alternative to the Vinyl style. They are cheaper and offer almost the same protection. They do lack the protection to the forearm, but offer excellent elbow protection. the straps are not as durable as they could be and will wear out well before you're ready to throw them out. The hard plastic outer shell covering the elbow, can in certain models become cracked or brittle, however if the shell is nylon (rather than plastic), they should last extremely well.

Helmets

If you spend five minutes at broomball you will see a variety of helmets types and shapes. Helmets should be at least Standards Association of Australia (SAA) (or the equivalent in your country) approved of which most helmets available are. However not all helmets are designed for the extreme conditions of the ice arena. Amongst these are lacrosse, bicycle, canoeing, football (American), etc. To ensure maximum protection, helmets should be designed with either broomball in mind (yes there is one, but it's not available in Australia, and offers a protection level similar to a rugby helmet - not much) or other ice sports such as hockey, ringette. There are innumerable styles but basically broken into two groups. Those that are easily adjustable in size and fit, and those that aren't. Listed below is a style in each group.

Cooper - SK600

Available in white, black, red, blue, yellow and green. A relatively inexpensive helmet that is very durable. The interior lining a molded foam, has no covering and can come adrift from the helmet. To adjust this helmet requires the removal of several screws, and a relocation of the shell to the appropriate location. The screws then need to be placed back in position and re tightened. These screws also are subject to vibration and often vibrate loose and fall out (tip:- place a strip of cloth tape over the screws on the inside and outside of the helmet & they'll never move again - although they tell me that tape on the outside is illegal in Canada). The strap is not as durable as the leather one, and may need replacing several times over the helmets life (an easy and cheap replacement exercise). The helmet offers excellent protection to the head, and good protection to the ears and temple. However this helmet is much lighter than the XL7 and is a popular choice.

Cooper - XL7

Available in White, red, blue and black. This helmet is very expensive, however it is extremely durable as is the interior lining. It is a heavy helmet compared to many others and this alone may turn many against it. The feature of this helmet is it's extremely easy size adjustment. A simple twist of the 'wings' on the helmets temples while the helmet is worn allows the operator to expand or contract the helmets size (within it's design range) quickly and easily. The helmet offers excellent protection to the head and temple but does not offer the ventilation that many other helmets do. The leather chin strap is strong and equally as durable as the helmet. The interior lining is a molded foam, with a cotton covering that acts as a good moisture absorbent and is extremely durable (mine's not worn through after 10 years). The helmet is extremely durable, mine finally died after 10 years use from a full blooded shot to the head that cracked it in 4 places (and collectors, before you email me with requests, I no longer have the helmet, and I never ever had the original XL7 visor). I've learnt to duck.

Other Helmets

There are many other styles of helmet which are available, such as Bicycle Helmets, canoeing, Lacrosse Helmets, Football Helmets, etc. NONE of which are recommended. They can become brittle in the extremes of the rink, often do not offer temple protection, or offer insufficient protection to the eyes.

Visors

Visors offer protection to the player in a varied number of forms, the clear plastic visor, the wire screen and not used here is the molded face mask (ice hockey style which is not sanctioned for use in broomball). The visor and wire screens come in many styles and sizes and have their own idiosyncrasies. Note: not all helmets will take a visor.

Clear Plastic Visor

These visors come in 3 styles. Full face, 3/4 and half. They allow excellent vision, are light and strong. The half height offers excellent protection for the eyes. The 3/4 offers the excellent protection to the eyes as well as protection to the cheekbones and some protection to the teeth. The full face offers all of the above, plus the additional protection to the jaw and chin. Most full face visors come with a chin block (personal preference if you use it or not), and the straps should see out the life of the visor. The downside of these helmets is the claustrophobia that some may feel when wearing it. The helmets ventilation is a problem to many and they are subject to fogging, although with the right anti-fog, this is not a problem. (Try some soap or detergent smeared across the visor) The visors will gradually deteriorate over a period of time, as they accumulate more scratches. They will last 3 or more years with reasonable care. The visor can be reclaimed to some degree with a good scratch repair solution (some recommend toothpaste, but I have not tried that solution). The cost is on par with the wire helmets. Ensure that your helmet can take a visor (same fix points as the wire models) and that the manufacturer makes a model suited to your helmet. Not all helmets will take a visor, or they will only take specific makes, so DOUBLE check. They require a lot of maintenance to get the best out of them. If you are playing in extreme conditions (below -5C) the visor will ice up from the exhalations, requiring removal of the visor as vision becomes impossible so if you are playing outdoors, then the wire visor is the better option.

Wire Visor

The wire visor offers similar protection to the full face plastic visor. It is stronger, about the same weight and about the same price and has no fogging problems, but does not have as good visibility although that's not all that significant after you have used one for a while. The wire visors come in either white or black grills and a few specific styles (goalies, narrow gauge, wide gauge). No maintenance required, and the straps should last the lifetime of the visor. Check that the grill is too small for the end of a broomball stick to go through on some grills or make sure it's ice hockey style.

Broomball Pants

D-Gel
The pants offer a thin foam block stitched (quilted) down each (outer) side of the legs, from the hips to the lower calfs with a break at the knee, to allow easy knee movement. Additionally there is a block sown into the seat of the pants, to offer some rear protection. They are made of a light, but durable material, and feature a wide white stripe down each leg. The waist band is elastic, with a tie cord, for additional adjustment. If you are a slider, then get the wife/husband, mother/father, or girlfried/boyfriend to sow in some extra knee patches (slightly to the inside of the knee) of a durable leather before you take them out as these will wear through very quickly. Particularly if you play on a resurfaced ice arena or outdoors.
Forest Ice
The pants offer a thin foam block stitched (quilted) down each (outer) side of the legs, from the hips to the lower calfs with a break at the knee, to allow easy knee movement. Additionally there is a block sown into the seat of the pants, to offer some rear protection. They are made of a light, but durable material, the waist band is elastic, with a tie cord, for additional adjustment. If you are a slider, then get the wife/husband, mother/father, or girlfried/boyfriend to sow in some extra knee patches (slightly to the inside of the knee) of a durable leather before you take them out as these will wear through very quickly. Particularly if you play on a resurfaced ice arena or outdoors.
Hydragreen Inc
The pants offer a thin foam block stitched (quilted) down each (outer) side of the legs, from the hips to the lower calfs with a break at the knee, to allow easy knee movement. Additionally there is a block sown into the seat of the pants, to offer some rear protection. They are made of a light, but durable material, and feature a wide white stripe down each leg. The waist band is elastic, with a tie cord, for additional adjustment. If you are a slider, then get the wife/husband, mother/father, or girlfried/boyfriend to sow in some extra knee patches (slightly to the inside of the knee) of a durable leather before you take them out as these will wear through very quickly. Particularly if you play on a resurfaced ice arena or outdoors.

Protection

Protection come in different forms, jock straps, chest plates, cups, boxes, mouth guards etc.

Boxes

Traditional Australian cricket style. A plastic cup that offers genital protection to the player. They just slot in under the underpants. They are durable and comfortable and offer a good level of protection. They come in different quantity cups. They will become brittle and weak over time so they should be replaced every few years. They do not however have and straps or ties to wear out. But they can and do

float

which can be disconcerting and sometimes uncomfortable.

Jock Straps

American style (they come in styles for both male and female, suitably adapted of course), they offer a good level of protection and don't move around too much. They are not used much at all in Australia. The straps and ties will wear out before the cup does and should be replaced fairly frequently. A must for female protection, but males may well prefer the box style.

Chest Plates

Several styles are available. probably the best is the foam plate usually used for goal tenders. It's light (they can be bulky) and can be easily attached. they are ideal for goal tenders but tend to bee too bulky for general play (some leagues prohibit they field use anyway). However there are one or two plate type vests that are available that would suit a female player. You will need to shop around though.

Blockers

A plethora of blockers is available in every colour, shape, size, material, cost and style. Most of these are made for Ice Hockey. There is a style that is used in field hockey, which is a flat glove offering exceptional stopping on the forehand, but does not allow the goal tender to grip the stick, nor does it allow very good backhand/cross body stopping. The more traditional blocker is better suited to Broomball as stick handling is such an essential part of the players game. The blocker is generally a flat or curved plate attached to the back of a glove. Look for a glove that is made of leather (not vinyl as these will not last). Has both good protection on the blocker itself, but also to the fingers and thumbs when the hand is exposed. Additionally check the attachment of the glove itself to the blocker and determine if this is likely to be a weak point, as some will tear at the point of attachment. (Tip: if you have one that has become detached near the palm of the hand, purchase some velcro, wrap it tightly around the blocker, and tape it in, none on the palm though. This will keep the glove remarkably tight, and extend the useful life of the blocker considerably. Check this is allowable in your league though.)

mouth guards

mouth guards come in a couple of styles, usually ones that can be attached to a helmet such as American football style, and some that run free. Most offer the ability to mould them to your personal dental specifications, thereby offering a tight and comfortable fit (ignore those that don't). However not everyone likes them, if you don't then buy a helmet visor with chin/teeth protection. All sorts of colors and styles are available and are recommended if you don't wear a visor (preferred solution). Some come with embedded writing, just make sure it's not offensive or you may spend some time on the bench after smiling at the referee !

Tape

Tape is critical to the way many players play. It prevents if used correctly the movement of pads, or straps legs and ankles together to see out another game. I've used several tapes over the years having long ago settled on a packing tape as the personal favorite. Masking tape is too easy to tear and is not particularly strong when wet (or even dry). Electrical tape is cheap, abundant, and relatively strong, but I find that it stretches too easily, so that pads tight at the start of the game flop helplessly around by half time. Clear packing tape or sticky tape works well, until it comes time to take it off. Never can find those ends. Other than that, in the right width it works well. My personal preference is 1" packing tape. It's strong does not stretch too much, is cheap and the ends are easy to find (sometimes). Cloth tape is also very good, however for weekly use it's just too expensive and is better used for taping the stick or your ankle.

This e-doc was prepared by Kim Shapley of the Broomball Association of South Australia. An E-Mail list ( BROOMS-L ) about Broomball is also available for subscription. Please send any comments and/or suggestions to: broomball@kimshapley.com