Hockey worksheet
Hockey Gear Measurement Sheet
A printable hockey worksheet covering helmet, skates, stick, gloves, and pads — with instructions for each measurement and the coverage checks that matter.
Press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac) to print this worksheet or save it as a PDF. The site navigation and links are removed from the printed version automatically.
Measurement fields
How to take each measurement
Take these at home before you shop. Measurements recorded calmly are more accurate than ones taken in a shop with a restless child, and having them written down is what keeps a fitting from turning into an estimate.
- Head circumference
- Soft tape around the widest part of the head, above the eyebrows and ears, kept level. Note whether the helmet needs to accommodate a cage.
- Shoe size
- Current street shoe size. Skates typically run one to one and a half sizes smaller, so this is a starting point only.
- Foot length (cm)
- Heel against a wall, weight on the foot, measure to the longest toe. This is more reliable than shoe size for skate fitting.
- Height in skates
- Measure standing in skates, not shoes — skates add roughly two inches, and stick length depends on this figure.
- Hand size
- Measure from the heel of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. Glove sizes are given in inches.
- Chest
- Around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, for shoulder pad sizing.
- Weight
- Used for protective gear bands and, along with height, for stick flex selection.
- League requirements
- Note whether a neck guard is mandatory, whether a full cage is required, and any HECC certification requirement.
Shopping checklist
Two heights, and they are not the same
This sheet asks for height in skates because stick length depends on it, and skates add roughly two inches. Measuring a stick against a child in shoes is the most common reason a stick that seemed right in the shop plays badly at the rink.
With the player in skates and standing upright, the butt end of the stick should reach between the chin and the nose — nearer the chin for control, nearer the nose for reach. Note that cutting a stick raises its effective flex, so if you plan to cut, buy with that in mind and take an inch at a time.
Skates fit smaller than shoes, and heel lock decides it
Record both shoe size and foot length in centimetres, because skates typically run one to one and a half sizes below street shoe size and the conversion is only a starting point. The measurement that actually matters is foot length; the shoe size just tells you which box to pull off the shelf first.
Fit by heel lock rather than toe room. Laced up, the heel should sit firmly in the pocket with the toes just brushing the cap. Skates bought with growing room let the heel lift, which costs edge control directly and is the equipment error most likely to convince a child they are bad at skating.
Check the kit as a system, not as a list
Hockey protective gear only works if the pieces overlap. The injuries happen at the seams — a forearm exposed between glove cuff and elbow pad, a thigh exposed between pants and shin guard, a bicep exposed under a shoulder pad that rides high.
Once you have everything, dress your child in the full kit and have them move: skating stance, arms overhead, a few squats. Look for skin appearing at the joins. This check catches more problems than measuring each item against a chart in isolation, and it is the step most often skipped when gear is assembled from several sources.
Common questions
How do I print this measurement sheet?
Ctrl+P on Windows or Cmd+P on a Mac, then print or save as PDF. Navigation and link styling are removed from the printed page automatically.
Why does it ask for height in skates?
Because stick length is measured that way and skates add roughly two inches. A stick sized against a child in shoes will play too long on the ice.
Why record both shoe size and foot length?
Skates run about one to one and a half sizes below street shoe size, so shoe size tells you which box to try first. Foot length in centimetres is the more reliable figure for actually choosing the size.
What is the HECC sticker?
A certification sticker on hockey helmets with an expiry date. Most associations will not permit a helmet whose certification has lapsed, so check it on any used helmet — though a valid sticker still tells you nothing about impact history.