Field Hockey Mouthguards

Quick answer: in field hockey, the ball is hard and fast, and sticks come up to face height on hits and deflections. A mouthguard is strongly recommended at every level and compulsory in many youth categories: check the rules of your federation or league. Choose a stable model that lets you talk and breathe for the whole match. A boil-and-bite model is fine for junior hockey school; a custom-fit model is better for regular players and competitors.

In this guide

1. Ball, stick and corners
2. Rules and young players
3. Talking on the pitch
4. Choosing by level
5. Care and checks

Hard ball, raised sticks and corners

A field hockey ball is solid and hard, and can exceed 100 km/h on a hit. A deflection off a foot or a stick, a bounce on an uneven pitch or a mid-height shot in the circle is enough for it to reach the mouth. Sticks, meanwhile, come up on hits, tackles and duels, and a stick to the face remains one of the most common accidents.

Defenders running out on a short corner wear a mask, but it is only used for that set piece and does not cover the mouth from the inside. The mouthguard, or gum shield, remains the only protection for the teeth during open play. It separates the arches, cushions the shock and protects the lips from the teeth.

Rules, youth categories and competition

Wearing a mouthguard is strongly recommended by hockey’s governing bodies and made compulsory in many youth categories, in league play and tournaments alike. Requirements depend on the federation, the league and the age category: read the current version of the rules of the French Hockey Federation or of your organiser, and ask the coach what is checked before a match.

In children and teenagers, growth and erupting teeth quickly make a mouthguard unsuitable. Check the fit at the start of every season and after any dental change. With orthodontic braces, ask the orthodontist for advice before choosing the type of protection.

Talking, breathing and lasting sixty minutes

Field hockey is played with constant communication: calling for the ball, calling marks, instructions from the goalkeeper. A thick or unstable mouthguard gets in the way of speech and pushes players to keep it in their hand or in their sock, which makes it useless. Look for a slim model that stays on the upper arch with your mouth open, without having to clench your teeth.

Breathing through the mouth matters just as much during repeated high-intensity runs. Test the guard in real conditions: a small-sided game with instructions called out loud, then some sprints. If you have to push it back into place at every stoppage, the fit is not good enough.

Boil-and-bite or custom-fit, depending on your level

For junior hockey school, recreational play or a first season, a carefully moulded boil-and-bite mouthguard (thermoformable, moulded at home in hot water) offers decent protection at a low price. Follow the instructions, let it cool and check the retention before the next training session. A remouldable model should only be remoulded according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For regular players, goalkeepers outside set pieces and competitors, a custom-fit mouthguard made from a dental impression gives a precise fit, a slimmer profile for talking and controlled thickness at the front. At Proteksports, generally allow 5–10 days after your impression has been approved: plan ahead of the restart of the league season. Clubs can equip a whole age group in club colours through the club offer.

Care, transport and replacement

Between matches, rinse the mouthguard in cold water, let it dry and store it in its ventilated case rather than at the bottom of the bag with the shin pads. Avoid leaving it in a car in the sun: heat can deform it. A deformed boil-and-bite model should not be corrected at random.

Check the surface after a ball or stick impact. A model that is split, has been bitten through or no longer stays in place must be replaced. For indoor hockey or play on ice, the ice hockey guide covers how it works with the helmet and cage.

Fit, care and ordering

The steps common to all sports are in the instructions and the comparison.

In field hockey, check whether it is compulsory in your category, then test the model while talking and running before the first match.