The changing room was humming with the usual pre-match energy, stick tape being wrapped, shin pads being adjusted, and nervous jokes being traded. I was in the middle of my warm-up routine when Sarah, one of our newer players, asked the question that had clearly been on her mind: "Should I be wearing a mouthguard?"
I cast my eyes around. About half the team already had them. The other half, like Sarah, were either unbothered or genuinely uncertain. It's a conversation I've had dozens of times over the years with teammates, parents on the sideline, and young players just starting out.
Sarah had seen our centre-back leave the pitch two weeks earlier with blood streaming from her mouth after a deflected ball caught her square in the face. Nothing serious, a cut lip, but enough to make you think twice. "Is it actually required?" she asked. "Or is it just one of those things people do?"
Do You Need a Mouthguard for Hockey?
I told Sarah that for kids in school or junior clubs, mouthguards are usually required. In adult leagues like ours, they're optional, but I always recommend wearing one. It depends on your club, your league, and your coach's commitment to safety.
School matches have different rules from club leagues. Some clubs require mouthguards, while others leave it up to you. No wonder Sarah was confused; the rules aren't the same everywhere.
What I've learned is this: the real question isn't 'do I have to wear one?' It's 'do I want to risk it?'
Are Mouthguards Mandatory in Hockey?
Before the match, I pulled up the England Hockey website on my phone to show Sarah the official line. According to their safety guidance, mouthguards are "strongly recommended" but not compulsory at the national level.
But that's just the national rule. Our club, like a lot of others, goes further. Under 18s have to wear mouthguards. For adults, it's optional, but our insurance 'strongly encourages' it. That usually means if you get hurt without one, your claim might not go far.
Sarah brought up that her daughter plays at school, and I wasn't surprised to hear that mouthguards are required there without exception. Schools don't mess about with safety equipment, and for good reason, duty of care is taken seriously when you're responsible for other people's children.
Why Wear a Mouthguard for Hockey?
During warm-up, I watched our forwards' shooting. The ball was flying, maybe not full speed, but still fast enough to make you think. A drag flick can go over 100 mph. Even a simple clearance can get moving on a hard pitch.
I pointed this out to Sarah while we were stretching. "That's the thing with hockey," I said. "It's not a contact sport like rugby, but the ball's hard, the sticks are solid, and everyone's moving at pace. You don't need someone to hit you deliberately for things to go wrong."
She'd seen it herself. Two weeks ago, our centre-back had been defending a short corner, the exact situation where things tend to get messy. Multiple players crowded around the goal, sticks raised, a ball being hammered towards the net. The shot was blocked, deflected, and caught her clean in the mouth. She was wearing a mouthguard, thankfully, so it was just a cut lip and a chipped tooth. Without it, she'd have been looking at far worse.
It's not just short corners. Sticks get raised by accident during aerials. You might catch an elbow in a crowded midfield. Someone misses a tackle, and their stick comes up. Hockey is full of these moments, unplanned, unpredictable, and painful.
What Injuries Do Mouthguards Prevent in Hockey?
I've seen enough to know it's not pretty. Chipped teeth are common; half our team has had one. Knocked-out teeth are less common, but they happen. I saw a teammate lose a front tooth in a league match a few years ago. The emergency dental work was expensive, and the fix took months. She wears a mouthguard now.
It's not just your teeth. Your lips, tongue, and cheeks are at risk too. A hit to the face can make your own teeth do the damage. I've seen players need stitches inside their mouth from this. A mouthguard helps stop most of that.
You also have to think about your jaw. A mouthguard won't stop a bad fracture, but it can absorb some of the impact.
What Type of Mouthguard Is Best for Hockey?
After the match, we won 3–1, and Sarah played well. We ended up talking about mouthguards in the car park. She’d decided she wanted one, but wasn’t sure where to start. I told her what I wish someone had told me when I first started playing.
I told her to look for three things: fit, protection, and comfort. If it doesn't fit, you won't wear it, or you'll keep messing with it, and that's when injuries happen. If it's bulky or uncomfortable, it's hard to breathe or talk, so you end up taking it out.
She asked if I had any recommendations, particularly since she was considering organising something for her daughter’s school team. I mentioned OPRO’s Instant Custom-Fit mouthguards, professional-level protection you fit at home. Secure fit, proper protection, and comfort.
I also mentioned OPRO’s long-standing link with the top of the game. They are an official mouthguard supplier to England and GB Hockey, and they even do a GB Hockey Instant Custom-Fit version.
“Have a look and see if OPRO already have your daughter’s school design,” I said. “They’ve got our club one, you can order them with the logo on.” Then I showed her mine.
When Should You Wear a Mouthguard for Hockey?
It's a good question. The answer is simple: wear a mouthguard every time. If there's a stick and a ball, put it in. The ball isn't slower just because it's training, and accidents can happen any day.
Training is just as risky. Opposed drills, short corners, crowded sessions, deflections, slips, mis-hits, a raised stick, or a bad bounce; these are when most injuries happen. Usually when no one expects it.
For juniors, I’d say it’s non-negotiable. Kids are still learning positional awareness and control, and accidental collisions happen constantly. That’s why so many junior clubs now require mouthguards, and I think that’s exactly right.
At the school level, it really is mandatory in most places, and rightly so. Schools have a duty of care, and the calculation is clear-cut. The minor hassle of wearing a mouthguard is nothing compared to the cost, pain, and long-term fallout of a dental injury.
For adults, some people think it's a personal choice. But the logic is the same. If you're on the pitch, wear a mouthguard. In training, wear it. Near short corners or crowded play, definitely wear it.
A coach once told me, “You can play without a mouthguard. But if something happens, you’ll wish you hadn’t.” It’s stuck with me ever since.
Bottom line: mouthguards aren't required by law, but they're strongly recommended. The risks are real, the injuries can be avoided, and a mouthguard costs a lot less than dental work. Whether you're a junior, a weekend player, or a parent, it's your choice, but make it a smart one.
About the Author
Alex Harper is a club hockey player and coach with over 15 years' experience in the sport, having played at school, university, and league level across the UK. Having witnessed countless preventable injuries on the pitch, Alex is passionate about player safety and helping newcomers to the game make informed decisions about protective equipment.
