Hockey Goalkeeper Kit for Clubs: Shirt Colour Rules, Sizing and Ordering

The new outfield shirts arrive and everyone looks the part. Then your keeper walks out in a faded smock from three seasons ago, or a borrowed top that matches the opposition, and the umpire sends them off to change before the first centre pass.

Most clubs sort the goalkeeper shirt last. We think it should come first. It's the only shirt in your squad with rules about its colour, it has to fit over a lot of padding, and it's the one shirt you need two of. Get it right at the start and the rest of your kit falls into place around it.

This guide is for the coach, club secretary or kit organiser sorting out the keeper's kit. It covers the protective gear a goalkeeper needs (and where to get it), the colour rules that catch clubs out, how to size a shirt over padding, and how to order goalkeeper shirts that match the rest of your club.

What does a hockey goalkeeper need?

A full hockey goalkeeper kit has two parts: the protective equipment that keeps the keeper safe, and the shirt that goes over the top.

Under the FIH Rules of Hockey, a goalkeeper must wear headgear, leg guards and kickers as a minimum. Most keepers also wear:

• A chest and body protector
• Arm and elbow guards
• Hand protectors (gloves), with the left usually more compact for stick control
• Padded shorts or pants, often with built-in thigh protection
• A throat guard, depending on age group and competition

Protective equipment is a specialist buy, so get your keeper fitted by a hockey retailer. What we make is the part your keeper wears over all of that: a custom goalkeeper shirt in your club design.

The colour rules every club should know

This is where clubs most often get caught out. Rule 4.3 of the FIH Rules of Hockey says goalkeepers must wear a shirt that is a different colour from both teams, and that it must be worn over any upper body protection. Elbow protection is the only exception and doesn't need to be covered.

In practice, that means three things:

• Your keeper can't wear your outfield colours. If your club plays in navy, a navy goalkeeper shirt isn't allowed, however good it looks.
• Your keeper can't match the opposition either. A bright yellow GK shirt is perfect until you meet a club that plays in yellow.
• The shirt goes on the outside. Chest and arm padding must sit underneath, so the shirt has to be big enough to fit over the top.

Some teams choose to play without a goalkeeper and use only field players, which the rules allow. Those players wear normal outfield kit and can't wear protective headgear, except a face mask when defending a penalty corner or stroke. Leagues set their own rules on this, so check yours.

Why the keeper's shirt should come first

Pick your outfield colours first and you may find there's no good goalkeeper colour left. A club in red and black at home and white away has already ruled out three colours before thinking about the teams in its league.

Flip the order and it gets easier:

1. List the colours you can't use: your home kit, your away kit, and the kits of the teams you play most often.
2. Choose two bright goalkeeper colours that avoid all of them.
3. Build your outfield design knowing the keeper's shirts will work with it.

It takes ten minutes at the design stage and saves a season of borrowed bibs.

Getting the fit right over padding

A goalkeeper shirt that fits perfectly on its own will be far too tight over a chest protector and arm guards. A shirt that's too tight rides up, restricts movement and can leave padding showing, which the rules don't allow.

• Size up. Choose one or two sizes above the keeper's normal shirt size, depending on how bulky their padding is.
• Try it over the kit. If you can, measure your keeper wearing their chest protector, or ask them to try a sample shirt over full padding.
• Go long sleeve. Long sleeves cover arm guards neatly and look sharper than padding poking out of short sleeves.
• Think about movement. Your keeper needs to spread wide, dive and get up quickly. Shoulders and sleeves shouldn't pull when their arms are stretched out.
• Juniors grow fast. For junior keepers, allow extra room so the shirt fits over padding now and lasts the season.

Goalkeeper shirts from My Club Group

We make custom hockey goalkeeper shirts at the same price as our outfield shirts, with your club crest, sponsor logos, names and numbers all included.

Prices per item, excluding VAT.

Because the shirts are fully sublimated, your design is part of the fabric rather than printed on top. That means no cracking and no fading, even after a season of diving around on a wet water-based pitch.

Your keeper can look like part of the team while still following the colour rule. Use the same design, crest and sponsor placement as your outfield kit in a contrasting colour, and the whole squad looks like one club.

Design ideas for goalkeeper shirts

• Mirror your outfield design in a bright contrasting colour, so the keeper is clearly part of the same club.
• Keep it bold and simple. Strong, bright colours are easiest for umpires and teammates to pick out at a glance.
• Put the number on the back and sleeve, where it's still visible over padding.
• Keep sponsor logos clear of seams and heavily padded areas, where they can distort.

Our guide to designing a custom goalkeeper kit was written for football, but the same design principles work just as well for hockey.

How to order hockey goalkeeper kit

1. Start with the goalkeeper shirts. Use our free online kit builder or work with our in-house designers. Pick your two goalkeeper colours, then design your outfield kit around them.

2. Check the sizes. Size up for padding, and go long sleeve if your keeper wears arm guards.

3. Place your order. Your first order has a minimum of 5 items, so goalkeeper shirts can go in with your outfield kit. After that, there's no minimum.

4. Top up any time. New keeper this season? Reorder through the Client Portal in the same design, with no minimum.

Hockey kit takes about 5 to 6 weeks from design sign-off to delivery, so order your goalkeeper shirts well ahead of the fixture you need them for. For the full picture on outfield kit, see our custom hockey kit guide.

FAQs

What colour does a hockey goalkeeper have to wear?

A hockey goalkeeper must wear a shirt that's a different colour from both teams' shirts, under Rule 4.3 of the FIH Rules of Hockey. Many clubs keep two goalkeeper shirts in contrasting bright colours so one always works, whoever they play.

How many goalkeeper shirts should a club order?

At least two per keeper, in two contrasting colours. That way you're covered against any opposition kit. Clubs with junior sections often keep a spare set in each colour for new keepers.

What protective equipment must a hockey goalkeeper wear?

At least headgear, leg guards and kickers. Most goalkeepers also wear a body protector, arm and elbow guards, hand protectors and padded shorts. Check your league's rules for age groups, as some require extra protection such as a throat guard.

Does the goalkeeper shirt go over the padding?

Yes. The rules say the goalkeeper's shirt must be worn over any upper body protection. Elbow protection is the only exception. Size up so the shirt fits comfortably over the padding.

Can a hockey team play without a goalkeeper?

Under the FIH rules, a team can play with only field players instead of a goalkeeper. Those players wear normal outfield kit. Leagues and age groups can set their own rules, so check before you try it.

How much does a custom hockey goalkeeper shirt cost?

At My Club Group, goalkeeper shirts cost the same as our hockey shirts: £19.50 for short sleeve and £21.50 for long sleeve, excluding VAT, with your crest, sponsors, name and number included.