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Why do Hockey Players Spit So Much?
Posted onMay 16, 2019 byDan Kent
Ever wondered why hockey players are always spitting, on the bench, on the ice, between shifts, literally everywhere. Wherever you look they seem to be spitting!
The truth is, when you do high-intensity exercise in cold air, saliva and mucus build up making you want to spit more to clear your airways – that’s the main reason hockey players are continuously spitting. Many sportsmen also spit right after drinking water; to quench their thirst but without swallowing too much water that will weigh them down.
Exercise Triggers Mucus Buildup
When you exercise and ramp up your physical exertion, you need to get more and more oxygen to your muscles. Breathing through your mouth causes dry cool air to enter your lungs directly. This leads to more phlegm production and makes you more likely to cough and produce mucus (that needs to be swallowed or spit out).
While in normal circ*mstances a sudden buildup of phlegm might be the sign of an incoming infection of illness, most times mucus buildup during play is as a result of the cold air and exercise.
Spitting out drinks
Ever noticed that players aren’t just spitting, but sometimes squirting out the water they just drunk from the sports bottle?
That’s right, they take a sip and then eject it onto the bench or ice right after – whats the point in that?
I didn’t know the exact answer to this one till I looked into, but it turns out that there is a few reasons.
A study by Gatorade Sports Institute found that “..rinsing your mouth with carbohydrate solution is associated with improved performance in high endurance excerice..”
In other words, players who rinse out their mouth with a sportsdrink (rather than swallow) can improve performance.
When players spit out just water, it’s because they want to hydrate their mouth without taking on excess water and weighing themselves down.
Of course, players aren’t always spitting out their drinks because they do need to replace the serious amount of fluid their seating out each shift – they just don’t want it all!
Final Thoughts
It’s not the nicest of habits, but hockey players like most athletes are no exception, spitting is just like smelling salts – a popular ritual.
Dan Kent
About the author
Growing up in a hockey hotbed (Calgary, Alberta. And yes, I'm an Oiler fan), I decided to put my love and knowledge of the game to work. I started at five and am still playing today into my early 30s. By acquiring Brave Stick Hockey and rebranding it to Big Shot Hockey in 2023, I plan to teach people about this great game and educate them on the best equipment and history of the game. On a career level, I am in finance, running one of the largest financial websites in Canada, Stocktrades.ca.
As an avid hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport and its intricacies, I can provide valuable insights into the intriguing phenomenon of why hockey players seem to spit so much during games. This seemingly ubiquitous habit has its roots in the unique combination of high-intensity exercise and the cold air environment in which hockey is often played.
The primary reason behind hockey players consistently spitting lies in the physiological response to intense physical exertion in chilly conditions. When athletes engage in high-intensity exercise in cold air, saliva and mucus tend to accumulate in their airways. The urge to spit arises as a natural response to clear these airways, facilitating better breathing and oxygen intake during the game.
The article rightly points out that breathing through the mouth, common during strenuous play, introduces dry and cool air directly into the lungs. This, in turn, triggers an increase in phlegm production, leading players to either swallow or expel the excess mucus by spitting.
Furthermore, the article touches on another intriguing aspect—hockey players spitting after drinking water. This behavior is explained by the desire to quench thirst without ingesting excess water that could weigh them down. A study cited from the Gatorade Sports Institute suggests that rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate solution, rather than swallowing it, is associated with improved performance in high-endurance exercise. Therefore, players spitting out water may be a strategic move to enhance their on-ice performance by staying hydrated without compromising agility.
The mention of players occasionally squirting out water they've just drunk is clarified by the idea that they might be using a sports drink for mouth rinsing. This ritual, as per the study, could contribute to improved athletic performance, reinforcing the notion that hockey players are strategic in their habits to optimize their gameplay.
Finally, the author emphasizes that spitting is not merely a hockey-specific habit but rather a common ritual among athletes in various sports. It becomes a form of routine, much like the use of smelling salts, ingrained in the culture of the game.
In conclusion, the article sheds light on the multifaceted reasons behind the prevalent spitting habit among hockey players, delving into the physiological aspects, strategic considerations, and the cultural significance within the sport. My comprehensive knowledge of hockey and its nuances allows me to affirm the accuracy of these insights and provide a deeper understanding of why hockey players exhibit this intriguing behavior on the ice.
