ENG 3E/4E

“Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting.” --George Orwell

 When coaches respond to penalties and violent hits with silence, they are really communicating something  London Knights are high school kids that have adults cheering them on solely for their enjoyment  Think about it: would you encourage a child to fight another on the playground just so you could watch? Didn’t think so.

 Kids are taught that violence in different contexts actually means different things:  Violence is entertainment (sports)  Violence is admired (sports)  Violence is necessary (war)  Violence is bad (attacks, bullying)  Violence is punishment (both to punish another, and to be punished for actions)

“When you lose control of your emotions, when your self-discipline breaks down, your judgment and common sense suffer” --John Wooded, Basketball coach for UCLA

 Don Cherry on Coach’s Corner essentially shows a highlight reel of hockey fights and violence; what is the “reel” message?  The “reel” message is to showcase violence that took place in the hockey game  Violence will probably always be in the game, but does it need to be a “part” of the game?  Example: 2010 Olympic Gold Medal Game Canada vs. USA=ANY FIGHTS? This was an incredible game of hockey that had virtually NO violence! Were any viewers disappointed, other than Americans?

 Concussions are brain injuries and are not to be taken lightly  Brain injuries are sustained in contact sports due to hits to the head, neck, or back (spine)  The only cure of a concussion or a brain injury in sports: prevention and enforcement of rules/regulations

 Damage to the brain and spinal cord can rarely be repaired. Life after a brain or spinal cord injury is never the same  Injury is the leading killer of Canadian children and youth. 50 % of all deaths from injury are from brain injuries  30 % of all traumatic brain injuries are sustained by children and youth, many of them while participating in sports and recreational activities  Each severe brain injury costs our medical system over $400,000 at the time of injury. Costs remain approximately the same each year following the incident due to indirect expenses and follow-up treatment  Although catastrophic brain injuries in sports and recreation can affect anyone, boys/men are affected four times as frequently as girls/women

 Remember: Most crashes aren’t accidents, but predictable, preventable events. Change the way you speak about these events to change social perception  Encourage others to be active, but ensure they get proper training, make smart decisions, and are able to effectively navigate risks  Be a role model: it is important to model safe, responsible behaviours like encouraging the “game” and skills, rather than encouraging fights and violence in sports. At the end of the day it is a hockey game, not a hockey fight. No one gets a goal from fighting.

 See attached handouts for tips to prevent injuries in organized, contact sports