1. Body-Checking vs Body-Contact in Peewee Hockey May/June, 2011

2. How Did This Discussion Start? Squirt & Peewee practices @ ADM Regional Manager’s Meeting – 12/09 “Risk of Injury Associated With Body Checking Among Youth Ice Hockey Players” study by Dr. Carolyn Emery – 6/10 Body-Checking sub-committee appointed by USAH’s Player Development Committee @ Annual Congress – 6/10 World Hockey Summit in Toronto - 8/10 Mayo Clinic’s “Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion” – 10/10

3. Player Development Committee’s Body-Checking Sub-Committee Bill Hall – Chair Roger Grillo Al MacInnis Bob Mancini Mike Milbury Jim Smith Dr. Michael Stuart Kevin McLaughlin

4. Two Primary Reasons For Discussion #1 Reason - Player Development Sports Science tells us that 9-12 yrs old is the ‘Optimal Window of Skill Acquisition’ Two more years of hockey development Two more years of cognitive development Two more years of physical maturation

5. Two Primary Reasons for Discussion #2 Reason - Player Safety/ Research Results “Among 11 - 12 yr old ice hockey players, playing in a league in which body-checking is permitted compared with playing in a league in which body-checking is not permitted was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of all game-related injuries and the categories of concussion, severe injury, and severe concussion”. From the research study by Carolyn Emery, ‘Risk of Injury Associated with Body Checking Among Youth Ice Hockey Players’

6. Playing Rule Proposal Introduce full, legal body-checking in Bantam games (instead of peewees)

7. Playing Rule Proposal Progressively increase body contact from Mites to Squirts to Peewees to Bantams –Mites: Cross-ice = less space & more collisions –Squirts: practices with more small area competitive games & stations; games with more body-contact

8. Playing Rule Proposal Progressively increase body contact from Mites to Squirts to Peewees to Bantams (cont.) –Peewees: teach increased body- contact & full-body checking in practice & dry-land training (like earning driver’s permit & then your license) More coach education & player instruction –Coach education: age specific modules

9. Dr. Stephen Norris – Director of High Performance Programs for Sport Canada

10. Definition of Legal Body Contact “Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.”

11. When A Penalty Should NOT Be Called Player establishes body position between the puck and the opponent using skating ability, balance or strength Player maintains his/her established skating lane Player angles the opponent into an opening too small

12. When A Penalty Should NOT Be Called When incidental contact occurs as a result of playing the puck A defensive player in front of his net may use his body position & strength to gain an advantageous body position on his opponent as long as he doesn’t use his arms or stick to create space or impede an opponents ability to move in a desired direction

13. Legal: Angling/ Bumping

15. Legal: D-Man Plays Puck-Carrier

16. Legal: Contact Along Boards

17. Legal: Net Front Play

18. When A Penalty Should Be Called Player intentionally plays the body with no intent to play the puck Player uses hips, shoulder or arms in a violent or intimidating manner to knock another player off their skates, run them over or intimidate Player leaves established skating lane to play the body instead of the puck Player ‘finishes the check’ after playing the puck

19. Illegal: No Attempt to Play Puck

21. Illegal: Net Front Play

22. Illegal: Finishing Your Check

23. Definition of Legal Body Contact “Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.”

24. 2 Primary Reasons For Discussion #1 Reason - Player Development –Two more years to capitalize on the ‘Optimal Window of Skill Acquisition’ #2 Reason - Player Safety/ Research Results –Severe injuries & severe concussions are 3 times more likely in checking leagues than non-checking leagues

25. The Mayo Clinic’s Concussion Symposium The 11 year old brain cannot anticipate being hit while trying to skate and carry the puck The 11 year old brain is more susceptible to suffering a concussion The 11 year old brain is more susceptible to long-term damage if it is concussed

26. Rule Proposal Objective Provide six years of coach education & quality player instruction (mite – peewee) to safely give and receive body-checks (like a driver’s permit) before we introduce full, legal body-checking in Bantam games Increase body contact in Mites, Squirts & Peewees

27. Training Coaches New CEP materials –On-line modules –Manuals Practice plans – –Drills –Small games Video clips NARCE Face to face meetings w/ Affiliates, Associations, etc. WHAT EVER IT TAKES!

28. Squirt Progression of Body Contact Drills Throughout the Season

31. Warm-Up

32. Boards Protection

33. Leg Drive

34. Power Bumps

35. Parent Education USA Hockey Magazine WWW.USAHOCKEY.COM Podcast’s Direct mail Facebook Twitter E-mail blasts Posters Webinars Face to face – w/ associations, etc.

36. Bi-fold Handout: Converted into two e-mail blasts to all USAH Members

40. It won’t be easy, but it’s the right thing to do for player development & safety.

41. Thank You Very Much For Helping Us Develop MORE, Better Players!!!