Below is the new NHL rule. I posted this before. It isn't a bad idea to just adopt this for youth ice hockey. While kids learn to check they should have a major penalty in mind which would be a game misconduct. If they hit to the neck, head, or back, they can't play anymore that day. This isn't about intent but the action of behavior. Intent isn't what harms, it's the act. Penalties must be strong enough to change behavior before they happen.
Now intent might carry additional penalties and suspensions which I am all for. But adopting this NHL penalty for head contact should be the precident for youth ice hockey neck, head, and back contact.
Here is the rule again.
Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head
48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.
48.2 Minor Penalty - There is no provision for a minor penalty for this rule.
48.3 Major Penalty - For a violation of this rule, a major penalty shall be assessed (see 48.4).
48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.
48.5 Match Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.
48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.
If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).
No comments:
Post a Comment