1st Navy 28 points
2nd Southern Md 25 points
3rd Huskies 21 points
4th Montgomery 20 points
5th place tie 18 points Reston and Prince William
Well I got the order of the teams right. A bit off on the total numbers. Either way my son starts out the playoffs against Southern Maryland. A team that seems to have our number of late but a team we have also beat twice. Prediction 4-2.... the winning team... the team that best exemplifies team hockey. Both teams have the capacity to win it. At this point the teams have grown, capitalize on mistakes, and that should make for a tight playoff game. What can I say... beat the goalie moving the puck side to side and back-check. Aside from that I hope for no injuries, a nicely ref'd game, and a ball of fun for the Huskies.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Help?: Adding A Between Season Youth Ice Hockey Event
I have a learned a lot about youth ice hockey over the last 6 months. I understand the layers, barriers, problems, and most importantly the passion of the volunteers that make up the clubs and league. I know that people care. I also know that change is difficult and change needs to be made to help protect the children. But change also needs to come to help keep children engaged in ice hockey. We need additional events to continually teach them a highly skilled game. The complexity of skills needed to be a hockey player requires additional teaching formats. As parents, we came up with a between season model to address the above.
We originally went to our club to express our safety concerns and I feel we are supported. How our concerns come to play out in the CBHL, is not the issue right now. I have researched youth hockey to death and found key themes; many players quit when checking occurs, hockey requires players to learn many skills, and checking over-shadows using and learning needed key skills. What does the latter mean? In a game setting the focus players have to put on checking (either checking or avoiding checking) inhibits the full development of other skills. Ill dig out the article later. Basically, it states a club that went to a non-checking format saw players skating, stick-handling, positioning, passing, and shooting skills and abilities improve drastically. Why? The kids could focus their energy on those aspects of the game and not on checking. It makes sense. The answer isn't just remove checking. The answer is to add additional events to engage and teach players.
As parents we wanted a between season event. Many of our kids only play hockey. We tried to develop a skills and non-checking scrimmage clinic. The goal was to give players a 16 session clinic to develop all the above aspects of their game in a full non-checking scrimmage. Our plan was to use 75 minute ice slots. The first 20 minutes would be about key elements of hockey and skills instruction. The remaining part of the session would be a full scrimmage that focused on non-checking game-play and that day's skill-de-jour. It would be a competitive non-checking scrimmage to practice the bazillion other key skills of hockey. Our goal was to add 8 more weeks of hockey to engage and teach the youth players. Our hopes were to maintain their passion, teach them, let them have fun, and remove the checking as a method allow the players to fully focus on the other skills needed to play hockey well. Not a bad idea. Right?
Well we got the ice time. Found 2 coaches. Found interested parents to volunteer to help out. Found players. And then found out insurance would be about $5000. Insurance was the deal buster. All of a sudden it went from like $400 a player to $800 a player. Talk about a barrier to keeping kids involved in hockey... We did find that Metro hockey is offering a similar program with 18 sessions; power skating, skills, and scrimmage. But I don't know Metro hockey.
So here we sit today with an idea for a between season event to teach youth players how to be more skilled and make for a better season next year. We plan to talk to our club and see if they are interested in our idea. They may be too exhausted from managing the season. We would like to fill the gap between the travel season with skills, skills and more skills development. I appreciate the past feedback, I have gotten from readers. I would appreciate help, in figuring out how to make this between season event work. I believe in addressing safety issues but I also believe (and learned) we really need to continually teach our players and keep them engaged in youth hockey. Improving safety doesn't exclude expanding hockey events.
We originally went to our club to express our safety concerns and I feel we are supported. How our concerns come to play out in the CBHL, is not the issue right now. I have researched youth hockey to death and found key themes; many players quit when checking occurs, hockey requires players to learn many skills, and checking over-shadows using and learning needed key skills. What does the latter mean? In a game setting the focus players have to put on checking (either checking or avoiding checking) inhibits the full development of other skills. Ill dig out the article later. Basically, it states a club that went to a non-checking format saw players skating, stick-handling, positioning, passing, and shooting skills and abilities improve drastically. Why? The kids could focus their energy on those aspects of the game and not on checking. It makes sense. The answer isn't just remove checking. The answer is to add additional events to engage and teach players.
As parents we wanted a between season event. Many of our kids only play hockey. We tried to develop a skills and non-checking scrimmage clinic. The goal was to give players a 16 session clinic to develop all the above aspects of their game in a full non-checking scrimmage. Our plan was to use 75 minute ice slots. The first 20 minutes would be about key elements of hockey and skills instruction. The remaining part of the session would be a full scrimmage that focused on non-checking game-play and that day's skill-de-jour. It would be a competitive non-checking scrimmage to practice the bazillion other key skills of hockey. Our goal was to add 8 more weeks of hockey to engage and teach the youth players. Our hopes were to maintain their passion, teach them, let them have fun, and remove the checking as a method allow the players to fully focus on the other skills needed to play hockey well. Not a bad idea. Right?
Well we got the ice time. Found 2 coaches. Found interested parents to volunteer to help out. Found players. And then found out insurance would be about $5000. Insurance was the deal buster. All of a sudden it went from like $400 a player to $800 a player. Talk about a barrier to keeping kids involved in hockey... We did find that Metro hockey is offering a similar program with 18 sessions; power skating, skills, and scrimmage. But I don't know Metro hockey.
So here we sit today with an idea for a between season event to teach youth players how to be more skilled and make for a better season next year. We plan to talk to our club and see if they are interested in our idea. They may be too exhausted from managing the season. We would like to fill the gap between the travel season with skills, skills and more skills development. I appreciate the past feedback, I have gotten from readers. I would appreciate help, in figuring out how to make this between season event work. I believe in addressing safety issues but I also believe (and learned) we really need to continually teach our players and keep them engaged in youth hockey. Improving safety doesn't exclude expanding hockey events.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Huskies Clinch 3rd in the CBHL and Head to Aston
What at great year for Huskies. Looking way back they started as a team, in a tournament. To everyone's surprise (a pleasant surprise) they took second place in that tournament. They continued to play well, won over 20 games and now are in the CBHL playoffs. The won as a team, the lost as a team, and they have grown as a team.
What will February bring? We have a tournament in Aston next week, which I predict needing our room Sunday night for a game on Monday. We have the CBHL tournament and a finally a DC tournament in March. I can say every player has grown in some capacity in both the mental and physical skills realms. Measures of a truly good year for kids. The tournaments will be a fun end to the season for the players. Let's hope safety prevails and great hockey stems from that... Go Huskies!
What will February bring? We have a tournament in Aston next week, which I predict needing our room Sunday night for a game on Monday. We have the CBHL tournament and a finally a DC tournament in March. I can say every player has grown in some capacity in both the mental and physical skills realms. Measures of a truly good year for kids. The tournaments will be a fun end to the season for the players. Let's hope safety prevails and great hockey stems from that... Go Huskies!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Youth Ice Hockey: The Quick Starts Forward and Backwards
From HockeyShare.Com: A great resource.
Forward Quick Start
Backward Quick Start 1 of 2
Backward Quick Start 2 of 2
Forward Quick Start
Backward Quick Start 1 of 2
Backward Quick Start 2 of 2
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Huskies Win One of Two and Clinch the Playoffs
The Huskies won against Reston 3-2 Sunday off the support of Lizzy's outstanding work in goal. She snuffed out at least 5 shots that had goal written all over them. Harsh, Noah and AJ added the offense. Strong back-checking by the boys of the red-line helped slow down the assault of Reston. We are in the playoffs, but I have to say Prince William and Reston have stepped up their games. Their speed, passing, and pursuit of the puck not only matched us but passed us this weekend. Taking this paragraph back to were it started... Lizzy saved our bacon and boys battled to snag the win. Let's see how the boys use their practices to patch the holes. They have the talent, they just need to hit the switches together.
Back to basics... pursue, pressure and pass.
Back to basics... pursue, pressure and pass.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Changing Leagues, Clubs, and the NHL Fines Based on Man Hours Lost
I just read an interesting blog about a hit on a NHL hockey player. The details are as you would expect but the interesting point was what NHL hockey and the NHLPA might be discussing. The word is they are looking to attach financial penalites to the player that harms a player. Something like man hours lost are penalized (fines) to the penalized player. Interesting...
We don't have the luxury in youth ice hockey. I have seen it. A kid is hit in the back and out 4 weeks. The player that gets called for boarding gets maybe a game suspension.
We have been talking with our club and there really seems to be a push to full enforce the USA Hockey's Zero Tolerance Policy. That is great for our club. But the question is how does a League change the rules. Basically, all teams in the league get a vote. A democracy. To keep this short, my point is safety is not a democratic issue when it comes to kids in a youth ice hockey league. I can only hope the CBHL adopts and enforces stricter rules to protect my child and your child. Don't put safety to a vote. Just make it happen.
We don't have the luxury in youth ice hockey. I have seen it. A kid is hit in the back and out 4 weeks. The player that gets called for boarding gets maybe a game suspension.
We have been talking with our club and there really seems to be a push to full enforce the USA Hockey's Zero Tolerance Policy. That is great for our club. But the question is how does a League change the rules. Basically, all teams in the league get a vote. A democracy. To keep this short, my point is safety is not a democratic issue when it comes to kids in a youth ice hockey league. I can only hope the CBHL adopts and enforces stricter rules to protect my child and your child. Don't put safety to a vote. Just make it happen.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Huskies Win this Weekend and Gel
It is my opinion that teams grow in levels and jump up to the next one. They practice practice practice then all of a sudden it gels and they jump. Not individually but as a unit or team. This weekend the things they have been practicing for months seemed common, we might even take it for granted. They passed to the points like it was nothing. Shots were peppered in from the point, where the forwards collected the rebounds. The boys back-checked, passed, and played physically. They could be heard talking, setting up, and covering for each other as positions changed. There was little holding on to the puck and a lot of puck movement. Congrats to the Huskies for peaking in the right month and jumping up to the next level of play.
Since I don't believe in luck though I am very superstitious... here are my predictions. What I do know about the league this year is any of the 6 or 7 teams can land in the top 4. There is that much talent across the league. But being a Huskies fan and always wanting your team to finish in the top 10... I ran my algorithm based on Einsteinium Quantum Dyslexian mathemaphysics or EQD-mp. This is what it predicted. Not me, the equation.
1st Navy 28 points
2nd Southern Md 25 points
3rd Huskies 21 points
4th Montgomery 20 points
5th place tie 18 points Reston and Prince William
However it ends up, any of these team have the talent to make it in the top four. Good luck to them all.
Since I don't believe in luck though I am very superstitious... here are my predictions. What I do know about the league this year is any of the 6 or 7 teams can land in the top 4. There is that much talent across the league. But being a Huskies fan and always wanting your team to finish in the top 10... I ran my algorithm based on Einsteinium Quantum Dyslexian mathemaphysics or EQD-mp. This is what it predicted. Not me, the equation.
1st Navy 28 points
2nd Southern Md 25 points
3rd Huskies 21 points
4th Montgomery 20 points
5th place tie 18 points Reston and Prince William
However it ends up, any of these team have the talent to make it in the top four. Good luck to them all.
Friday, February 4, 2011
My Letter, Thanks, and Hopes for Safety Changes in Youth Ice Hockey
Below is my letter to Bud and the Huskies. I felt the meeting was very productive. I provided 10 suggestions based on my opinion and others ideas. I encourage all parents to write down their suggestions to improve safety and send them forward. None of the ideas are earth shattering. They just need a strong voice. I think we have that in Bud and the Huskies and most of the clubs. We just need to the CBHL to adopt them.
Morning,
I’ve been active and vocal because of player safety and because my son loves hockey. I wanted to really thank you both for your time. I believe there is great concern for the youth players in the Huskies organization and in the CBHL. I realize I am pushing quick change and I do feel the CBHL is on the threshold of significant change to improve the safety of the players. Delay, sadly, means greater chance of harm to children. That concerns drives me.
What I liked about the meeting was that it focused on action and on ideas of change and not on short-comings or excuses. It is understood that parents, coaches, referees, clubs, and the league may be good, bad, and between – yet, good or bad, all pieces have responsibility in quickly reducing risks and addressing best practice safety changes. Parents can’t create change without the club and the club can’t institute change without the league. We can not do this alone. By focusing on and expanding the good within youth ice hockey we can improve youth ice hockey for everyone
I would not down play the Huskies experience, professionalism, and strengths. Making change within the CBHL is the right avenue. However, if the CBHL, as an institution, has become too large, too slow to change, or too overwhelmed… a new league developed by the character of the Huskies, as I witnessed last night, and other passionate parties within the CBHL would be successful. The CBHL has to take a fresh look at its institutional process for prompt changes and see what can be improved. Please don’t let organizational debris slow the process. Waiting brings risks to children. It is the living people that volunteer that make the CBHL successful.
That being said… the method to make behavior change, be it youth ice hockey or employees at Wal-Mart, is structure. Structure, that on a daily basis reinforces, in my opinion, the Zero Tolerance of all unwanted behavior.
I would suggest the following safety issues in some form be adopted into the CBHL. I would be glad to help in away in their design and implementation. I recognize the current system manages the 98% of players, etc very well. But it is the 2% that cause great harm and probably takes up 98% of your time that could be spent elsewhere. These changes will improve safety for 100% of the players but only really impact the 2% of problem characters. 98% of the clubs and club members will applaud these changes and make the acceptance of the changes seamless. If the 2% can’t accept the changes, they can walk out or be shown the door.
1. Adopt a Zero Tolerance Referee/Sportsmanship position that randomly attends games. Their responsibility is behavior. Cost is an issue. It is money well spent. Identify a trigger mechanism that would determine the need of ZT refs for problematic games.
2. Provide parents, coaches, and players feedback questionnaires that can be filled out after each game about key areas of concern. Online would be best. You can’t over rely on penalty minutes. Or use some other sort of game assessment that grades behavior.
3. Institute game video review and educate all parties that video will be used randomly to manage potential problematic behavior and unwanted behavior. Ask for volunteers to video the games. Players, coaches, and parents will be reviewed for behavior. Let people now they are being evaluated. Let them know their actions on video may lead to disciplinary actions. Put it in the player's heads that a referee missing a call is not always a free pass.
4. Print out the core elements of the Zero Tolerance Policy and hang banners on the player benches and in the entrances to all youth ice hockey activities. These elements must be visible 24/7. It is the key to structure change and behavioral change. It is the focusing point for all disciplinary actions.
5. Instruct the Referees to fully enforce all components of Zero Tolerance and have them address the benches before each game for 60 seconds. This focuses the refs, players, and coaches on safety. Every game, every time.
6. Your penalties are too weak for the 2% that do the most harm. Your idea of progressive suspension like in your fighting rule is outstanding. Impacting the bench and outcome of the game is also needed for reckless hits and fouls. Adjust penalties.
7. Problematic players need to be given additional assignments that educate them on their behavior and teach them the appropriate way to behave. You can develop or purchase videos, create written assignments, and volunteer requirements. Most importantly, you must make the punished player earn their way back to the ice, not just serve time. Hockey is not a right, it is a privilege. This should be the CBHL's mantra.
8. You need to engage all parents in some capacity when it comes to their children’s safety and related changes. Surveys, parent advisor positions, work-groups, (what you did last night) monthly meetings, and other mechanism that invests the parents are needed. Several parent positions to the board or in a safety committee might be a starting point. The point is to work together.
9. All volunteers must be trained and supported monthly. Coaches, penalty box guy, score-sheet gal, and mangers. A structured volunteer program will not only create a safer game but will bring you more volunteers. The biggest deterrent to volunteering is lack of organizational support and structure.
10. Finally, you need a best practice standard generated by your clubs for your clubs. My son must be part of USA Hockey to join the club. A club must meet the CBHL’s best practice standards to participate in the League. Take the best components of each club and make it a requirement for all clubs. Again structure.
If you institute rule, structure, and policy changes that solely focus on safety, education, and Zero Tolerance… you will quickly see cultural and behavior change. The greatest barrier right now is fear of change. Identifying and implementing change is easy. Agreeing on change is difficult. I beg all clubs to look toward the greater good of one less injury to a child. Stop protecting the 2%. You don't need them.
You all know what needs to be done, not by my email, but because you all have already identified it and discussed it over the years. Nothing I suggest is new. The road-block now is on agreeing how to do it. Some things need a vote; other things need to be implemented without discussion. Democracy regarding safety improvement is not always the best policy.
Thanks,
Gary
Morning,
I’ve been active and vocal because of player safety and because my son loves hockey. I wanted to really thank you both for your time. I believe there is great concern for the youth players in the Huskies organization and in the CBHL. I realize I am pushing quick change and I do feel the CBHL is on the threshold of significant change to improve the safety of the players. Delay, sadly, means greater chance of harm to children. That concerns drives me.
What I liked about the meeting was that it focused on action and on ideas of change and not on short-comings or excuses. It is understood that parents, coaches, referees, clubs, and the league may be good, bad, and between – yet, good or bad, all pieces have responsibility in quickly reducing risks and addressing best practice safety changes. Parents can’t create change without the club and the club can’t institute change without the league. We can not do this alone. By focusing on and expanding the good within youth ice hockey we can improve youth ice hockey for everyone
I would not down play the Huskies experience, professionalism, and strengths. Making change within the CBHL is the right avenue. However, if the CBHL, as an institution, has become too large, too slow to change, or too overwhelmed… a new league developed by the character of the Huskies, as I witnessed last night, and other passionate parties within the CBHL would be successful. The CBHL has to take a fresh look at its institutional process for prompt changes and see what can be improved. Please don’t let organizational debris slow the process. Waiting brings risks to children. It is the living people that volunteer that make the CBHL successful.
That being said… the method to make behavior change, be it youth ice hockey or employees at Wal-Mart, is structure. Structure, that on a daily basis reinforces, in my opinion, the Zero Tolerance of all unwanted behavior.
I would suggest the following safety issues in some form be adopted into the CBHL. I would be glad to help in away in their design and implementation. I recognize the current system manages the 98% of players, etc very well. But it is the 2% that cause great harm and probably takes up 98% of your time that could be spent elsewhere. These changes will improve safety for 100% of the players but only really impact the 2% of problem characters. 98% of the clubs and club members will applaud these changes and make the acceptance of the changes seamless. If the 2% can’t accept the changes, they can walk out or be shown the door.
1. Adopt a Zero Tolerance Referee/Sportsmanship position that randomly attends games. Their responsibility is behavior. Cost is an issue. It is money well spent. Identify a trigger mechanism that would determine the need of ZT refs for problematic games.
2. Provide parents, coaches, and players feedback questionnaires that can be filled out after each game about key areas of concern. Online would be best. You can’t over rely on penalty minutes. Or use some other sort of game assessment that grades behavior.
3. Institute game video review and educate all parties that video will be used randomly to manage potential problematic behavior and unwanted behavior. Ask for volunteers to video the games. Players, coaches, and parents will be reviewed for behavior. Let people now they are being evaluated. Let them know their actions on video may lead to disciplinary actions. Put it in the player's heads that a referee missing a call is not always a free pass.
4. Print out the core elements of the Zero Tolerance Policy and hang banners on the player benches and in the entrances to all youth ice hockey activities. These elements must be visible 24/7. It is the key to structure change and behavioral change. It is the focusing point for all disciplinary actions.
5. Instruct the Referees to fully enforce all components of Zero Tolerance and have them address the benches before each game for 60 seconds. This focuses the refs, players, and coaches on safety. Every game, every time.
6. Your penalties are too weak for the 2% that do the most harm. Your idea of progressive suspension like in your fighting rule is outstanding. Impacting the bench and outcome of the game is also needed for reckless hits and fouls. Adjust penalties.
7. Problematic players need to be given additional assignments that educate them on their behavior and teach them the appropriate way to behave. You can develop or purchase videos, create written assignments, and volunteer requirements. Most importantly, you must make the punished player earn their way back to the ice, not just serve time. Hockey is not a right, it is a privilege. This should be the CBHL's mantra.
8. You need to engage all parents in some capacity when it comes to their children’s safety and related changes. Surveys, parent advisor positions, work-groups, (what you did last night) monthly meetings, and other mechanism that invests the parents are needed. Several parent positions to the board or in a safety committee might be a starting point. The point is to work together.
9. All volunteers must be trained and supported monthly. Coaches, penalty box guy, score-sheet gal, and mangers. A structured volunteer program will not only create a safer game but will bring you more volunteers. The biggest deterrent to volunteering is lack of organizational support and structure.
10. Finally, you need a best practice standard generated by your clubs for your clubs. My son must be part of USA Hockey to join the club. A club must meet the CBHL’s best practice standards to participate in the League. Take the best components of each club and make it a requirement for all clubs. Again structure.
If you institute rule, structure, and policy changes that solely focus on safety, education, and Zero Tolerance… you will quickly see cultural and behavior change. The greatest barrier right now is fear of change. Identifying and implementing change is easy. Agreeing on change is difficult. I beg all clubs to look toward the greater good of one less injury to a child. Stop protecting the 2%. You don't need them.
You all know what needs to be done, not by my email, but because you all have already identified it and discussed it over the years. Nothing I suggest is new. The road-block now is on agreeing how to do it. Some things need a vote; other things need to be implemented without discussion. Democracy regarding safety improvement is not always the best policy.
Thanks,
Gary
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Questions to Ask Your Club and League About Safety and Risk Reduction
Below are some questions I generated for a club meeting. I am thankful we have a responsive club. These questions might be questions you want to ask your club. They deal with the league our club plays in. I think, as parents, we have the right to know how safety is measured and modified.
Some other questions I have for Thursdays meeting…
I don’t expect they all can or should be answered in the meeting. I was hoping the CBHL could answer them and send the answers to all the parents. We are investing our time and money in the CBHL to teach our children. We expect the CBHL fully delivers what is in their by-laws. That includes all USA Hockey Rules, which inlcudes Zero Tolerance.
1. What tools/metrics are used by the CBHL to track concussions and other injuries? Are the outcomes used to determine the success or failure of implemented safety measures that is reducing the risks to harm?
2. What body oversees the implementation of safety protocols such as Heads Up Hockey? How do you determine what other safety measures need to be developed and implemented?
3. If it wasn’t for the Huskies concern, our persistence, and video… it seems like the only thing used to “assess” game safety is score-sheet penalty minutes. We know referees call games poorly and therefore the score-sheet in no way accurately documents behavior problems or injuries. Are there plans to improve the way games are assessed for safety? I suggest a section on the score-sheets that documents injuries and behavior. Or add volunteers to document game behavior.
4. Why don’t parents or managers have access to disciplinary actions of the Clubs and Leagues? We should know which players get in trouble and how they are punished. These are kids in a public league.
5. Injuries are not related to penalties. How is the CBHL tracking player injuries, causes of injuries, and how is that information used to create safety changes?
6. There appears to be no method to the success or failure of a referee’s ability to manage a game. While some are great others are poor, what is the current system to educated referees, and how do they get feedback on their performance?
7. The CBHL adopts USA Hockey Rules as in their bylaws; Zero Tolerance is part of USA Hockey. Why is it so poorly implemented in the CBHL? It seem like ZT would address many of the problems.
8. As a parent I feel like an unwritten method of the CBHL is to “weather” the storm of parent complaints (Huskies not included). That is we are placated and pacified with the hopes we go away and the season ends. As far as I can tell 9 out of 10 players and families are great. Why not remove the problem behaviors via policy and procedural changes and when that fails expulsion?
9. Does the CBHL even have a safety committee that includes parents, clubs, and board members? A committee that uses injury measurements and data to improve the safety of all youth players and reduce the risks of potential harm.
10. If the CBHL is unwilling to make improvements to best protect the youth players… Would the Huskies organization be willing to take their history, professionalism, and develop a premiere model of youth ice hockey? One that includes addressing all of the above and then some. But most importantly embraces USA Hockey’ Zero Tolerance Policy and ensures it is a living and breathing part of every hockey activity in the new league. I think we could create a national model. I know many people that would get involved and help.
Some other questions I have for Thursdays meeting…
I don’t expect they all can or should be answered in the meeting. I was hoping the CBHL could answer them and send the answers to all the parents. We are investing our time and money in the CBHL to teach our children. We expect the CBHL fully delivers what is in their by-laws. That includes all USA Hockey Rules, which inlcudes Zero Tolerance.
1. What tools/metrics are used by the CBHL to track concussions and other injuries? Are the outcomes used to determine the success or failure of implemented safety measures that is reducing the risks to harm?
2. What body oversees the implementation of safety protocols such as Heads Up Hockey? How do you determine what other safety measures need to be developed and implemented?
3. If it wasn’t for the Huskies concern, our persistence, and video… it seems like the only thing used to “assess” game safety is score-sheet penalty minutes. We know referees call games poorly and therefore the score-sheet in no way accurately documents behavior problems or injuries. Are there plans to improve the way games are assessed for safety? I suggest a section on the score-sheets that documents injuries and behavior. Or add volunteers to document game behavior.
4. Why don’t parents or managers have access to disciplinary actions of the Clubs and Leagues? We should know which players get in trouble and how they are punished. These are kids in a public league.
5. Injuries are not related to penalties. How is the CBHL tracking player injuries, causes of injuries, and how is that information used to create safety changes?
6. There appears to be no method to the success or failure of a referee’s ability to manage a game. While some are great others are poor, what is the current system to educated referees, and how do they get feedback on their performance?
7. The CBHL adopts USA Hockey Rules as in their bylaws; Zero Tolerance is part of USA Hockey. Why is it so poorly implemented in the CBHL? It seem like ZT would address many of the problems.
8. As a parent I feel like an unwritten method of the CBHL is to “weather” the storm of parent complaints (Huskies not included). That is we are placated and pacified with the hopes we go away and the season ends. As far as I can tell 9 out of 10 players and families are great. Why not remove the problem behaviors via policy and procedural changes and when that fails expulsion?
9. Does the CBHL even have a safety committee that includes parents, clubs, and board members? A committee that uses injury measurements and data to improve the safety of all youth players and reduce the risks of potential harm.
10. If the CBHL is unwilling to make improvements to best protect the youth players… Would the Huskies organization be willing to take their history, professionalism, and develop a premiere model of youth ice hockey? One that includes addressing all of the above and then some. But most importantly embraces USA Hockey’ Zero Tolerance Policy and ensures it is a living and breathing part of every hockey activity in the new league. I think we could create a national model. I know many people that would get involved and help.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Creating a Zero Tolerance Referee: Developing Game Day Safety Habits to Reduce the Risks of Harm
Thank You for the Opportunity,
Two questions I would like addressed at the parent meeting are: (1) how will the CBHL ensure the pattern behavior of specific players and teams that I consider reckless, won’t occur in another game or during the championship games? (2) What is the difficulty of removing players that fail to demonstrate respectful play, and have already been punished and given opportunities to change? I don’t want to hear it is referee discretion.
I understand hockey is a physical sport. It is not a reckless sport. USA Hockey has laid very good foundation rules to manage abusive players, problem behavior, problem parents, and reckless hitting. The CBHL is not enforcing these rules in any responsible manner. Until this is addressed, all players both risk harm and miss opportunities to change their behavior.
This is not about issues with volunteer coaches, parents, missed calls by the referees, or other historical hockey barrier rhetoric that prevents safety changes. This is about maximizing the safety standards of youth ice hockey by using and enforcing written policies and in this case, using and enforcing them within the CBHL.
We are fortunate to have a responsive club but they can not reduce the risk of injuries alone. As parents we must vocally express our concerns. One club making changes does little to change a league.
I have studied the issue and my approach is to address weakness. I, along with other parents have identified problems and at this point I want to offer my solution that removes the arsonist. Currently clubs and parent are left to deal with and put out fires. This is unfair. Let a player determine their path to being expelled. Stop enabling them.
1. Issue the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Rules to all. Address with the rules, a letter stating this policy will be followed to the T.
2. Purchase banners that state the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Rules. Have expectations and consequences on the banner for all to see. These should be hung at all events on both benches. Referees should point the banners out to the coaches and players before every game. This will also remind and focus the referees on their responsibilities.
3. Direct and EDUCATE all current on ice referees to meet with each bench prior to the start of game. Both referees should gather the players and state the ZT rules will be enforced 100% and that they will lean toward the ZT rules for marginal hits. Also let the player know that cursing, banging the stick, and behavior fits will merit further penalties. This, as stated, focuses the referees on their responsibilities. Create structures that reinforce and maintain safety habits.
4. Implement a new position immediately that is called the Zero Tolerance Referee. That referee has one function and that is to manage player behavior under the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy. They should be positioned between the penalty boxes. They are responsible for watching ice behavior, player behavior after the whistle, player behavior after a penalty is called, player behavior in the penalty box, and parent behavior. Any violations will merit additional penalties as clearly stated under the ZT rules. Standard referees mange game play.
5. Use volunteers from the Boards to fill the ZT Referee positions for this season. Establish a paid position next year. The cost per game if directed solely to the parents should be an additional $3 per game. This is well worth our children’s safety.
6. Review evidence of problematic players, coaches, and clubs and make a point to fully discipline them this season. If you fail to punish the 2%, you continue to harm the 98%. Focus on the positive players within the clubs and league. Make a statement about what is not tolerated in youth ice hockey.
These six changes will establish an attitude change in the CBHL and it will lead to behavior change and it will develop safety habits. Players, coaches, and parents will have to adapt. Keep in mind 98% of players and parents already manage themselves respectfully. Stop giving the 2% opportunities to continually hurt players and ruin the games. You are allowing the arsonists to build fires you have to put out. Allow them the opportunity to fall in line or fail. It is that simple. Stop making excuses for them to continue to participate in a sport that is not a right, but a privilege.
A final method that would further improve safety standards is the use of yellow and red cards, just like in soccer. Please consider this for next year. This would be the tool of the ZT referee. They would give players, parents, and coaches a yellow warning card that goes along with an additional penalty. You must establish a structure the guides all participants toward understanding Zero Tolerance of bad behavior will be enforced 99% of the time.
My concern is the old ways to discipline behavior don’t work for the 2% that do the most damage to our children. That needs to be addressed immediately.
Please, do not put this off until next year. By addressing this now, you will reduce harm to children and will set the tone for next season. Change is easy and people adapt. The hardest part is just implementing it.
Thanks again,
Gary
Two questions I would like addressed at the parent meeting are: (1) how will the CBHL ensure the pattern behavior of specific players and teams that I consider reckless, won’t occur in another game or during the championship games? (2) What is the difficulty of removing players that fail to demonstrate respectful play, and have already been punished and given opportunities to change? I don’t want to hear it is referee discretion.
I understand hockey is a physical sport. It is not a reckless sport. USA Hockey has laid very good foundation rules to manage abusive players, problem behavior, problem parents, and reckless hitting. The CBHL is not enforcing these rules in any responsible manner. Until this is addressed, all players both risk harm and miss opportunities to change their behavior.
This is not about issues with volunteer coaches, parents, missed calls by the referees, or other historical hockey barrier rhetoric that prevents safety changes. This is about maximizing the safety standards of youth ice hockey by using and enforcing written policies and in this case, using and enforcing them within the CBHL.
We are fortunate to have a responsive club but they can not reduce the risk of injuries alone. As parents we must vocally express our concerns. One club making changes does little to change a league.
I have studied the issue and my approach is to address weakness. I, along with other parents have identified problems and at this point I want to offer my solution that removes the arsonist. Currently clubs and parent are left to deal with and put out fires. This is unfair. Let a player determine their path to being expelled. Stop enabling them.
1. Issue the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Rules to all. Address with the rules, a letter stating this policy will be followed to the T.
2. Purchase banners that state the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Rules. Have expectations and consequences on the banner for all to see. These should be hung at all events on both benches. Referees should point the banners out to the coaches and players before every game. This will also remind and focus the referees on their responsibilities.
3. Direct and EDUCATE all current on ice referees to meet with each bench prior to the start of game. Both referees should gather the players and state the ZT rules will be enforced 100% and that they will lean toward the ZT rules for marginal hits. Also let the player know that cursing, banging the stick, and behavior fits will merit further penalties. This, as stated, focuses the referees on their responsibilities. Create structures that reinforce and maintain safety habits.
4. Implement a new position immediately that is called the Zero Tolerance Referee. That referee has one function and that is to manage player behavior under the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy. They should be positioned between the penalty boxes. They are responsible for watching ice behavior, player behavior after the whistle, player behavior after a penalty is called, player behavior in the penalty box, and parent behavior. Any violations will merit additional penalties as clearly stated under the ZT rules. Standard referees mange game play.
5. Use volunteers from the Boards to fill the ZT Referee positions for this season. Establish a paid position next year. The cost per game if directed solely to the parents should be an additional $3 per game. This is well worth our children’s safety.
6. Review evidence of problematic players, coaches, and clubs and make a point to fully discipline them this season. If you fail to punish the 2%, you continue to harm the 98%. Focus on the positive players within the clubs and league. Make a statement about what is not tolerated in youth ice hockey.
These six changes will establish an attitude change in the CBHL and it will lead to behavior change and it will develop safety habits. Players, coaches, and parents will have to adapt. Keep in mind 98% of players and parents already manage themselves respectfully. Stop giving the 2% opportunities to continually hurt players and ruin the games. You are allowing the arsonists to build fires you have to put out. Allow them the opportunity to fall in line or fail. It is that simple. Stop making excuses for them to continue to participate in a sport that is not a right, but a privilege.
A final method that would further improve safety standards is the use of yellow and red cards, just like in soccer. Please consider this for next year. This would be the tool of the ZT referee. They would give players, parents, and coaches a yellow warning card that goes along with an additional penalty. You must establish a structure the guides all participants toward understanding Zero Tolerance of bad behavior will be enforced 99% of the time.
My concern is the old ways to discipline behavior don’t work for the 2% that do the most damage to our children. That needs to be addressed immediately.
Please, do not put this off until next year. By addressing this now, you will reduce harm to children and will set the tone for next season. Change is easy and people adapt. The hardest part is just implementing it.
Thanks again,
Gary
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