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.
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