Major league baseball added a concussion protocol. USA Youth Ice Hockey should follow this path. A protocol for the player and a protocol for the player causing harm.
Here is the cut from Yahoo...
“It’s a huge step forward,” said Chris Nowinski, a leading advocate for concussion safety in sports. “This sort of program closes a lot of the major holes in their policy. This puts them at a very reasonable place. Leagues should have concussion protocols, if not for the ethics than at least to keep their best players on the field.
“It’s nice to see an innovation like the seven-day disabled list.”
The new DL, to be used only for concussions and other mild traumatic brain injuries, is the first change to disabled-list rules in more than 20 years. The shortened duration – the typical DL is 15 days – is sufficient to evaluate head injuries. Teams reluctant to lose a player for more than two weeks will be willing to err on the side of caution for a one-week absence.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Elbow Gets Cooke 10 Games and First Round of Playoffs
Here is cut from Yahoo Sports. Matt Cooke gets 10 games for throwing a flagrant elbow to the head of Ryan McDonagh. Let's see the youth leagues follow. Remove the reckless play and players.
DETROIT – For once, the NHL’s job was easy. Matt Cooke(notes) made it easy. He will sit out the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final 10 regular-season games and the first round of the playoffs because he had no excuse for the elbow he threw into the head of the New York Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh(notes) on Sunday, the latest incident for the player widely considered the dirtiest in hockey.
This time, it’s the team’s job that’s tough. As Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby(notes) recovers from a concussion and the player safety debate rages, the Penguins are trying to take the lead, calling for zero tolerance on head shots and stiffer discipline for repeat offenders. At minimum, they must make it clear they do not condone Cooke’s conduct.
DETROIT – For once, the NHL’s job was easy. Matt Cooke(notes) made it easy. He will sit out the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final 10 regular-season games and the first round of the playoffs because he had no excuse for the elbow he threw into the head of the New York Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh(notes) on Sunday, the latest incident for the player widely considered the dirtiest in hockey.
This time, it’s the team’s job that’s tough. As Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby(notes) recovers from a concussion and the player safety debate rages, the Penguins are trying to take the lead, calling for zero tolerance on head shots and stiffer discipline for repeat offenders. At minimum, they must make it clear they do not condone Cooke’s conduct.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Youth Hockey RULE ENFORCEMENT: NO gray areas PLEASE
In their discussion groups Tuesday morning, the GMs went over the language for boarding and charging penalties sentence by sentence. “Prior to today’s meeting,” said Yzerman, a Hall of Famer who played for more than two decades, “I had maybe read the rule before or maybe heard the rule before, but not specifically understood it.” Yzerman wasn’t the only one who learned something. “Especially with charging, everybody has this whole thing in mind that it’s three steps,” Shero said. “It’s not in the rule book. So people have that wrong.”
The general feeling is that the boarding and charging rules already in the book – maybe with some tweaking – could be enforced more strictly, the way the hooking, holding and obstruction rules were after the lockout. The general feeling is that the players would adjust, as they did after the lockout.
If you read the above post, it essentially highlights the same problem in youth ice hockey. The rules are not followed as written but more as - as believed and accepted. The NHL has time to figure this out. They have millions of dollars. THERE IS NO THREE STEPS grace in charging. Which is basically checking a player without the puck. Even Steve Yzerman got it wrong.
Youth ice hockey doesn't have this luxury and the longer we wait to implement better methods of enforcing rules as written, youth players get hurt.
Youth ice hockey must protect the players. YOU CAN NOT hit a player without the puck. This is not difficulty. YOU CAN NOT strike a player in the head, neck, or back. There is no room to interpret these rule with discretion. If you check a play who doesn't have the puck in their possession, well it's a penalty.
This isn't rocket science. Follow the rules and impose harsher penalties for the most damaging behaviors. Hockey is a physical sport. Hockey is not a reckless sport. These changes will not change the game, only save injury.
The general feeling is that the boarding and charging rules already in the book – maybe with some tweaking – could be enforced more strictly, the way the hooking, holding and obstruction rules were after the lockout. The general feeling is that the players would adjust, as they did after the lockout.
If you read the above post, it essentially highlights the same problem in youth ice hockey. The rules are not followed as written but more as - as believed and accepted. The NHL has time to figure this out. They have millions of dollars. THERE IS NO THREE STEPS grace in charging. Which is basically checking a player without the puck. Even Steve Yzerman got it wrong.
Youth ice hockey doesn't have this luxury and the longer we wait to implement better methods of enforcing rules as written, youth players get hurt.
Youth ice hockey must protect the players. YOU CAN NOT hit a player without the puck. This is not difficulty. YOU CAN NOT strike a player in the head, neck, or back. There is no room to interpret these rule with discretion. If you check a play who doesn't have the puck in their possession, well it's a penalty.
This isn't rocket science. Follow the rules and impose harsher penalties for the most damaging behaviors. Hockey is a physical sport. Hockey is not a reckless sport. These changes will not change the game, only save injury.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Should We Ban Head Hits in the NHL?: Is this a real question...
Below is the discussion starting again in the NHL. It sound funny to me... Should we ban head hits? Duh. But with regard to youth ice hockey, I would say to increase penalties for contacting the players neck, head, or back. Instituting mandatory 5 minute majors for this type of contact is the only way to get youth players to change the behavior. In additon to the 5 minutes, a 10 minute misconduct shall be assessed. Do it 2x's in a a game and your out of the game. Penalties must effect the player and team for this type of reckless play to end or be decreased to the lowest possible levels. No hits to the head, neck, or back. This is really a no-brainer.
Here is the article pasted from Yahoo.
This was the best player in the game, on pace for the best season of his career, concussed in the league’s showcase event. People inside and outside of the game have held up Crosby’s absence as the high cost of concussions and used it to argue for a ban on all hits to the head, whether intentional or unintentional.
"My position is there should be no head hits,” Penguins general manager Ray Shero said. “That’s the position of the Penguins, and that’s mine, and I brought it up today in our group.”
But the league has tried to take the emotion out of the equation and look at the cold, hard data. The hockey operations department studied all of the concussions suffered through March 1 and compared them to the same period last season, before Rule 48 was instituted to ban blindside hits to the head. Hockey ops showed the GMs video clips of virtually every concussion in the NHL this season and gave them statistics.
Crosby thought Steckel hit him intentionally. The league considered it incidental contact. Twenty-six percent of concussions though March 1 were from what the league labeled “accidental events” – teammates running into each other, players tripping on their own, pucks hitting players, inadvertent collisions of opponents. The number of accidental concussions doubled.
Asked after his skate Monday morning whether head shots should be banned, Crosby told reporters in Pittsburgh: “That’s a great question. I’d like to say yes. But it’s more than just saying that. There’s obviously got to be some clarity. Everything’s got to be looked at. It’s a pretty fast game. There may be times when guys maybe don’t (aim) for the head but come into contact with the head. What do you do in that situation?”
Crosby said banning deliberate head shots would take nothing from the game. Fourteen percent of all concussions through March 1 resulted from legal hits to the head. If you could cut that 14 percent, wouldn’t you do it? But Bettman called the legal hits to the head that some want outlawed “a small piece of the equation.” He said the data clearly show that no one thing caused concussions in the period studied and the actual reasons for the increase in the injury differ from the speculation
Here is the article pasted from Yahoo.
This was the best player in the game, on pace for the best season of his career, concussed in the league’s showcase event. People inside and outside of the game have held up Crosby’s absence as the high cost of concussions and used it to argue for a ban on all hits to the head, whether intentional or unintentional.
"My position is there should be no head hits,” Penguins general manager Ray Shero said. “That’s the position of the Penguins, and that’s mine, and I brought it up today in our group.”
But the league has tried to take the emotion out of the equation and look at the cold, hard data. The hockey operations department studied all of the concussions suffered through March 1 and compared them to the same period last season, before Rule 48 was instituted to ban blindside hits to the head. Hockey ops showed the GMs video clips of virtually every concussion in the NHL this season and gave them statistics.
Crosby thought Steckel hit him intentionally. The league considered it incidental contact. Twenty-six percent of concussions though March 1 were from what the league labeled “accidental events” – teammates running into each other, players tripping on their own, pucks hitting players, inadvertent collisions of opponents. The number of accidental concussions doubled.
Asked after his skate Monday morning whether head shots should be banned, Crosby told reporters in Pittsburgh: “That’s a great question. I’d like to say yes. But it’s more than just saying that. There’s obviously got to be some clarity. Everything’s got to be looked at. It’s a pretty fast game. There may be times when guys maybe don’t (aim) for the head but come into contact with the head. What do you do in that situation?”
Crosby said banning deliberate head shots would take nothing from the game. Fourteen percent of all concussions through March 1 resulted from legal hits to the head. If you could cut that 14 percent, wouldn’t you do it? But Bettman called the legal hits to the head that some want outlawed “a small piece of the equation.” He said the data clearly show that no one thing caused concussions in the period studied and the actual reasons for the increase in the injury differ from the speculation
Monday, March 14, 2011
A Draft to USA Hockey: Safety and Changes
This is my first draft of a letter to USA Hockey. I will review it for a few days for editing purposes and then decide where to send it. I do not believe anything I am writing is new. I simply believe it needs to be continuously put out to be read, heard, discussed, and hopefully addressed.
To All Participants of USA Hockey,
Youth ice hockey is a physical sport. It is not a reckless sport. Youth ice hockey is made of up several components; leagues, clubs, parents, and youth players that typically take their lead from USA Hockey. USA Hockey sets standard and provides educational material to address the safety and educational needs of the players, coaches, clubs, and leagues.
I have been involved with youth ice hockey for 5 years. There is a systemic flaw that I believe USA Hockey must address. You are the leaders and your name is being used by leagues and clubs. That flaw is the failure of leagues and clubs to adequately and fully follow your policies, procedures, and standards.
Leagues and clubs are selling themselves based on USA Hockey standards; however these standards aren’t being fully followed, enforced, or implemented to the highest possible degree. USA Hockey’s zero tolerance policy is a good example of a standard that is not fully followed or enforced by clubs and leagues. The scale of this systemic flaw is epidemic, in my opinion, but I recognize it varies from club to club or league to league. There are many leagues and clubs that do a good job. This is not about them.
I also believe that this flaw is not necessary a purposeful act on behalf of leagues and clubs but none the less it occurs. The failure to fully utilize and enforce USA Hockey standards leads to the harm of youth ice hockey players. I will not accept this as a part of business as usual. USA Hockey must demonstrate a proactive role in ensuring leagues and clubs fully meet USA Hockey standard. Point and period. You also need a clear direct method for parents and participants to direct concerns back to USA Hockey. A method that involves a timely response to our concerns.
The flaw is not only held by the above mention but also by the referee associations. The referees are not effectively trained or educated to make calls as indicated by USA Hockey. Rules are not enforced as written. You can not hide behind the word "discretionary". I just reviewed USA Hockey's new checking packet with regard to rule changes. After 150 hockey games, I can tell you that referees rarely make a call with regard to checking being a play for the puck. Checking has morphed into a NHL standard of free hits to the player with the puck, near the puck, or who has delivered the puck. This is the biggest cause of injury. Failure to differentiate between hitting and checking is a problem. It is what causes the greatest harm to our children.
Discretionary calling is not of value to youth ice hockey. The gray area is not effective for teaching youth players how to manage their behavior. While USA Hockey has very clear and easily identifiable standards for proper and improper checking and reckless contact; it seems the referees miss far too many penalties. Two players, for instance, received full straight armed punches last week, in a game I saw, to their face guards, after the whistles. The penalty for one was 2 minutes for head contact and the other one was just broken up. Is this discretion? What tone did the referees set in this game? The coach of that team, on his own, suspended the players for one game each. Where were the referees? Why is there such disparity in what to call?
I might argue that failure to clearly, fully, and accurately referee games is of more harm to the youth players then clubs and leagues that fail to follow USA Hockey standards to the letter. Spare me the discretionary rhetoric of the referee calls. While you all (all being everyone involved) hide behind “ref’s discretion”, youth players are seriously injured. The tone and safety of a game is set by the referees. If the referees fail to call a clean tight game immediately as outlined by USA Hockey, the youth players will push limits. Adults are responsible for managing the youth players.
How do you address the failure of the refereeing system? The blame is not on the referee. The first step is to increase the number of referees on ice or implement an off ice official that function only to enforce USA Hockey’s zero tolerance policy and enforce improper checking, contact to the head, neck, or back, and other behaviors that put youth players at risk. It is not acceptable to leave a such a significant component of youth ice hockey (refereeing) undertrained and under-supported. Support the referees with education and man-power. Do not blame individuals. Standards of practice can not only be on paper, they must be standards demonstrated in action. I believe USA Hockey has a clear responsiblity to ensure their standards are enacted at all levels of youth ice hockey, to the highest possible degree.
The second step is to provide adequate training and support to the referees so they can best understand how to manage a game. This requires a 10 fold increase in referee evaluations and a mechanism to get immediate feedback from players, parents, coaches, and clubs to respected referee associations. Discretionary calling is not an excuse for poor work quality. You have to increase the number of evaluated games and you have to do it as “surprise evaluations”. The referees need to be taught to error on the side of safety and not reckless play and realize at anytime their game may be evaluated. The good referees will only get better and the poor referees will learn or leave.
In addition to these steps, strong referees must be rewarded and poor referees disciplined. I am aware that pieces of my above suggestions exist. They need to be improved apon. The current system, to ensure the games are called with the highest standards to match USA Hockey’s rules and regulations is weak, to the point of neglect for the safety of our youth players. You must address the system of refereeing and policing safety in youth ice hockey games. This neglect will utimately fall on USA Hockey, if not addressed.
Finally, the penalties for youth players need to be different the NHL. You currently have it backwards. The clubs, leagues, and USA Hockey are taking penalties that are used for elite athletes and applying them to youth players that are physically and mentally still maturing. This is wrong. The NHL penalties do not work for youth players as a method to best reduce risk of harm to the players. The failure to make the calls is one issue I already addressed but the failure to use a penalty that actually shapes and prevent behavior is evident and it must be addressed aggressively.
There is argument to remove checking from youth ice hockey. I do not believe this is needed. Checking is not the issue. Reckless hitting and abusive bullying physical hits are the problem. I believe 98% of the players play with respect but make mistakes. I believe that 2% of the players intend to bully and harm and are allowed to get away with it. The solution is in increasing penalties for the most dangerous hit in youth ice hockey. The solution is in removing the reckless players quickly and immediately from the game. Further discipline can occur later if merited.
Institute a mandatory 5 minute major penalty for checking or forcefully contacting a player in the neck, head, and back. The player should also receive an automatic 10 minute misconduct. You have to understand a 2 minute penalty for elbowing or a 2 and 10 for boarding is weak. Discretion is less important than just strong penalties. The 5 minute major impacts the player, the coach and team, and the 10 minute misconduct removes the player. If the player can’t follow the zero tolerance rules of USA Hockey when penalized, eject the player. I don’t understand what youth ice hockey is afraid of. You are the adults in a youth league. Penalize the problem players, educate them, and remove them if they can’t learn and get along.
A player that receives two penalties for checking or contacting the head, neck, or back of a player, shall be suspended from immediate game play. The bench will have to serve the 5 minute major penalty and the 10 minute misconduct. Hit the players and team where it hurts if you truly want to reduce the most dangerous behaviors in youth ice hockey. If a team continues to get penalties like the above, I would suggest removing goals from their score and forfeiting games. The strength of these penalties will not harm competitive play and it will raise the standard of safety in youth ice hockey. A win win situation.
Finally, USA Hockey has set standards aimed at best managing a great sport. There is hope to expand youth ice hockey in the United States. There is desire to teach players, improve safety, and create a great experience for the player and parents. Changing checking to Bantam level without addressing my concerns but more so without ensuring clubs, leagues, and referees follow what has already been outlined by USA Hockey, will only mask the problem of injuries coming from reckless hitting. The emperor wasn’t wearing clothes. Rewriting your policies and procedures, without ensuring USA Hockey standards are followed to the highest degree and failing to deliver strong penalties for dangerous hits and contact, is like walking naked on the ice surface and saying you have latest in stealth impact protection.
Gary Pilarchik
To All Participants of USA Hockey,
Youth ice hockey is a physical sport. It is not a reckless sport. Youth ice hockey is made of up several components; leagues, clubs, parents, and youth players that typically take their lead from USA Hockey. USA Hockey sets standard and provides educational material to address the safety and educational needs of the players, coaches, clubs, and leagues.
I have been involved with youth ice hockey for 5 years. There is a systemic flaw that I believe USA Hockey must address. You are the leaders and your name is being used by leagues and clubs. That flaw is the failure of leagues and clubs to adequately and fully follow your policies, procedures, and standards.
Leagues and clubs are selling themselves based on USA Hockey standards; however these standards aren’t being fully followed, enforced, or implemented to the highest possible degree. USA Hockey’s zero tolerance policy is a good example of a standard that is not fully followed or enforced by clubs and leagues. The scale of this systemic flaw is epidemic, in my opinion, but I recognize it varies from club to club or league to league. There are many leagues and clubs that do a good job. This is not about them.
I also believe that this flaw is not necessary a purposeful act on behalf of leagues and clubs but none the less it occurs. The failure to fully utilize and enforce USA Hockey standards leads to the harm of youth ice hockey players. I will not accept this as a part of business as usual. USA Hockey must demonstrate a proactive role in ensuring leagues and clubs fully meet USA Hockey standard. Point and period. You also need a clear direct method for parents and participants to direct concerns back to USA Hockey. A method that involves a timely response to our concerns.
The flaw is not only held by the above mention but also by the referee associations. The referees are not effectively trained or educated to make calls as indicated by USA Hockey. Rules are not enforced as written. You can not hide behind the word "discretionary". I just reviewed USA Hockey's new checking packet with regard to rule changes. After 150 hockey games, I can tell you that referees rarely make a call with regard to checking being a play for the puck. Checking has morphed into a NHL standard of free hits to the player with the puck, near the puck, or who has delivered the puck. This is the biggest cause of injury. Failure to differentiate between hitting and checking is a problem. It is what causes the greatest harm to our children.
Discretionary calling is not of value to youth ice hockey. The gray area is not effective for teaching youth players how to manage their behavior. While USA Hockey has very clear and easily identifiable standards for proper and improper checking and reckless contact; it seems the referees miss far too many penalties. Two players, for instance, received full straight armed punches last week, in a game I saw, to their face guards, after the whistles. The penalty for one was 2 minutes for head contact and the other one was just broken up. Is this discretion? What tone did the referees set in this game? The coach of that team, on his own, suspended the players for one game each. Where were the referees? Why is there such disparity in what to call?
I might argue that failure to clearly, fully, and accurately referee games is of more harm to the youth players then clubs and leagues that fail to follow USA Hockey standards to the letter. Spare me the discretionary rhetoric of the referee calls. While you all (all being everyone involved) hide behind “ref’s discretion”, youth players are seriously injured. The tone and safety of a game is set by the referees. If the referees fail to call a clean tight game immediately as outlined by USA Hockey, the youth players will push limits. Adults are responsible for managing the youth players.
How do you address the failure of the refereeing system? The blame is not on the referee. The first step is to increase the number of referees on ice or implement an off ice official that function only to enforce USA Hockey’s zero tolerance policy and enforce improper checking, contact to the head, neck, or back, and other behaviors that put youth players at risk. It is not acceptable to leave a such a significant component of youth ice hockey (refereeing) undertrained and under-supported. Support the referees with education and man-power. Do not blame individuals. Standards of practice can not only be on paper, they must be standards demonstrated in action. I believe USA Hockey has a clear responsiblity to ensure their standards are enacted at all levels of youth ice hockey, to the highest possible degree.
The second step is to provide adequate training and support to the referees so they can best understand how to manage a game. This requires a 10 fold increase in referee evaluations and a mechanism to get immediate feedback from players, parents, coaches, and clubs to respected referee associations. Discretionary calling is not an excuse for poor work quality. You have to increase the number of evaluated games and you have to do it as “surprise evaluations”. The referees need to be taught to error on the side of safety and not reckless play and realize at anytime their game may be evaluated. The good referees will only get better and the poor referees will learn or leave.
In addition to these steps, strong referees must be rewarded and poor referees disciplined. I am aware that pieces of my above suggestions exist. They need to be improved apon. The current system, to ensure the games are called with the highest standards to match USA Hockey’s rules and regulations is weak, to the point of neglect for the safety of our youth players. You must address the system of refereeing and policing safety in youth ice hockey games. This neglect will utimately fall on USA Hockey, if not addressed.
Finally, the penalties for youth players need to be different the NHL. You currently have it backwards. The clubs, leagues, and USA Hockey are taking penalties that are used for elite athletes and applying them to youth players that are physically and mentally still maturing. This is wrong. The NHL penalties do not work for youth players as a method to best reduce risk of harm to the players. The failure to make the calls is one issue I already addressed but the failure to use a penalty that actually shapes and prevent behavior is evident and it must be addressed aggressively.
There is argument to remove checking from youth ice hockey. I do not believe this is needed. Checking is not the issue. Reckless hitting and abusive bullying physical hits are the problem. I believe 98% of the players play with respect but make mistakes. I believe that 2% of the players intend to bully and harm and are allowed to get away with it. The solution is in increasing penalties for the most dangerous hit in youth ice hockey. The solution is in removing the reckless players quickly and immediately from the game. Further discipline can occur later if merited.
Institute a mandatory 5 minute major penalty for checking or forcefully contacting a player in the neck, head, and back. The player should also receive an automatic 10 minute misconduct. You have to understand a 2 minute penalty for elbowing or a 2 and 10 for boarding is weak. Discretion is less important than just strong penalties. The 5 minute major impacts the player, the coach and team, and the 10 minute misconduct removes the player. If the player can’t follow the zero tolerance rules of USA Hockey when penalized, eject the player. I don’t understand what youth ice hockey is afraid of. You are the adults in a youth league. Penalize the problem players, educate them, and remove them if they can’t learn and get along.
A player that receives two penalties for checking or contacting the head, neck, or back of a player, shall be suspended from immediate game play. The bench will have to serve the 5 minute major penalty and the 10 minute misconduct. Hit the players and team where it hurts if you truly want to reduce the most dangerous behaviors in youth ice hockey. If a team continues to get penalties like the above, I would suggest removing goals from their score and forfeiting games. The strength of these penalties will not harm competitive play and it will raise the standard of safety in youth ice hockey. A win win situation.
Finally, USA Hockey has set standards aimed at best managing a great sport. There is hope to expand youth ice hockey in the United States. There is desire to teach players, improve safety, and create a great experience for the player and parents. Changing checking to Bantam level without addressing my concerns but more so without ensuring clubs, leagues, and referees follow what has already been outlined by USA Hockey, will only mask the problem of injuries coming from reckless hitting. The emperor wasn’t wearing clothes. Rewriting your policies and procedures, without ensuring USA Hockey standards are followed to the highest degree and failing to deliver strong penalties for dangerous hits and contact, is like walking naked on the ice surface and saying you have latest in stealth impact protection.
Gary Pilarchik
Hockey versus Checking: Needed Rules Changes in Youth Ice Hockey
Hitting and checking are not one in the same. Finishing your check is just code for hitting the player. Hitting was added as a statistic to track in the NHL but checking is not a statistic? The area is blurred. Hitting and checking are not one in the same. Youth ice hockey is not the NHL and leagues, clubs, parents, and USA Hockey are responsible for teaching the youth players the difference. Safety is taught not hoped for or wished. Hitting and checking are not one in the same. Address this difference in youth ice hockey now.
What is the difference between a hit and a check? It is really quite simple. A player with the puck is checked in order to move that player off the puck. A check is used to gain control of the puck or break up the play. The key here is possession of the puck. Checking a player that doesn’t have the puck is interference. Checking a player the passes the puck away, is still interference. He does not have the puck. You don’t agree? Research the game from the beginning. Watch a few games from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Hitting is well… contacting a player that doesn’t have the puck under the disguise of checking. It really is interference.
Somehow it became acceptable in the NHL to hit players after they delivered the puck or better known as finishing the check. Finishing is what? If the player just released the puck as contact was made? Released the puck for 1 second, 2 seconds, or more? Or is a player free to hit the guy that passed the puck until that puck is touched by another player? What exactly are the rules? There aren’t any. It is discretionary. And these discretionary calls have no place in youth ice hockey. Zero, none, nada – Youth ice hockey is not the NHL. Treat it that way.
My son is good shoulder checker. This weekend I saw some good hip checks. All done on players that had the puck. The check was done as a skill to gain control of the puck or break up the play on a player that was carrying the puck. Youth ice hockey can not have gray areas. You can not allow players to hit under the idea they are checking. If you believe gray areas must exist in youth ice hockey then error on the side of protecting the youth players. I also saw players hurt that were hit well after they delivered the puck. Well after, as in, the referees turned away to follow the puck and the players were then hit.
Youth ice hockey is not a complicated support to manage. What is difficult is changing the mindset or culture of youth ice hockey. Let me say this again – Youth ice hockey is not the NHL. Adapt rules that manage a youth league. Here you go… simple.
A player can only be checked if they are in control of the puck. The puck must be on their stick. If a player is checked who is without immediate possession of the puck a 2 minute interference penalty will be called.
Checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back is an automatic 5 minute major and a 10 minute misconduct. Harsh penalties for the most dangerous behavior.
Immediate game suspension for a player that receives a 2nd penalty for checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back. The player is ejected from the game and a bench player must serve a 5 minute major penalty.
A team receiving three penalties for checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back with forfeit 1 point/goal. Each additional penalty of this type will cost the team 1 point and a 5 minute major penalty will be given.
Now I am not saying these rules must be adopted as I wrote them. I am saying it is quite easy to significantly penalize the most dangerous behaviors in youth ice hockey. We are adults and adults are absolutely 100% responsible for making youth ice hockey safer.
Any delays at this juncture, with the current knowledge on concussions, is just plain negligent. Stop protecting reckless behavior and reckless players. Teach the players how to check and play physically. Significantly punish the dangerous behaviors. Remove the players that repeat offenses in the game quickly and punish the team for these dangerous behaviors. This is not a difficult choice. It will not harm competitive game play. It will only save harm to our children.
What is the difference between a hit and a check? It is really quite simple. A player with the puck is checked in order to move that player off the puck. A check is used to gain control of the puck or break up the play. The key here is possession of the puck. Checking a player that doesn’t have the puck is interference. Checking a player the passes the puck away, is still interference. He does not have the puck. You don’t agree? Research the game from the beginning. Watch a few games from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
Hitting is well… contacting a player that doesn’t have the puck under the disguise of checking. It really is interference.
Somehow it became acceptable in the NHL to hit players after they delivered the puck or better known as finishing the check. Finishing is what? If the player just released the puck as contact was made? Released the puck for 1 second, 2 seconds, or more? Or is a player free to hit the guy that passed the puck until that puck is touched by another player? What exactly are the rules? There aren’t any. It is discretionary. And these discretionary calls have no place in youth ice hockey. Zero, none, nada – Youth ice hockey is not the NHL. Treat it that way.
My son is good shoulder checker. This weekend I saw some good hip checks. All done on players that had the puck. The check was done as a skill to gain control of the puck or break up the play on a player that was carrying the puck. Youth ice hockey can not have gray areas. You can not allow players to hit under the idea they are checking. If you believe gray areas must exist in youth ice hockey then error on the side of protecting the youth players. I also saw players hurt that were hit well after they delivered the puck. Well after, as in, the referees turned away to follow the puck and the players were then hit.
Youth ice hockey is not a complicated support to manage. What is difficult is changing the mindset or culture of youth ice hockey. Let me say this again – Youth ice hockey is not the NHL. Adapt rules that manage a youth league. Here you go… simple.
A player can only be checked if they are in control of the puck. The puck must be on their stick. If a player is checked who is without immediate possession of the puck a 2 minute interference penalty will be called.
Checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back is an automatic 5 minute major and a 10 minute misconduct. Harsh penalties for the most dangerous behavior.
Immediate game suspension for a player that receives a 2nd penalty for checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back. The player is ejected from the game and a bench player must serve a 5 minute major penalty.
A team receiving three penalties for checking or contacting a player in the head, neck, or back with forfeit 1 point/goal. Each additional penalty of this type will cost the team 1 point and a 5 minute major penalty will be given.
Now I am not saying these rules must be adopted as I wrote them. I am saying it is quite easy to significantly penalize the most dangerous behaviors in youth ice hockey. We are adults and adults are absolutely 100% responsible for making youth ice hockey safer.
Any delays at this juncture, with the current knowledge on concussions, is just plain negligent. Stop protecting reckless behavior and reckless players. Teach the players how to check and play physically. Significantly punish the dangerous behaviors. Remove the players that repeat offenses in the game quickly and punish the team for these dangerous behaviors. This is not a difficult choice. It will not harm competitive game play. It will only save harm to our children.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Zdeno Skates Free and Player Recovers From A Broken Neck?
I can't understand this but read the clip below. More so this is what my concern is with youth ice hockey. Failure to crack down on reckless players, reckless hits, impact to smaller players from obscenely large players, hits to the neck, head, and back, and hits to players that DON'T have the puck aren't hockey plays. Hitting and checking are not the same thing. Hockey is physical sport but it can be better managed with better rules, better education, and better policies to address problem behavior.
Removing checking is not the answer. Removing the problem players and penalizing their actions strongly is the answer. It is time to modernize youth ice hockey. Protect the players and develop more highly skilled players. They are kids, protect them, teach them, and discipline their actions. The NHL can't get it right, youth ice hockey can.
Clipped From Yahoo
By Cotsonika The Full Article
So it was just an accident? So Zdeno Chara didn’t do anything wrong when he hit Max Pacioretty? So it isn’t Chara’s fault that Pacioretty’s head smacked into a stanchion between the benches and Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a broken neck?
The NHL decided against further discipline on Zdeno Chara for his devastating hit on Max Pacioretty.
So Chara skates free – other than the major penalty for interference and the game misconduct he received Tuesday night in the Boston Bruins’ 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens – while Pacioretty faces a long, difficult recovery and an uncertain future?
I accept that accidents happen in hockey. Guys get hurt. It’s a contact sport.
And I have to admire the guts of NHL vice-president of hockey operations Mike Murphy, who reviewed video of the incident, conducted a telephone hearing with Chara and announced Wednesday that he could “find no basis to impose supplemental discipline,” knowing full well the outcry that would come from at least some corners of the hockey world.
But nothing?
“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface,” Murphy said in a statement.
OK. It was a hockey play. But it comes at a time when concussions and questionable hits are plaguing the game, and the result was so severe and the punishment so light that you have to wonder: Why is this a hockey play? What’s next? Will a player be paralyzed? Will somebody die?
Removing checking is not the answer. Removing the problem players and penalizing their actions strongly is the answer. It is time to modernize youth ice hockey. Protect the players and develop more highly skilled players. They are kids, protect them, teach them, and discipline their actions. The NHL can't get it right, youth ice hockey can.
Clipped From Yahoo
By Cotsonika The Full Article
So it was just an accident? So Zdeno Chara didn’t do anything wrong when he hit Max Pacioretty? So it isn’t Chara’s fault that Pacioretty’s head smacked into a stanchion between the benches and Pacioretty suffered a concussion and a broken neck?
The NHL decided against further discipline on Zdeno Chara for his devastating hit on Max Pacioretty.
So Chara skates free – other than the major penalty for interference and the game misconduct he received Tuesday night in the Boston Bruins’ 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens – while Pacioretty faces a long, difficult recovery and an uncertain future?
I accept that accidents happen in hockey. Guys get hurt. It’s a contact sport.
And I have to admire the guts of NHL vice-president of hockey operations Mike Murphy, who reviewed video of the incident, conducted a telephone hearing with Chara and announced Wednesday that he could “find no basis to impose supplemental discipline,” knowing full well the outcry that would come from at least some corners of the hockey world.
But nothing?
“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface,” Murphy said in a statement.
OK. It was a hockey play. But it comes at a time when concussions and questionable hits are plaguing the game, and the result was so severe and the punishment so light that you have to wonder: Why is this a hockey play? What’s next? Will a player be paralyzed? Will somebody die?
Devastating Hit By Chara after the Puck is Passed
I have high expectations for changes in the CBHL. What I noticed over the last few weeks is the number of marginal reckless hits on youth players well after they deliver or move the puck. In my sons case, the referee didn't see them. It is evident that youth ice hockey needs to step up its standards, add referees, improve penalities, and set a better zero tolerance tone. Many good things come out of the CBHL, it is time to fix the problems and improve safety. Check out this hit by Zdeno Chara... well after the puck is moved. Reckless.
It is called in French. But you can hear the tone. This type of stuff happens in youth ice hockey. It is not about INTENT. It is about bad reckless hockey that is not fully penalized to the degree it must be penalized. You can not let youth players get away with reckless play. Please address this. Ther must be zero tolerance for this type of hit, hits to the head, neck, and back. Remove them from the immediate game. Penalize appropriately with supsensions and require eductation.
Max Pacioretty stretchered off after devastating Zdeno Chara hit
By Greg Wyshynski
Max Pacioretty(notes) and Zdeno Chara(notes) have history, stemming from their postgame shoving match in January. With just under 16 seconds remaining in the second period on Tuesday night, their rivalry took a stunning and disturbing turn: Chara rode Pacioretty into the glass between the benches, leaving him motionless on the ice before he was taken off on a stretcher:
Chara was given a 5-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The refs declared the period over. The Canadiens told the AP that Pacioretty was "conscious and moving his extremities when he was taken to the hospital for observation."
Scary, scary scene ... but was it intentional? Clearly, Pacioretty had nudged the puck ahead and Chara finished a check to take him out of the play. The interference call was correct; the major was based on the injury. Was it a case of reckless play by Chara or simply unfortunate geography for the hit on Pacioretty?
It is called in French. But you can hear the tone. This type of stuff happens in youth ice hockey. It is not about INTENT. It is about bad reckless hockey that is not fully penalized to the degree it must be penalized. You can not let youth players get away with reckless play. Please address this. Ther must be zero tolerance for this type of hit, hits to the head, neck, and back. Remove them from the immediate game. Penalize appropriately with supsensions and require eductation.
Max Pacioretty stretchered off after devastating Zdeno Chara hit
By Greg Wyshynski
Max Pacioretty(notes) and Zdeno Chara(notes) have history, stemming from their postgame shoving match in January. With just under 16 seconds remaining in the second period on Tuesday night, their rivalry took a stunning and disturbing turn: Chara rode Pacioretty into the glass between the benches, leaving him motionless on the ice before he was taken off on a stretcher:
Chara was given a 5-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The refs declared the period over. The Canadiens told the AP that Pacioretty was "conscious and moving his extremities when he was taken to the hospital for observation."
Scary, scary scene ... but was it intentional? Clearly, Pacioretty had nudged the puck ahead and Chara finished a check to take him out of the play. The interference call was correct; the major was based on the injury. Was it a case of reckless play by Chara or simply unfortunate geography for the hit on Pacioretty?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
NHL Suspends Player 10 More Game: He lost privilege to play!
Well read the cut of the article below from Yahoo Sports. A repeat offender, 1 game back, gets 10 more games suspension. Colin Campbell clearly stated it isn't about the outcome of the hit and injury... it's about intent. Maybe youth ice hockey will get it right this Spring and draft new rules and punishments based on reckless players, intent, and just head, neck, and back contact. It is just plain silly to support the problem players. Dump them. Give them a chance and dump them if they fail to follow the rules.
My son heads into the playoffs. They may face a player that has injured players numerous times. Perhaps that player is suspended, maybe he got his act together. I will be watching the first game, my son plays in the second game. I'll be very curious to see how the clubs step up to protect the players. If it is the same old same old... there will be a lot of angry parents with voices. The article below is about intent and not tolerating hits that can lead to harm. Youth ice hockey needs to grow up and get some real rules to protect the youth players.
In retaliation for Clutterbuck’s hit on Islanders rookie Justin DiBenedetto(notes), that drew a boarding penalty, Gillies drilled Clutterbuck and was given a major penalty for checking from behind and ejected.
Clutterbuck stayed in the game and then played Thursday at the New York Rangers.
“By targeting his opponent’s head, (four) shifts into his first game back from a suspension for a very similar action, Mr. Gillies has forfeited his privilege of playing in the league for 10 games,” NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in a statement. “While it is fortunate there was no injury on the play, there can be no justification for a player delivering a dangerous check to an opponent in this manner.”
Gillies earned a nine-game suspension for charging Pittsburgh forward Eric Tangradi(notes) and hitting him high with an elbow before landing several punches in the brawl-marred game with the Penguins last month. Tangradi, who sustained a concussion, was also taunted by Gillies as he got back onto his skates.
My son heads into the playoffs. They may face a player that has injured players numerous times. Perhaps that player is suspended, maybe he got his act together. I will be watching the first game, my son plays in the second game. I'll be very curious to see how the clubs step up to protect the players. If it is the same old same old... there will be a lot of angry parents with voices. The article below is about intent and not tolerating hits that can lead to harm. Youth ice hockey needs to grow up and get some real rules to protect the youth players.
In retaliation for Clutterbuck’s hit on Islanders rookie Justin DiBenedetto(notes), that drew a boarding penalty, Gillies drilled Clutterbuck and was given a major penalty for checking from behind and ejected.
Clutterbuck stayed in the game and then played Thursday at the New York Rangers.
“By targeting his opponent’s head, (four) shifts into his first game back from a suspension for a very similar action, Mr. Gillies has forfeited his privilege of playing in the league for 10 games,” NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in a statement. “While it is fortunate there was no injury on the play, there can be no justification for a player delivering a dangerous check to an opponent in this manner.”
Gillies earned a nine-game suspension for charging Pittsburgh forward Eric Tangradi(notes) and hitting him high with an elbow before landing several punches in the brawl-marred game with the Penguins last month. Tangradi, who sustained a concussion, was also taunted by Gillies as he got back onto his skates.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
We Couldn't Create it But Found One with the Montgomery Club
Wow... The Montogomery Club is offereing many things. An 8 game non-checking Spring League, an instructional scrimmage program, power skating, skills clinics, shooting clinics, and elite clinics. It is open to all youth players.
Montgomery Youth Hockey Association (MYHA)and the Rockville Ice Arena Spring Programs
All Programs are open to all boy and girl players from MYHA or outside MYHA. All programs have limited openings and will be filled on a first come basis. All programs except Cabin John Instructional will be held at the Rockville Ice Arena.
Schedules for all programs will be posted at MYHA.ORG.
REGISTRATION PROCESS
You can register three ways for any spring program:
1.) On-line at MYHA.ORG. Click on “Spring Registration On-Line” or go to the Rockville Ice Arena web site at rockvilleicearena.com and click on “Spring Registration On-Line”. Credit Card only payment for on-line registration.
2.) Complete the enclosed registration form and mail to Rockville Ice Arena 50 Southlawn Ct Rockville, MD 20850. Check only payment for mail in registration.
3.) Complete the enclosed registration form and bring to the Rockville Ice Arena. Check only payment for walk in registration.
You will receive an email confirmation of your registration within 7 days of your registration. If you are not already registered with USA Hockey, please register with USA Hockey on-line. Instructions for the USA Hockey registration are at the end of this booklet
THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS FOR ANY REASON FOR REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER APRIL 1 NO EXCEPTIONS. All requests for a refund must be IN WRITING and mailed to MYHA 50 Southlawn Court Rockville, MD 20850.
Spring League
What: Once a week fun league to keep your skills sharp. There will be four levels of play: Atoms/Mites, Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams/Midgets. This will be an 8 session program. There will be no checking at ay level of play and full equipment is required. A jersey will be provided for this program.
Who: All House and Travel players. The player should register for the level he/she is playing this season.
When: The spring league will play on Saturdays and will start on Saturday, April 2 and will conclude on Saturday, June 11 except for Saturday April 16, April 23, and May 28 when there will be no games. The team assignments and season schedules will not be determined until March 28, 2011 and at that time will be posted on MYHA.ORG.
Time: Most of the game slots will be on Saturday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM. Time slots on Saturday for each level will vary from week to week.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Instructional Scrimmage
What: Once a week scrimmage play to sharpen your skills. This is the next step in hockey for the MYHA Instructional player. After months of working on your skills, it is time to play some games and have some fun. There will be four levels of play which will be determined at the conclusion of Registration from Youngest to Oldest. Coaches will be on the ice for the first couple of weeks to teach the players the rules of hockey and to help explain the game. This is a great opportunity to get out and get some game experience. This will be an 8 session program. There will be no checking at any level of play and full equipment is required.
Who: All Instructional level players.
When: The Instructional Scrimmage will play on Sundays and will start on Sunday, April 3 and will conclude on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29 when there will be no games. The team assignments and season schedules will not be determined until March 28, 2011 and at that time will be posted on MYHA.ORG.
Time: Sunday afternoon slots range from 4:25 PM to 5:25 PM, 4:50 – 5:50 PM, 5:25 PM to 6:25 PM, and 5:50 – 6:50 PM. The younger the player the earlier they will start.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Instructional Program
What: Once a week clinic to introduce the new player to the fundamentals of hockey. There will be a total of 8 sessions. The player needs to be able to skate at least at the basic level of forward skating and stopping. Full equipment is required for this program. A jersey will be provided for this program.
Who: Any new player.
When: The Instructional Program will be held at the Cabin John Ice Rink and the Rockville Ice Arena. A player can only attend the program/rink they sign up for.
The sessions at Rockville Ice Arena will follow this schedule:
Sunday April 3 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday April 10 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 1 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 8 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 15 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 22 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday June 5 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday June 12 3:15 to 4:15 PM
The sessions at Cabin John will follow this schedule:
Saturday April 2 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday April 9 9:45 to 10:45 AM
Saturday April 30 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday May 7 8:30 to 9:30 AM
Saturday May 14 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday May 21 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday June 4 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday June 11 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Cost: $310 per player.
Power Skating Clinics
What: There will be two power skating sessions, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. Full equipment is required for all clinics.
Who: The focus of the Power Skating clinics is to develop strong fundamental skating skills. Heavy emphasis will be placed on Forward/Backward Stride, Edge Control, Forward/Backward Crossovers, Quick Starts, Speed, and Agility. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player.
When: There will be two dates/times for the power skating clinics offered.
Program 1 for Power Skating will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Thursday starting on Thursday, April 7 and conclude on Thursday, June 2 except for Thursday, April 21 when there will be no session.
Program 2 for Power Skating will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Sunday starting on April 3 and concluding on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29, when there will be no sessions.
Time: Program 1 on Thursday:
Power Skating 10 & Under Session from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Power Skating 11 & Older Session from 6:20 PM to 7:20 PM
Program 2 on Sunday:
Power Skating 10 & Under Session from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Power Skating 11 & Older Session from 2:50 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic.
Skills Clinics
What: There will be two Skills clinics, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. Full equipment is required for all clinics.
Who: The focus of the Skills clinics will be to develop strong fundament al puck skills. Heavy emphasis will be placed on Stickhandling, Puck Control, Passing, and Shooting skills. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player
When: There will be two dates/times for the skills clinics offered.
Program 1 will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Thursday starting on Thursday, April 7 and conclude on Thursday, June 2 except for Thursday April 21, when there will be no session.
Program 2 will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Sunday starting on April 3 and concluding on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29 when there will be no sessions.
Time: Program 1 on Thursday:
Skills 10 & Under Session from 7:10 PM to 8:10 PM.
Skills 11 & Older Session from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Program 2 on Sunday:
Skills 10 & Under Session from 3:40 PM to 4:40 PM.
Skills 11 & Older Session from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic.
Shooting Clinics
What: There will be two Shooting Clinics, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. These Shooting Clinics will focus on the fundamental skills of Shooting. For the 10 & under session we will focus on the fundamentals of the Wrist Shot and Backhand Shot. For the 11 & Older session we will improve players fundamentals in Wrist Shot, Backhand Shot, Snap Shot, Slap Shot, and One-Timers. Both sessions will work on developing a quicker release of the above shots which will increase their goal scoring capabilities. This clinic is NOT just for forwards. The purpose of this clinic is to improve all players’ shooting skills. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Any player who played wants to improve their shooting fundamentals as well as their accuracy and velocity with their shot.
When: These sessions will begin on Tuesday, April 5 and conclude on Tuesday, May 31, excluding April 19 when there will be no session.
Time: 10 & Under Session from 7:10 – 8:10 PM
11 & Older Session from 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player.
Checking/Defensive Clinic
What: 8 session program that will meet once a week to improve the player’s defensive skill. This clinic is NOT just for defensemen. The purpose of this clinic is to improve all players’ defensive skills. Some of the skills that will be worked on include angling, fore-checking, back checking, body checking, stick checking, containment, defensive zone coverage, etc. These are important skills for all players. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Any player who played Peewee or any player who will play Peewee next season. This clinic is highly recommended for current Second Year Squirts as an added emphasis will be placed on the physical aspect of Hockey (i.e. giving and receiving Body Checks.)
When: These sessions will begin on Wednesday, April 6 and conclude on Wednesday, June 1, except Wednesday, April 20 when there will be no session.
Time: Program will meet from 5:50 PM to 6:50 PM
Cost: $310 per player.
Goalie Only Clinics – Younger and Older
What: There will be two sessions, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. The 10 & Under program will focus on the basic goal tender skills of positioning, movement, and body/equipment positions. The 11 & Older Program will work on these same skills but at a higher pace and teach the goalie different positioning in game situations. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Christian Yngve will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player.
When: This clinic will be offered on Tuesday night starting on Tuesday, April 5 and conclude on Tuesday, May 31 except for Tuesday, April 19 when there will be no session.
Time: 10 & Under Session from 6:00 to 7:20 PM.
11 & Older Session from 7:30 to 8:50 PM.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Elite Clinics
What: This is an 8 session program that will meet once a week that will focus on high intensity skill development. Over speed training, flow drill and small games will also be included in this clinic. These clinics will be taught by Rob Keegan. There will be 3 sessions: 8 & Under, 10 & Under, and 11 & Older.
Who: Players who played on travel teams or house select teams this past season and are looking for a high tempo clinic and have the skills to skate at this pace. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player. Any female player who played for a National Bound or Gold teams may participate in this clinic as well.
When: These sessions will begin on Wednesday, April 6 and conclude on Wednesday, June 1 except for Wednesday, April 20 when there will be no session.
Time: 8 & Under Session from 6:10 PM to 7:10 PM
10 & Under Session from 7:20 PM to 8:20 PM
11 & Older Session from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic
Montgomery Youth Hockey Association (MYHA)and the Rockville Ice Arena Spring Programs
All Programs are open to all boy and girl players from MYHA or outside MYHA. All programs have limited openings and will be filled on a first come basis. All programs except Cabin John Instructional will be held at the Rockville Ice Arena.
Schedules for all programs will be posted at MYHA.ORG.
REGISTRATION PROCESS
You can register three ways for any spring program:
1.) On-line at MYHA.ORG. Click on “Spring Registration On-Line” or go to the Rockville Ice Arena web site at rockvilleicearena.com and click on “Spring Registration On-Line”. Credit Card only payment for on-line registration.
2.) Complete the enclosed registration form and mail to Rockville Ice Arena 50 Southlawn Ct Rockville, MD 20850. Check only payment for mail in registration.
3.) Complete the enclosed registration form and bring to the Rockville Ice Arena. Check only payment for walk in registration.
You will receive an email confirmation of your registration within 7 days of your registration. If you are not already registered with USA Hockey, please register with USA Hockey on-line. Instructions for the USA Hockey registration are at the end of this booklet
THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS FOR ANY REASON FOR REQUESTS RECEIVED AFTER APRIL 1 NO EXCEPTIONS. All requests for a refund must be IN WRITING and mailed to MYHA 50 Southlawn Court Rockville, MD 20850.
Spring League
What: Once a week fun league to keep your skills sharp. There will be four levels of play: Atoms/Mites, Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams/Midgets. This will be an 8 session program. There will be no checking at ay level of play and full equipment is required. A jersey will be provided for this program.
Who: All House and Travel players. The player should register for the level he/she is playing this season.
When: The spring league will play on Saturdays and will start on Saturday, April 2 and will conclude on Saturday, June 11 except for Saturday April 16, April 23, and May 28 when there will be no games. The team assignments and season schedules will not be determined until March 28, 2011 and at that time will be posted on MYHA.ORG.
Time: Most of the game slots will be on Saturday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM. Time slots on Saturday for each level will vary from week to week.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Instructional Scrimmage
What: Once a week scrimmage play to sharpen your skills. This is the next step in hockey for the MYHA Instructional player. After months of working on your skills, it is time to play some games and have some fun. There will be four levels of play which will be determined at the conclusion of Registration from Youngest to Oldest. Coaches will be on the ice for the first couple of weeks to teach the players the rules of hockey and to help explain the game. This is a great opportunity to get out and get some game experience. This will be an 8 session program. There will be no checking at any level of play and full equipment is required.
Who: All Instructional level players.
When: The Instructional Scrimmage will play on Sundays and will start on Sunday, April 3 and will conclude on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29 when there will be no games. The team assignments and season schedules will not be determined until March 28, 2011 and at that time will be posted on MYHA.ORG.
Time: Sunday afternoon slots range from 4:25 PM to 5:25 PM, 4:50 – 5:50 PM, 5:25 PM to 6:25 PM, and 5:50 – 6:50 PM. The younger the player the earlier they will start.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Instructional Program
What: Once a week clinic to introduce the new player to the fundamentals of hockey. There will be a total of 8 sessions. The player needs to be able to skate at least at the basic level of forward skating and stopping. Full equipment is required for this program. A jersey will be provided for this program.
Who: Any new player.
When: The Instructional Program will be held at the Cabin John Ice Rink and the Rockville Ice Arena. A player can only attend the program/rink they sign up for.
The sessions at Rockville Ice Arena will follow this schedule:
Sunday April 3 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday April 10 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 1 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 8 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 15 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday May 22 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday June 5 3:15 to 4:15 PM
Sunday June 12 3:15 to 4:15 PM
The sessions at Cabin John will follow this schedule:
Saturday April 2 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday April 9 9:45 to 10:45 AM
Saturday April 30 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday May 7 8:30 to 9:30 AM
Saturday May 14 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday May 21 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday June 4 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Saturday June 11 10:45 to 11:45 AM
Cost: $310 per player.
Power Skating Clinics
What: There will be two power skating sessions, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. Full equipment is required for all clinics.
Who: The focus of the Power Skating clinics is to develop strong fundamental skating skills. Heavy emphasis will be placed on Forward/Backward Stride, Edge Control, Forward/Backward Crossovers, Quick Starts, Speed, and Agility. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player.
When: There will be two dates/times for the power skating clinics offered.
Program 1 for Power Skating will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Thursday starting on Thursday, April 7 and conclude on Thursday, June 2 except for Thursday, April 21 when there will be no session.
Program 2 for Power Skating will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Sunday starting on April 3 and concluding on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29, when there will be no sessions.
Time: Program 1 on Thursday:
Power Skating 10 & Under Session from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Power Skating 11 & Older Session from 6:20 PM to 7:20 PM
Program 2 on Sunday:
Power Skating 10 & Under Session from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Power Skating 11 & Older Session from 2:50 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic.
Skills Clinics
What: There will be two Skills clinics, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. Full equipment is required for all clinics.
Who: The focus of the Skills clinics will be to develop strong fundament al puck skills. Heavy emphasis will be placed on Stickhandling, Puck Control, Passing, and Shooting skills. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player
When: There will be two dates/times for the skills clinics offered.
Program 1 will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Thursday starting on Thursday, April 7 and conclude on Thursday, June 2 except for Thursday April 21, when there will be no session.
Program 2 will meet once a week for 8 weeks on Sunday starting on April 3 and concluding on Sunday, June 12 except for Sunday, April 17, April 24, and May 29 when there will be no sessions.
Time: Program 1 on Thursday:
Skills 10 & Under Session from 7:10 PM to 8:10 PM.
Skills 11 & Older Session from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Program 2 on Sunday:
Skills 10 & Under Session from 3:40 PM to 4:40 PM.
Skills 11 & Older Session from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic.
Shooting Clinics
What: There will be two Shooting Clinics, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. These Shooting Clinics will focus on the fundamental skills of Shooting. For the 10 & under session we will focus on the fundamentals of the Wrist Shot and Backhand Shot. For the 11 & Older session we will improve players fundamentals in Wrist Shot, Backhand Shot, Snap Shot, Slap Shot, and One-Timers. Both sessions will work on developing a quicker release of the above shots which will increase their goal scoring capabilities. This clinic is NOT just for forwards. The purpose of this clinic is to improve all players’ shooting skills. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Any player who played wants to improve their shooting fundamentals as well as their accuracy and velocity with their shot.
When: These sessions will begin on Tuesday, April 5 and conclude on Tuesday, May 31, excluding April 19 when there will be no session.
Time: 10 & Under Session from 7:10 – 8:10 PM
11 & Older Session from 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player.
Checking/Defensive Clinic
What: 8 session program that will meet once a week to improve the player’s defensive skill. This clinic is NOT just for defensemen. The purpose of this clinic is to improve all players’ defensive skills. Some of the skills that will be worked on include angling, fore-checking, back checking, body checking, stick checking, containment, defensive zone coverage, etc. These are important skills for all players. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Any player who played Peewee or any player who will play Peewee next season. This clinic is highly recommended for current Second Year Squirts as an added emphasis will be placed on the physical aspect of Hockey (i.e. giving and receiving Body Checks.)
When: These sessions will begin on Wednesday, April 6 and conclude on Wednesday, June 1, except Wednesday, April 20 when there will be no session.
Time: Program will meet from 5:50 PM to 6:50 PM
Cost: $310 per player.
Goalie Only Clinics – Younger and Older
What: There will be two sessions, 10 & Under and 11 & Older. The 10 & Under program will focus on the basic goal tender skills of positioning, movement, and body/equipment positions. The 11 & Older Program will work on these same skills but at a higher pace and teach the goalie different positioning in game situations. Full equipment is required for all the clinics.
Who: Christian Yngve will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player.
When: This clinic will be offered on Tuesday night starting on Tuesday, April 5 and conclude on Tuesday, May 31 except for Tuesday, April 19 when there will be no session.
Time: 10 & Under Session from 6:00 to 7:20 PM.
11 & Older Session from 7:30 to 8:50 PM.
Cost: $310 per player for all levels.
Elite Clinics
What: This is an 8 session program that will meet once a week that will focus on high intensity skill development. Over speed training, flow drill and small games will also be included in this clinic. These clinics will be taught by Rob Keegan. There will be 3 sessions: 8 & Under, 10 & Under, and 11 & Older.
Who: Players who played on travel teams or house select teams this past season and are looking for a high tempo clinic and have the skills to skate at this pace. Rob Keegan will make any final decisions as to the proper clinic for a player. Any female player who played for a National Bound or Gold teams may participate in this clinic as well.
When: These sessions will begin on Wednesday, April 6 and conclude on Wednesday, June 1 except for Wednesday, April 20 when there will be no session.
Time: 8 & Under Session from 6:10 PM to 7:10 PM
10 & Under Session from 7:20 PM to 8:20 PM
11 & Older Session from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $310 per player for any clinic
No Luck With Non Checking Scrimmage and Skills Clinic
We aren't able to get a non checking scrimmage and skills clinic going for between season training. The biggest issue is insurance. In order for it to work we need to be sponsored by a club. Maybe next year with more time and more planning. With club sponsorship we get insured by USA Hockey and the cost returns to a feasible range.
As my son ends his season, he had a concussion, knee injury, and hip injury. Mild thank goodness. It is a contact sport. It is physical. But still a lot more can be done to manage away bad and reckless behavior. The old ways and the old "refs discretion" isn't going to float anymore. Too much is known about head injuries and too little is being done to make changes in youth ice hockey. Our voices are definitely needed to bring change.
I have found interest in two areas... getting rules enforced and getting leagues to change the way they do business and finding additional between season events for my son to learn skills. If you are interested in teaching or making hockey safer for the kids... drop me a line.
As my son ends his season, he had a concussion, knee injury, and hip injury. Mild thank goodness. It is a contact sport. It is physical. But still a lot more can be done to manage away bad and reckless behavior. The old ways and the old "refs discretion" isn't going to float anymore. Too much is known about head injuries and too little is being done to make changes in youth ice hockey. Our voices are definitely needed to bring change.
I have found interest in two areas... getting rules enforced and getting leagues to change the way they do business and finding additional between season events for my son to learn skills. If you are interested in teaching or making hockey safer for the kids... drop me a line.
Bob Probert's Brain had Degenerative Disease
As the hockey season comes to the end the leagues and club bring up businesss for the Next Season. Here is another example of what repeated head trauma does. Protect our children. No hits to the head, neck, or back. Take care of the abusive and violent players. 98% of the players are harmed by the reckless 2% of players. Think about it and improve the safety of youth ice hockey.
"Does ice hockey cause brain damage?" - Slate
Get ready for a lot of that kind of talk, especially from the outsiders who have to specify it's "ice" hockey (what, no field hockey?). For talk about the future of fighting. About hits to the head. About the deleterious and injurious effects of a game played by large men at a high velocity. And, of course, about Sidney, which is right where CBS went with it.
The New York Times reported this morning that the late Bob Probert's brain tissue exhibited "the same degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy" that more than 20 deceased NFL players and former NHL tough guy Reggie Fleming had when his brain was posthumously examined by Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Their findings don't spell out anything definitive on hockey's safety ... yet. And their subject was, shall we say, a unique specimen.
From the Times on Probert, who died of heart failure at 45 last summer:
"Does ice hockey cause brain damage?" - Slate
Get ready for a lot of that kind of talk, especially from the outsiders who have to specify it's "ice" hockey (what, no field hockey?). For talk about the future of fighting. About hits to the head. About the deleterious and injurious effects of a game played by large men at a high velocity. And, of course, about Sidney, which is right where CBS went with it.
The New York Times reported this morning that the late Bob Probert's brain tissue exhibited "the same degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy" that more than 20 deceased NFL players and former NHL tough guy Reggie Fleming had when his brain was posthumously examined by Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Their findings don't spell out anything definitive on hockey's safety ... yet. And their subject was, shall we say, a unique specimen.
From the Times on Probert, who died of heart failure at 45 last summer:
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