Reply To: Body Checking in Youth Hockey

[David Mitchell]

This rule change was implemented by USA Hockey this past season, and they are in the process of collecting feedback from coaches. While I coached Bantams, I did get a chance to see quite a few pee wee games, and what disturbs me is the absence of consistent officiating. It is paramount that the refs are educated and call games consistently. It is quite frustrating as a coach to teach legal body contact to players, only to have illegal actions reinforced by non-calls in game. I also worry about some of the bad habits like skating head down through the NZ that I observed. I can't say for sure that this is a result of the rule change, but it is something to consider. In my opinion, we should get away from separating contact and checking. There should be significant body contact at the pee wee level, while reducing dangerous hits by proper coaching and officiating. When we talk about "non-checking" I think players, parents and even some coaches/officials get the wrong idea about what a legal check looks like, which can lead to an increase in illegal and dangerous plays at bantams and midgets. It would be better just to modify the “contact/checking” rules as a whole and tailoring them to the specific age groups as appropriate without specifically calling a group “non-check”. Again, as most officials cover multiple age groups, it would probably be a challenge to get everyone on the same page and calling games consistently, which is the biggest factor that will reinforce safe and fair play at all levels.

Dave
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Dave that is one of the reasons why the call should be simplified to one stride contact and 'stick on the puck and body on body' at the younger ages and 'body on body and stick on the puck' in U15 and up. This makes it easier for the refs to call and the stick has to be trying to be on the puck which automatically creates a good 'safe' checking angle.

A few months ago I appealed for the 'Brad McCrimmon Rule' as 'Body on body and stick on the puck' was the theme of his talk at the coaching conference a few years ago.

I sent the new thumbdrive today and included the second ABC coaching manual.
Tom