Safety Media Kit 2004

USA Hockey Safety Media Kit Introduction As the National Governing Body for the violent in nature, sport of ice hockey, USA Hockey is this is a committed to promoting and fostering safety disproportionate amongst its athletes, coaches and supporters. representation, and the vast majority of As such, it is the organization’s role to hockey injuries are unintentional. educate its membership, through brochures, instructional videos and training seminars, USA Hockey Regulation on the meaning of fair play and respect for 1. The Safety and Protective Equipment the individual. USA Hockey values the Committee, led by Chairperson Dr. Alan safety of all its participants, and aspires to Ashare, continually studies the game at make the game safe, fun and rewarding for all age levels for the purpose of its membership. developing means and methods of maintaining and improving player safety. The committee also has the duty to Facts About Safety and USA Hockey recommend rule changes pertaining to 1. USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine are safety. The committee must consist of at not insurance companies and do not sell least three members of the Board of insurance. However, the organization Directors and/or District Registrars, does provide insurance coverage for all appointed by the USA Hockey President, member players, coaches and referees who shall designate the Chairperson of participating in sanctioned activities. the Committee. 2. More than 65% of USA Hockey’s 500,000 2. The Playing Rules Committee has a players skate in a no-check hockey similar role to that of the Safety and league. This includes all girls’/women’s Protective Equipment Committee. The programs, USA Hockey InLine, programs Playing Rules Committee studies the for youth players aged 10 and under, playing rules of ice hockey, reviews some Pee Wee leagues for ages 12 and proposals for changes and makes under and most Adult leagues. recommendations to the Board of 3. USA Hockey has no influence over the Directors. The committee consists of at education of non-members or of members least five members of the Board of competing in non-sanctioned play. While Directors and/or District Registrars, plus the organization is the authority for one representative of the NCAA, as members playing in sanctioned leagues or appointed by the USA Hockey President, tournaments, the organization cannot who shall also designate the Chairperson dictate policy to those outside its realm. of the Committee. 4. Most hockey injuries are accidental, and 3. The Risk Management Committee is not a deliberate result of violence or charged with evaluating the risks illegal play. While some highly-publicized inherent to the game and its facilities, incidents at the professional level are and developing ways to minimize these 1 risks. The committee also makes recommendations to the appropriate committees and/or the Board of Directors and Executive Committee on all matters relating to risk management and insurance. The committee consists of a Safety page edge district risk manager from each of the 11 fold in page USA Hockey Districts as well as a Timeline National Coordinator, who serves as Committee Chair. total page w In 1972-73, the first modern rulebook was Officiating Education Program and longtime published under the leadership of Hal USA Hockey volunteer. Titled Official Trumble, the first full-time executive Rules of Ice Hockey, this book is director of the Amateur Hockey Association republished every other season, revising of the United States (later USA Hockey), rules implemented by USA Hockey since and Chet Stewart, a founder of the the 1940’s. Points of Emphasis: 2003-05: Each edition of USA Hockey’s Official Rules of Ice Hockey, features an introductory section Increased awareness of avoidable contact devoted to points of emphasis. These points of emphasis, which began with the 1985-87 version 2001-03: after the whistle, fair of the rulebook, cover issues that require extra attention. Here are USA Hockey’s points of Paying extra play and respect and attention to body elimination of all emphasis: checking, contact stick infractions. above the shoulder, 1999-01: sportsmanship and Concentrating on fair play. parent/spectator behavior and violent 1997-99: behavior/contact Establishing a “Zero above the shoulder. Tolerance” policy towards 1995-97: unsportsmanlike Devoting extra behavior and attention to legal penalizing violent 1993-95: body checking and behavior. Penalizing body checking from contact with the behind. goalkeeper and carrying of sticks above the height of 1991-93: the shoulder. Also Establishing strict establishing a “Zero enforcement of Tolerance” policy aggressive fouls. towards abuse of officials and 1989-91: unsportsmanlike Strict enforcement of behavior. aggressive fouls and the addition of a game 1987-89: misconduct penalty added to major penalties, Establishing strict criteria for such infractions. and enforcement guidelines for aggressive 1985-87: fouls and stick work. Penalizing contact above the shoulder. 2 USA Hockey 3 Directives Many directives regarding safety equipment for players and officials have been implemented by USA Hockey over the past 30 years. These changes have significantly reduced the number 7.5 wide and severity of injuries in the sport at all levels: Programs 1972-73: 1974-75: 1976-77: 1977-78: 1978-79: 1980-81: 1981-82: 1983-84: 1985-86: 1987-88: 1989-90: 1991-92: 1993-94: 1995-96: 1999-00: 2001-02: 2003-04: Recommended Mandated that Required all Eliminated the Mandated all Mandated all Required all Prohibited goal- Recommended Required that Required all on- Recommended Required that Recommended Called for an Made it manda- Mandated that that all players, all players with players below internal mouth- players below players below Junior players keepers from that all on-ice goalkeepers in ice officials to that internal internal mouth- that all officials immediate tory for all play- all youth play- Skill Development Program Coaching Education Program excluding goal- the exception Junior to wear piece require- Junior to wear Junior to wear to wear a full wearing a form- officials wear a all age classifi- wear a hockey mouthpieces be pieces be non- wear a half- whistle anytime ers to wear full ers wear a keepers, wear of goaltenders either a full ment for Pee a full facemask. an HECC facemask. fitted mask and black helmet. cations wear a helmet, recom- non-clear and clear. shield visor. a player’s facial protec- HECC- In the 1993-94 season, USA Hockey USA Hockey acknowledges that coaches are an approved in the Junior facemask or Wee players It is recom- approved face- required them Allowed a play- helmet and full mended all form-fitted by a (youth and tion. Players 18 approved hel- the backbone of its success, and strives to mouthguard. “B” (under age protective eye (aged 10-12) mended that mask. to wear a full er who has facemask. players wear a dentist. girls’/ women’s) years of age met including introduced the Initiation Program, designed 20) age classifi- mask with and below who this facemask HECC reached the Required that HECC helmet or face- and older may ear protection. to enhance early hockey experiences. The educate and work with coaches in making cation and external mouth- are wearing a be Hockey approved face- age of majority Pee Wee play- approved hel- mask becomes wear a half Also required the experience below wear an guard. All play- full facemask. Equipment mask. Required (18) and who is ers wear an met and dislodged. shield (visor), that all 8 & theory is that if a beginner has fun while approved ers, except Certification all players playing in the internal mouth- required all provided they Under youth enjoyable for all developing basic skills and building mouthguard. goalkeepers, Council (HECC) between Junior classifi- piece. players to wear sign a waiver. and girls teams involved. With a are also approved. Bantam and cation to sign a Prohibited a helmet/face- utilize the blue confidence, that player will go on to enjoy required to Junior (aged waiver in order altered helmets mask in the lightweight policy unlike any wear an internal 12-20) and girls to play without or facemasks. bench area. puck in all hockey for many years. mouthpiece. between Pee a facemask. games and other in amateur Wee and Senior practices. sports, USA Hockey to wear an In 2004, the Initiation Program’s name was internal mouth- requires its coaches to changed to the USA Hockey Skill piece. attend Coaching Education Program clinics. Development Program. In these clinics, coaches progress through a Although the main emphasis of the series of classes and course levels covering Skill Development Program is on fun topics including skill development, injury and skill development, the program prevention and leadership. Rule Changes and Adaptations also allows kids to experience The program uses the following mission Many rule changes and adaptations have taken place over the past 25 years, with the cooperation, fair play, fitness and safety. statement: intent to create a safer game. Some changes involve players of all age levels, while “The Coaching Education Program is others were targeted for a specific age or classification. These are the most notable: The year-long program recommends twice committed to developing coaches who per week practices of an hour each. The Skill will be effective instructors and role Development Program draws heavily on models through a comprehensive parental input. Parents have the opportunity education program at all levels. The 1978-79: 1979-80:

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