I
would like to state my opinion as a trainer for a Major B Atom Rep team
this year with regard to the re- introduction of body contact at this
level.
There seems to be
shortage of experienced referees to properly ensure the safety of the
kids. In many occasions this year charging, elbowing, cfb, head hits and
cross checking are not being called. Coaches soon see the lack of calls,
and use their larger players to intimidate smaller, skilled players on the
opposing teams. Cries of " smoke him " are all too often heard
from the benches. I realize all levels have large size discrepancies,
but even at our Atom level I know that there is up to 90lbs.
difference in some players weight. Some of the younger referees seem to
see this as part of the risk of a smaller player (s ) competing at
the " rep " level. Are these referees getting proper and
constant " direction " from the Associations? Are there
enough practice times available to all teams to adequately prepare the
kids to give and receive legal, clean body checks?
In several games this
year, our players came crying to the bench ( if I wasn't out to help them
off the ice ) and had to be " persuaded " in some cases to
continue playing in the game. They simply were afraid to go out and get
hit again in order to play a game for fun. I should mention that we were
not a "big " team and did carry some " minor " age
players, but it seemed to be once again the illegal hits, and non calls
from the officials which were discouraging these kids from playing. In one
particular regular season game played in
Ottawa
this year, the score was
somewhat " lop-sided " and we did not shake hands
with the opposing team after the game ended because of possible violent
incidents. I honestly thought that we were playing the 1973-74
Philadelphia Flyers! Once again in this case, referees and coaches
caused this to escalate into a glowing example of poor sportsmanship.
Remember, this is only Atom! I won't even bother to recount what
some of the smaller tournaments " up the Valley " were
like, I'm sure you get the picture. Even in playoff games, we had
" kids " refereeing " kids ". We have all seen these,
or similar situations.
I have been fortunate
enough to have had the opportunity to coach some of these kids from
Initiation level to this year, their first at the ' rep " level.
After our last playoff game, a close 1-0 loss, a sense of relief that
the season was over seemed to be in the dressing room. No one
wanted to play anymore this year. How many of these kids will keep playing
under these conditions? Some will be lucky to want to play until Bantam
level.
I am old enough to
have played Atom rep hockey in the 70's when there was full contact, so I
am not against all body contact. However, the main difference
was that when we played and raised our elbows from our sides to hit
an opposing player, IT WAS A PENALTY. Same goes for charging, boarding,
etc. A " clean hit " stands out like a sore thumb in
our league this year. I feel that until coaches, referees and the
Associations realize the impact of allowing body contact as it was
played this year, minor hockey risks declining enrollment, and severe
injury to the players. Surely skill development is also impeded when
smaller or skilled players are being told to " dump and chase "
the puck instead of skating or passing...just to prevent injury or because
they are " playing scared ". The Europeans sure don't seem
to have any problems adapting to body contact at a later age, not to
mention displaying superior skill levels even at the NHL level... and how
many of our kids are going to be worrying about that!
I would hope that all
minor hockey associations would reconsider this body contact decision
until perhaps the midget level, or at least limit it to open ice
contact. As a trainer, parent, and a fan, my enjoyment in going to
watch my son and his friends play all but disappeared this year, and I
know there are many others like me. Its just not worth the risk of seeing
them injured.
