As we get set to head into the 2003-2004 hockey season,
about the only thing we can all be certain of is that there will be no
shortage of conversations in the arenas about the body checking issue in
minor hockey.
Hockey Canada voted during the spring annual meeting to permit body
checking at the Atom Level in certain jurisdictions across Canada to
continue an experiment which is designed to appease both proponents and
critics of body checking in minor hockey.
One thing that must be said in favour of Hockey Canada is that the
organization is certainly trying hard to educate and train coaches and
players with respect to body checking. Let's first of all look at the
definition that Hockey Canada has put out for body contact. Before you
look at the definition, make sure you understand that there is world of
difference between 'contact' and 'checking'.
BODY CONTACT
According to Hockey Canada: Body Contact is defined as
an individual defensive tactic designed to legally block or
impede
the progress of an offensive puck carrier. This tactic is a result of
movement of a defensive player to restrict movement of the puck carrier
anywhere on the ice through skating, angling and positioning. The
defensive player may not hit the offensive by going in an opposite
direction to that player or by extending toward the offensive in an effort
to initiate contact. There must be no action where the puck carrier is
pushed, hit or shoved into the boards.
Therefore, it is clear that when body contact is allowed, and
understand that body contact is allowed at all levels of minor hockey,
including house league, novice, etc., the defending player is permitted to
move into a position whereby he is able to "block the progress"
of an attacking player. However, there can be no forward or deliberate
movement on the part of the defending player to move "into the
attacking player" in an opposite direction. He is able to "ride
the player to the side" or get in his way (usually resulting in the
defending player being knocked backwards or off balance). Even so, this
contact is only permitted in open ice and is not intended to result in the
attacking player being pushed, hit or shoved into the boards. Body
contact, therefore, is, and has always been, a part of the game. If you,
as a defending player, can get in the way of an attacking player, and thus
prevent him from getting a clear path to the net, this is perfectly
permissible and is a skill which is entertaining to watch when executed
properly.
Now, let's see how the definition of body checking is different.
BODY CHECKING
According to Hockey Canada: Body Checking is defined as
an individual defensive tactic designed to legally separate the puck
carrier from the puck. This tactic is the result of a defensive player
applying extension of the body toward the puck carrier moving in an
opposite or parallel direction. The action of the defensive player is
deliberate and forceful in an opposite direction to which the offensive
player is moving and is not solely determined by the movement of the puck
carrier.
The key difference between body "checking" and body
"contact" all comes down to who is initiating the contact. When
body checking is permitted, the defending player is allowed to move
"into" the attacking player in an opposite direction. This
results in a collision which, depending on the speed of the players
involved, can be quite severe. It also means that the defending player is
permitted to increase his own speed prior to impact to add to the effect
of the collision. Unfortunately, the offensive player is not always aware
that the defending player is coming and we often see collisions which can
lead to injury. In the case of 'body contact', the offensive player is
creating the speed and it is his action that causes the collision.
Injuries are less likely to occur because it is the defending player who
is being "hit", but he sees the attacking player coming at all
times and is prepared for the collision.
So it all boils down to the fact that 'body contact' is a defensive
tactic designed to prevent the puck carrier from advancing towards the
goal, while 'body checking' is an 'offensive tactic' initiated by a
defending player to "legally separate the puck carrier from the
puck".
Those last eight words identify the main problem with body
checking.
What if the attacking player no longer has the puck? What if he has
already passed the puck to a team mate? What if he has thrown the puck up
the ice along the boards? Does this mean that he should not expect to
receive a body check? It should...but it doesn't!
As soon as the puck carrier gets rid of the puck, he should no longer
expect to be on the receiving end of a body check. Yet, we see time and
time again, players getting belted into the boards long after the puck is
gone. There is plenty of time for the defending player to hold up, or veer
off to the side and avoid the attacking player. When this happens, you
know that the defending player is using body checking as an intimidation
tactic or as a weapon for some other means than to separate the puck
carrier from the puck.
Hockey Canada has established a 4 step checking model which will be
promoted and developed across Canada in an effort to teach players how to
properly check and receive checks. Anyone who has been around the game
long enough will recognize the four steps and will not see anything new in
the program. Coaches are expected to show players how to position
themselves and how to angle into players to take away the skating lanes.
How to brace themselves for taking the blow of an attacking player who is
skating into them.
PRACTICES ARE NOT GAMES
Once thing that must be remembered is that the four step checking model
is taught during practice. However, practices are not games. They are done
in a controlled environment with team mates, under the watchful eye of a
coach who is right there within arm's reach.
We all know that body checking is a skill which is taught properly by
most coaches. Players know the correct techniques and know the rules of
the game. They know what they should be doing. The problem is simple. A
practice is not a game. You don't hear the coach giving an emotional pep
talk before a practice. You don't hear the parents in the stands yelling
and making noise in a practice. There is no intense emotional high during
a practice. In fact, most coaches take the emotional high away from the
players at the beginning of the practice by putting the players through
conditioning drills that leave them all gasping for air.
A game, on the other hand, is a highly emotional affair. It is a
'battle' against an opponent who is trying to 'defeat' you. It is against
an opponent who is armed and ready for combat. It is time to use all of
your weapons and tactics to get the upper hand, and for many, the best
weapon is their body. Show physical domination early in the game and the
opposition will back off, seeking the shelter of the bench, reluctant to
touch the puck for fear of being hit.
IT'S ALL A MATTER OF ATTITUDE
The body checking issue will never go away. Hockey players will always
risk injury as a result of collisions with opponents. Even in house
leagues or at levels which do not permit body checking, you still get the
odd person delivering an "illegal" body check from time to time
which causes injury. It is because the game is so emotional. If you take
away the emotion, you may have a chance to take away the negative effect
of body checking. However, if you take away the emotion, why play hockey?
And when it comes to emotions on the ice, who is most to blame?
Emotions are increased from outside one's body. You get emotional mostly
from outside stimuli. From the people around you; from your parents; from
the atmosphere in the arena; from the history of previous games; from the
actions of your opponents. You can't have hockey without these
things.
LET THE REFEREE DO HIS JOB
About all we can do, if we allow our children to play hockey in the
first place, is simply keep them in good physical condition, well
protected with properly fitted equipment and develop their basic hockey
skills. Make sure that they keep their emotions under control in a game
and be aware of what is going on the ice around them. After that, just sit
in the stands and let them have fun, hoping that they won't get hurt.
Remember, there is just as much chance of your child getting a serious
injury in a game of road hockey as there is on the ice. Or in carrying his
equipment out to the car.
Once the game starts, it is time to hope that the practice sessions and
advice have sunk in, not only for your own child, but for all other
children on the ice. Let the referee do his job and let the kids have fun!
And let's hope nobody gets hurt.
Have a good season!
