"Fair Play" rules, or does it?

"Heads up"

Hockey manuals and instruction books should instill survival tactics with a course on physics thrown in. High velocity contact and direct blows to the upper body should be interpreted in collision terms as linear momentum, which produces kinetic energy, which equals the body weight and acceleration of the objects involved. In an original investigation on "girls" hockey injuries during tournament play, the force of a larger body against a smaller body has a 70% greater impact source." (Girls ice hockey injuries during tournament play, The Medical Journal of Allina, Brust, 98. ) Newton's second law: force is directly proportional to change in momentum or force applied. Transfer momentum, or the transfer of kinetic energy equates to: impulse = force x time = change in momentum.

"Ice Hockey is classified by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a collision team sport." (Fair-play rules and injury reduction in ice hockey, Roberts, American Medical Association, 1996.) From age 11 and under, where there is no contact allowed, serious injuries are virtually non-existent. There is a statistical increase in injuries with age, speed, and intensity of play. "Fair Play" rules are designed to reduce injuries and penalties by applying "Fair Play" points to the team with the most sportsmen like behavior. Players who exhibit aggressive rule breaking behavior have points deducted from their team's totals.

Of the 200,000 players that are involved in ice hockey in the USA, there is little research or statistical data measuring injury occurrence and evaluation of injuries. The NEISS, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System only has data available to them when children are admitted to hospitals. Injury assessment is a consequence today of increased insurances rates, due to frequent serious injuries. The NEISS and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission evaluate injury statistics on a national basis in relationship to product-related injury.

"American male high school and college hockey players incur more serious catastrophic injuries than football players." (Girls' ice hockey injuries during tournament play, Brust, The Medical Journal of Allina, 98.) Spinal Injuries have increased and non-catastrophic injuries in ice hockey have increased. Injury rates are on the upswing in youth levels starting at pee wee where contact is first allowed. Inertia and contact are predictors of injury. The most common cause of spinal injuries in hockey is a push or check from behind. In another USA study, "26% of the youth players surveyed said that they would continue checking from behind, despite knowing that it could cause serious injury or even death." ( Children's Ice Hockey Injuries, Brust, American Journal of Diseases of Children, Vol. 146, 1992.) In this same study when documenting boys' attitudes, the players said, "they would cause injury if they became angry enough." IBID.

Injury caused by fighting is as yet undocumented. In other studies, violence in hockey is a problem at all levels where the environment is considered hostile. In a study of pee wee level players, "Out of 52 games there was fighting in every third game. Players at this age considered fighting a natural consequence of the game." ( Children's Ice Hockey Injuries, Brust, American Journal of Diseases of Children, Vol. 146, 1992.) In this same study, when a hostile environment existed with name calling and angry screaming parents and players, "six of the eight injuries" incurred were attributable to hostile rule breaking behavior. IBID.

Although studies have shown that eye and teeth injuries are minimal today, they were certainly a major issue before the 70s, when helmets and face masks were not enforced at youth and college levels. Many researchers believe that facial protection has caused increased spinal and head injuries, due in part to a feeling of invincibility that has been documented at all age levels. Despite prominent warning labels on helmets, many players are under the misconception that helmets provide complete protection against extreme contact.

A Canadian study conducted in 1984 documented one type of spinal injury from 1948 to 1974. "This injury was caused by a body check from behind with usual collision into the boards." (Children's Ice Hockey Injuries, Brust, American Journal of Diseases of Children, Vol. 146, 1992.) The statistics from the 40s to 70s (in an otherwise pre-injury evaluation era) illustrate that certain types of hits, considered dangerous and classified as illegal today, are still being executed. These illegal tactics, now far more prevalent, still cause serious neurological damage, spinal injury and concussions.

A thorough accounting of serious injuries by NEISS, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and further evaluation at all levels of the sport will aid the elimination of rule breaking behavior, which ultimately causes irreparable injury. Strict enforcement of rules and behavior re-education is of paramount importance to the health of thousands of young athletes. In a study of youth players, out of "29 resulting from illegal tactics, only 4 penalties were called." ( Gladiators on ice, Brust, The Medical Journal of Allina, 96. ) "Parents and coaches view the enforcement of rules as being the most important factor to reducing injuries." ( Children's Ice Hockey Injuries, Brust, American Journal of Diseases of Children, Vol. 146, 1992.)

Our societal values today regarding violence (both on and off the ice) are a reflection of a prominent and reckless psychosocial tendency which flaunts disregard for others, and rule breaking behavior. When "Fair Play" doesn't rule, "Heads Up" (USA Hockey) hockey is a Head Smart and "Head Safe" defense toward illegal, or intent to injure contact.

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