The debate about body checking in minor hockey seems to go on and on. Logical compromises are being found in most jurisdictions - no checking in participation-oriented house leagues at all ages; checking at peewee for competitive teams where tryouts are involved.
The point of eliminating this aspect of hockey in the kids' game is obviously twofold: No one wants kids getting needlessly hurt in athletics and no one wants enrolment to drop.
Checking works when coaches and referees are skilled in their roles. It works when kids are allowed to make contact with the body, not the head or knees, and when all kids on both teams are generally of the same athletic and skating skill.
Height difference is not an excuse - a head is a head is a head.
Preying on a child who finds himself in a league over his head is not fun, fair or sporting.
Here's the latest media coverage on the issue from CBC.
The point of eliminating this aspect of hockey in the kids' game is obviously twofold: No one wants kids getting needlessly hurt in athletics and no one wants enrolment to drop.
Checking works when coaches and referees are skilled in their roles. It works when kids are allowed to make contact with the body, not the head or knees, and when all kids on both teams are generally of the same athletic and skating skill.
Height difference is not an excuse - a head is a head is a head.
Preying on a child who finds himself in a league over his head is not fun, fair or sporting.
Here's the latest media coverage on the issue from CBC.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Scream at the ref by leaving your comments here. But remember, the kids are listening and learning.