USA Hockey body checking rule change : comparison of contact situations between 12U and 14U USA Hockey Nationals Tournament
Eskola, Pyry; Piispanen, Petrus (2014)
Eskola, Pyry
Piispanen, Petrus
HAAGA-HELIA ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014060411740
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014060411740
Tiivistelmä
Body checking has been the most talked about subject in the field of ice hockey for
the past years. National ice hockey associations have lately reviewed their body
checking rules, one of them being USA Hockey, second largest national association
in the hockey world.
USA Hockey saw a noticeable dropout rate in the age categories where body
checking was introduced and allowed (12 and under). For the season 2011-2012,
USA Hockey decided to remove body checking from 12U ice hockey, still allowing
body contact, raising the age of “full contact”(body checking) hockey to 14U.
The goal of the rule change was, gradually introduce body checking to the players
and retaining young athletes in the sport, focusing on educating the players and
coaches, but at the same time keeping certain level of physicality in the game. USA
Hockey wanted to do a research to find out if the players are used to the new rules
and if the game is still physical, whitin the new rules.
Data was recorded at the end of the season in the National tournaments in 2012,
comparing the severity of contact and the rate of change of puck possession, in both
12U and 14U, hoping to see the effects of the rule change.
After the data was analyzed, the results showed that at both of the age groups,
there was a similar amount of contact situations recorded, with the main finding
being that the players in 12U were used to the newly implemented rules, performing
less severe contact with the opponent. USA Hockey is really pleased with the effects
of the rule change, as in the following years they have seen increase in retaining the
players in the sport, as well as insurance companies being happier with having to
handle fewer injuries in the age groups.
the past years. National ice hockey associations have lately reviewed their body
checking rules, one of them being USA Hockey, second largest national association
in the hockey world.
USA Hockey saw a noticeable dropout rate in the age categories where body
checking was introduced and allowed (12 and under). For the season 2011-2012,
USA Hockey decided to remove body checking from 12U ice hockey, still allowing
body contact, raising the age of “full contact”(body checking) hockey to 14U.
The goal of the rule change was, gradually introduce body checking to the players
and retaining young athletes in the sport, focusing on educating the players and
coaches, but at the same time keeping certain level of physicality in the game. USA
Hockey wanted to do a research to find out if the players are used to the new rules
and if the game is still physical, whitin the new rules.
Data was recorded at the end of the season in the National tournaments in 2012,
comparing the severity of contact and the rate of change of puck possession, in both
12U and 14U, hoping to see the effects of the rule change.
After the data was analyzed, the results showed that at both of the age groups,
there was a similar amount of contact situations recorded, with the main finding
being that the players in 12U were used to the newly implemented rules, performing
less severe contact with the opponent. USA Hockey is really pleased with the effects
of the rule change, as in the following years they have seen increase in retaining the
players in the sport, as well as insurance companies being happier with having to
handle fewer injuries in the age groups.