It is not accurate to simply say USA Hockey is taking checking out of Peewees. The overall proposal is to increase the allowable body contact beginning at Mites and progress through Bantam when full, legal body checking would begin in games. As an example, the American Developmental Model (ADM) Red, White & Blue Hockey at 8U introduces the cross-ice environment to increase traffic and congestion and thus the associated natural body contact through simply reducing space.
The proposal would then increase the allowable body contact as player’s progress through Squirts and Peewees. Competing at the puck, angling to gain possession or stop an offensive attack are examples at these levels. An important objective of this proposal is to eliminate the “Big Hit” in Peewees where players ignore the puck and try to ‘blow up’ an opponent.Though not allowed in games, coaches will be asked to introduce and teach full body checking techniques in every practice during the two Peewee years. We believe this to be a better solution than what we often times see today as a single weekend “introduction to checking” clinic. The proposal is to provide players two years to acquire the necessary checking skills in a safer environment.
I support making the change to delay the introduction of checking to the Bantam level.
I completely disagree. By not allowing body checking until Peewee or potentially Bantams, while not coming right out and saying it - we are actually teaching our kids it is okay to skate with your head down. No need to watch for other players - you can't get hit. If body contact was allowed right from the START (yes - I did say that), we would have far fewer concussions than 'introducing' body checking once the kids are much bigger and their hits are much harder. Once our kids can finally check, they are older and want to show off and look cool to their friends. "Look how I can hit!!" “Did you see me nail that guy?” This would not happen if checking were allowed from day one in a person's hockey career. ‘Studies’ show concussions increase once body checking is allowed at Peewee level - no duh. Studies also show kids who sit on the couch all day not playing sports have zero concussions. If we allowed checking all through hockey, you would see concussions go down because the kids learn all about hitting at the same time as they learn about shooting, skating, and offsides - it's all a part of hockey. We teach the kids how to hit, how to take a hit and the purpose of hitting (not to go out and cream someone - to remove the other player from the puck). Hockey is a contact sport and if kids (or their parents) want to play hockey without getting hit - there are no contact leagues.
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