i think its fine. how many kids make the jump from house league to AA at an age late enough for this to be a factor? hockey isnt really a sport where people have miraculous jumps in skill level in their late teens...by the time you get to that point chances are you are either good, and have been playing rep for a while, or you're not and you don't.

even on the off chance that one or two late-blooming prodigies *might* get caught up in this rule and have to acquaint themselves with checking at a later age, i dont see it as being a bad thing compared to how many less-skilled players wont be hurt because they try to take someone into the boards, miss and concuss themselves or worse.

quote:

Originally posted by LightsOut Get caught with you head down, and your going to end up concussed. It's your fault. But believe me, once you make that mistake once, you better belive it won't happen again.

Ummm really? Mind explaining why even professionals get recurring concussions? You're saying it's all their fault that these injuries happen? For someone that's played hockey, you sure sound like you've taken too many hits to the head yourself.

In all honesty, I don't think this is a bad decision. They do say it's for "house leagues". House leagues are created for people who want to play hockey for fun. And that's the main reason this was done, to encourage our kids to participate in a recreational activity. Hockey is hardly a competitive sport when there's 6 year olds involved. If you want to play competitive hockey at a high level, then that's the risk you run. It's better than assuming the risk while just trying to have fun.

I do think that 21 is a little old though. Minor hockey. Should be 6-18, 19-21 is hardly minor.

quote:

Originally posted by Summerlover Ummm really? Mind explaining why even professionals get recurring concussions? You're saying it's all their fault that these injuries happen? For someone that's played hockey, you sure sound like you've taken too many hits to the head yourself.

It's not ALL their fault. It depends on the play. A dirty hit is a dirty hit. Hitting from behind and boarding (taking a run at a player), have always been a penalty and not part of the game. But hockey is a contact sport and bodychecking is part of the fabric of the game. When a player is left concussed from a "clean" bodycheck, it usually is because he was caught with his down or admiring a pass....

quote:

They do say it's for "house leagues". House leagues are created for people who want to play hockey for fun. And that's the main reason this was done, to encourage our kids to participate in a recreational activity. Hockey is hardly a competitive sport when there's 6 year olds involved. If you want to play competitive hockey at a high level, then that's the risk you run. It's better than assuming the risk while just trying to have fun.

I guess I'm just a purist. The game has changed to much in the past 10 years or so. Now if you even touch someone with your stick its a penalty.

The days of giving your opponent a friendly slash on the back of the leg as you skate away just to remind him your there are gone.

One thing I really don't like about this ruling is it makes "real" hockey an almost elitest/class specific sport. Hockey is expensive enough at even the most basic level. Now, if you want your kids to play hockey with body checking, it has to be at a "rep" level, which is a considerable commitment (minimum 4 days/week), and upwards of $20,000 once you factor everything in (tournaments, jackets, registration fees, extra ice & conditioning). Just to play our national sport the way it was meant to be played. Before this ruling, many local associations offered both contact and non-contact options at a house league level. Now, parents don't have that choice.

What's next? All football MUST be flag?

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Last edited by LightsOut on May-06-2011 at 20:34

quote:

Originally posted by LightsOut One thing I really don't like about this ruling is it makes "real" hockey an almost elitest/class specific sport. Hockey is expensive enough at even the most basic level. Now, if you want your kids to play hockey with body checking, it has to be at a "rep" level, which is a considerable commitment (minimum 4 days/week), and upwards of $20,000 once you factor everything in (tournaments, jackets, registration fees, extra ice & conditioning).

Again I disagree. It's not becoming an elitest sport, it's becoming a sport where there's a lot more competition to advance. It sorts out who "can" play at certain levels of hockey, and it's not just a free-for all.
Also, throwing completely random numbers like $20k to play rep is a useless arguement. What's so different than the way it is now then? It's no difference if there's contact or not.

Maybe an amazing player doesn't have the funds to play rep hockey, then it sucks for that person. But I'm sure there will be a whole new system of scouting that will take place, where we don't let that talent go to waste. Someone will take care of it, whether it be teams or a league that will invest in their talents. (at least that's what I'm thinking/hoping)

we should ban skates too, because people can twist their ankles walking on the rubber mat from the change room to the ice.

Injury is a risk in any sport. Teach those wanting to play how to play safely with contact, don't take contact out of the game!

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quote:

Originally posted by Summerlover Again I disagree. It's not becoming an elitest sport, it's becoming a sport where there's a lot more competition to advance. It sorts out who "can" play at certain levels of hockey, and it's not just a free-for all. Also, throwing completely random numbers like $20k to play rep is a useless arguement. What's so different than the way it is now then? It's no difference if there's contact or not.

If I want my kids to play hockey the way its meant to be played, it now has become elitest, because they ONLY have that option at a competitive level. Before, I could choose which association suited their needs best, as it was up each one to determine if they wanted to offer contact or non-contact, or both. And I said upwards of 20K a year for competitive programs, once everything gets factored in. That's VERY realistic.

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MATTY |

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• Heartthrob - Baby Kate (Magda's "Where Is My Baby's Daddy" Mix)
  
• Danton Eeprom - To The Bone (Jamie Jones Deep Sea Dub Mix)
  
• Matt Nordstrom - Lucky Drawls (Mark Brooms No Rave Stab Mix)

Last edited by LightsOut on May-06-2011 at 21:15

quote:

Originally posted by LightsOut If I want my kids to play hockey the way its meant to be played, it now has become elitest, because they ONLY have that option at a competitive level. Before, I could choose which association suited their needs best, as it was up each one to determine if they wanted to offer contact or non-contact, or both. And I said upwards of 20K a year for competitive programs. That's VERY realistic.

Please tell me where 8 years olds are playing contact hockey. I would think that you're puting your own kids at risk if you shove them into contact hockey at an early age. I didn't start playing contact hockey until I was probably 12-13 I think (sorry, using the gf's accnt cuz I cbf to make my own lol). And by that time, it should really be up to your kids whether or not they want to continue to pursue the sport, or play at the level that best suits their needs. Not the parents.

I think it makes sense for house league, but I'd leave it in select as there's a small chance those kids can make it to the NHL where it would be a huge disadvantage not growing up with contact.

people who are saying it's a contact sport and it's just part of the game don't understand that it is a contact sport only because the rules say so - rules can be changed.

before you boo-hoo this, you might actually pause to think a little about it.
recent studies have shown that even non-concussive blows to the head(ie the ones where you just get your head 'rung' and you're perfectly conscious), have been proven to cause dementia, permanent neural damage, and significant loss of motor control very early on in life.
denying this isn't some kind of yardstick for toughness of ability - it's just ignorant and stupid.

and i say this as a guy who played hockey for for 15 years and got banged up in a whole host of pretty violent sports.
it simply doesn't need to be this way.

quote:

Originally posted by Summerlover Please tell me where 8 years olds are playing contact hockey. I would think that you're puting your own kids at risk if you shove them into contact hockey at an early age. I didn't start playing contact hockey until I was probably 12-13 I think (sorry, using the gf's accnt cuz I cbf to make my own lol). And by that time, it should really be up to your kids whether or not they want to continue to pursue the sport, or play at the level that best suits their needs. Not the parents.

I started playing hockey at the age of 4 in the Oak Ridges system, because my city (Richmond Hill), wouldn't let you start till you turned 5. At such a young age your just trying to stand up let alone thinking about who to body check. But education starts young. From the beginning your taught what a fair check is, how to position yourself properly to take a hit, and basic hockey awareness. I played until I was 17 and was never forced into anything. I was good enough that I made the jump to the competitive system when I was 7. I love the game. I always understood it's a contact sport and with that, their is always the chance for injury. It's not about determining which level of play suits your needs. Rep is rep for a reason, either your good enough, or your not. But now, if you want to play contact hockey, you better hope you are good enough, or your shit outta luck.

What worries me is these kids that are "late" bloomers. Say you have someone who doesn't start playing hockey till they're 10-12 years old, and after a year in house league or select they're doing really well and genuinely want to make the step towards rep. That first tryout they have with kids who have been playing competitive contact hockey for 5 years already, are going to light them up. Now, that's dangerous.

PS: Great Hit here. Stamkos knows its coming, prepares himself, and gets up and gets on with it. Nobody hurt. Just good clean playoff hockey.

___________________
MATTY |

• Ambivalent - R U OK (Kasper is OK Mix)
  
• Do Santos - Menina
  
• Heartthrob - Baby Kate (Magda's "Where Is My Baby's Daddy" Mix)
  
• Danton Eeprom - To The Bone (Jamie Jones Deep Sea Dub Mix)
  
• Matt Nordstrom - Lucky Drawls (Mark Brooms No Rave Stab Mix)

Last edited by LightsOut on May-06-2011 at 22:03

Finally!

Hockey is making it's way to becoming a team sport, from being just a brawling match.