Player Safety
CONCUSSION INFORMATION
Michigan became the 39th U.S. state to enact a law that regulates sports concussions and return to athletic activity. The law went into full effect on June 30th, 2013.
The sports concussion legislation requires all coaches, employees, volunteers, and other adults involved with a youth athletic activity to complete a concussion awareness on-line training program.
The organizing entity must provide educational materials on the signs/symptoms and consequences of concussions to each youth athlete and their parents/guardians and obtain a signed statement acknowledging receipt of the information for the organizing entity to keep on record.
The law also requires immediate removal of an athlete from physical participation in an athletic activity who is suspected of sustaining a concussion. The student athlete must then receive written clearance from an appropriate health professional before he or she can return to physical activity.
SIGNS OBSERVED BY COACHING STAFF
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Is confused about assignment or position
- Forgets sports plays
- Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
- Moves clumsily
- Answers questions slowly
- Loses consciousness (even briefly)
- Shows behavior or personality changes
- Can't recall events prior to hit or fall
- Can't recall events after hit or fall
SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY ATHLETE
- Headache or "pressure" in head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Concentration or memory problems
- Confusion
- Does not "feel right"
Action Plan
- Remove athlete from play
- Ensure athlete is evaluated by an appropriate health care professional. Do not try to judge the seriousness of the injury yourself.
- Inform athlete's parents or guardians about the known or possible concussion and give them the fact sheet on concussion.
- Allow athlete to return to play only with permission from an appropriate health care professional.
USA SAFESPORT PROGRAM
The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Hockey. This includes not only on-ice safety, but also off-ice safety in any part of USA Hockey’s programs.
USA Hockey has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth hockey players. These include without limitation Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators. The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook is intended to update and collect USA Hockey’s various policies to protect its youth participants from all types of misconduct and abuse.
USA Hockey has ZERO TOLERANCE for abuse and misconduct.
This SafeSport Handbook includes the various Policies that apply to all USA Hockey Member Programs. Those Policies address
- Sexual Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
- Bullying, Threats and Harassment
- Hazing
The Policies also address areas where misconduct can occur and are intended to reduce the risk of potential abuse, including:
- Locker Room Policy
- Social Media, Mobile and Electronic Communications Policy
- Travel Policy
- Billeting Policy
By combining all of these elements into a comprehensive SafeSport Program, USA Hockey intends to create the safest possible environment for participation in hockey.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Rules & Policy
Players
- Mouth guards, neck guards, and full protective gear are required by all CHA players per CHA Bylaws 15.8. Full protective gear includes HECC certified helmet, full cage or shield, shoulder pads, shin pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, protective cup, hockey gloves, hockey skates, hockey socks.
- 12U teams and older shall be issued a team warning for failure to wear mouth guards during a game followed by a misconduct penalty for subsequent equipment violations during that same game per USA Hockey rule 304
Coaches
- Helmets are required for all ice hockey coaches and instructors of registered USA Hockey during all on-ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and all CEP clinics per USA Hockey rule 304
Buying Guide
The most important equipment aspect is proper fit. Over sized gear can hinder a player’s ability to skate, leading to potential injury. Undersized gear can leave a player exposed to potential injury due to lack of protection, not to mention it can also be very uncomfortable to wear.
