| Officiating |
 Hockey Canada approved new head contact rules at the recent 2011 Annual General Meeting held in May 2011. The rules are effective immediately, with the start of the 2011-2012 season. The new changes to rule 6.5 states: a) In Minor and Female, a Minor Penalty shall be assessed to any player who accidentally contacts an opponent in the head, face or neck with his stick or any part of the player's body or equipment. b) In Minor and Female, a Double Minor Penalty or a Major and a Game Misconduct Penalty, at the discretion of the Referee and based on the degree of violence of impact shall be assessed to any player who intentionally contacts an opponent in the head, face or neck with her stick or any part of the player's body or equipment. c) In Junior and Senior, a Minor and a Misconduct penalty, or a Major and a Game Misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head in any manner. d) A Major and a Game Misconduct penalty, or a Match penalty shall be assessed any player who injures an opponent under this Rule. e) A Match penalty shall be assessed any player who deliberately attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent under this Rule. Note: All contact above the shoulders (neck, face and head) is to be called Head Contact under one of the above. With the new changes, in minor hockey, any contact to the head, neck or face, whether accidental or otherwise will result in at least a two (2) minute penalty. Carelessness with the stick, intimidating face washes, among other things will no longer be tolerated with the new rules in place. These changes will affect all levels of hockey from team personnel, to officials, to players, to parents and fans. It will no doubt take some getting used to as things that were not called in the past will now be penalties. Rationale for the changes is based on the fact that the game is being played at unprecedented speed by bigger and stronger players at all levels. Respect for the safety of others must be addressed as we learn more about the immediate and long term effects of concussions. Hockey Canada has taken a bold step with the rule changes in order to provide a safe environment for all players. The rule change is set out to protect players, and also encourage fair play and respect for opponents. Along with the changes, effective teaching tools will continue to be developed to teach young players that any contact to the head area is not acceptable. It is hopeful that by engraining these values and habits into players at a young age, it will lead to it filtering throughout their entire playing career. Hockey Canada is dedicated to providing a safe and fun hockey environment for everyone. These rule changes will help young players and parents see the game of hockey as fast, fun and exciting, and not one that will result in injury. A number of resources to better understand the head contact rule change have been made available through the www.hockeycanada.ca/headcontactrule website. Resources include videos, coach tools to support pre-season parent and team meetings, and concussion resources including responsible "return to play guidelines". © Copyright 2011/12. Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association All Rights Reserved. |