Minor hockey associations across Canada have worked extensively with Hockey Canada to create development guidelines for the benefit of all players. Of course the passion and interest levels among parents and players vary greatly depending on many other factors. For certain, all parents, coaches and associations agree on one thing in hockey- SAFETY.
Many hockey parents choose to support their sons and daughters with quality equipment, training, encouragement and financial contributions to the best of their ability. Often, this means parents end up sacrificing, but do it naturally because their precious memories and investment during the early years is priceless. Starting from Tim Bits, players either participate recreationally or competitively which can be equally rewarding. Regardless, development of core skills is essential while injury prevention is an integral part of managing safe hockey. Upon reflection, how do we know our children are properly prepared to be on the ice in game situations?
As noted by Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s skill development guidelines:
“……where do youngsters develop the skills of the game? Evidence would suggest that the games model in Canada slows the development of players. In a study done by current NHL Coach George Kingston in 1976 he found that the average player in the Canadian system spent 17.6 minutes on the ice during a typical game and was in possession of the puck for an astonishingly low 41 seconds. Kingston concluded that in order to get one hour of quality work in the practicing of the basic skills of puck control, (that is, stick handling, passing, pass receiving and shooting) approximately 180 games would have to be played.”
As a matter of fact, the ratio of games to practices in minor hockey is limited to ice availability and time frame constraints so the standards as noted in 1976 have not improved much. The obvious issue is that our players do not have adequate support to develop the necessary skills to keep them safer on the ice. In the same way players are required to participate in checking clinics, they should also be pre-qualified for proper puck handling skills.
In summary, lack of ice time = insufficient skill development/practice time = inadequate stick handling skills = lower on-ice awareness = higher exposure rates to injuries.
Players still do not dedicate enough time practicing this important skill in the proper heads up position before progressing on to further development. Indeed this is a serious problem but it’s already half solved because as parents we now know better. The solution is a commitment to adopt best practices which prioritize proper stick handling training programs. Our player’s safety depends on it.
Paul Behner is the President of Skillz Systems Inc.; their program QuickStickz teaches hockey players how to stickhandle safely. www.quickstickz.com
