What is the difference between body checking and body contact?

Body Checking:
Body Checking is defined as an individual defensive tactic designed to legally separate the puck carrier from the puck. This tactic is the result of a defensive player applying physical extension of the body toward the puck carrier moving in an opposite or parallel direction. The action of the defensive player is deliberate and forceful in an opposite direction to which the offensive player is moving and is not solely determined by the movement of the puck carrier.

Body Contact:
Body Contact is defined as an individual defensive tactic designed to legally block or impede the progress of an offensive puck carrier. This tactic is a result of movement of the defensive player to restrict movement of the puck carrier anywhere on the ice through skating, angling and positioning. The defensive player may not hit the offensive player by going in opposite direction to that player or by extending toward the offensive player in an effort to initiate contact. There must be no action where the puck carrier is pushed, hit or shoved into the boards.

What is the national rule? When can the branches implement body checking in minor hockey?

The playing rules are established by Hockey Canada in concert with its member Branches. The rule for body checking is Pee Wee and above. However, in the event that a Branch wishes to conduct research on the topic of Body Checking, the rules can be applied differently to allow for this occurrence. In the case of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association, the Ontario Hockey Federation and the Ottawa District Hockey Association the Branch has applied to Hockey Canada for permission and funding to conduct research on a number of aspects of the Body Checking question at the Atom age level.

How is body checking research approved by Hockey Canada?

Hockey Canada has appointed an Officer of the executive to be in charge of the Body Checking Research Project Process which includes a Body Checking Research Committee. We have also established a Research Review Group. The research review group supports the Hockey Canada office by ensuring the appropriate supervision of all types of research activities within Hockey Canada. The review group consists of three University professors/researchers who assist in the review of research applications and the monitoring of research activities once they are underway.

It is important to note that any applications received by Hockey Canada from university researchers must also be processed by the Ethics Review Board of the university the professor is employed by. In fact, Hockey Canada's policy is that Research Applications must go through the Ethics Review Process and receive an approval from the supervising institutions before any funding will be granted and paid out for the research.

How was the decision reached of when to implement body checking?

May 2002
• The Hockey Canada membership approves a motion to allow Branches to set Body checking to the Atom level of play at Hockey Canada’s AGM
• The Hockey Development Council directs the Athlete Development Committee to develop a Checking Education package for minor hockey coaches

June to September, 2002
• Four Hockey Canada branches adopt body checking at the Atom level
• One Hockey Canada branch adopts body checking at the Peewee level
• All other Hockey Canada branches maintain the status quo

September, 2002
• The CHA releases Teaching Checking: A Progressive Approach a resource guide designed to support coaches with the implementation of the 4 step progression to teaching checking skills (This is also made available as a free download on Branch websites)

December, 2002
• Hockey Canada Board continues discussions on body checking
• Director of Development assigned the task of gathering additional research on the body checking issue

January, 2003
• Hockey Canada Officers strike a Checking Review Committee
• Hockey Canada Officers strike an Education Resource Development Committee
• Research and Position Papers circulated and reviewed by committee members

March, 2003
• Education Resource Development Advisory Group meets in Calgary to frame issues around resources to support coaches:
• Advisory Group provides direction through:
• Technical
• Medical
• Research

April, 2003
• Education Resource Development Group begins work on building an educational resource aimed at:
• Players
• Coaches
• Officials
• Parents
• MHA and Media

May, 2003
• Checking review workshop presented at Hockey Canada’s 2003 AGM

How does body checking affect the development of key technical skills in young hockey players?

There is currently no evidence that the introduction of body checking inhibits the development of the other core technical skills of the game. In fact the strongest research that exists states that the skills of hockey are acquired in the practice environment, not in the game environment. This research conducted by George Kingston suggests that a player would need to play 180 games to get the equivalent amount of basic puck control skills as a single one-hour effective practice.

What are the facts when it comes to hockey injuries as the result of body checking?

In a review of the recent position paper from the medical community there are still a number of questions to ask. For example, if body checking were introduced for the first time at 17 years of age (even if only at the elite levels) would there be an abnormal spike in injuries and if so, would the number be 4X greater, 8X greater, or 16X greater? If checking were introduced at younger age levels in a graduated fashion, what would the gradual phase in look like – questions such as where on the ice could body checking take place, should both hands be on the stick when a body check is delivered, should defensive players be able to body check in their own end but offensive players not be permitted to body check in the opposing teams end? Does early adoption of body checking concepts provide for more or less positive attitudes toward body checking in the game?

There are no easy answers to any of these questions without further study. However,further study should be specific, meaningful, and in a controlled environment so as to test all pertinent questions with respect to body checking while paying attention to the safety of the participants. What is really apparent in many discussions throughout minor hockey circles across Canada is that players and their parents would appreciate “choice”. There should choice to play the game with body checking and the choice to play without body checking. However, it may be a challenge to play Atom ‘A’ without body checking if this is the group that is involved in the Pilot Study.

Hockey Canada believes coach training and education along with parent education are priorities within the Canadian hockey system in order to support the continued positive growth of the game at all levels of minor hockey with or without body checking at the youth levels of the game. Through these education programs and initiatives we must ensure that players at all age levels receive the best instruction possible on all skill areas and that players, parents, officials and coaches demonstrate positive attitudes toward the purposes of checking and body checking within the game of hockey.