Hal Tearse

Coaches, referees responsible for safety on ice

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Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey Coach in Chief

Player safety is a joint responsibility to be shared by coaches and referees alike. The coaches and referees can make a difference when they work together to reduce injuries to children who play hockey.

Our guideline is the rulebook because it defines how we play the game and what the penalties should be for violating the rules. When the on-ice officials allow for too many “let them play” waivers in the rulebook, youth players learn that high hits, head contact and very aggressive and potentially harmful play is OK. If one team adopts that strategy, then other teams they play will respond in kind.

Over time, we are playing a much different game with far different tactics and objectives, all in the name of winning. When enough time has gone by, everybody accepts that this style of play is acceptable, when in fact it is not.

Referees are put in a tough spot because the new acceptability and lax interpretation of rules makes it confusing for players, and yet when injuries occur, the rules have to be imposed.

Subsequently, it is possible that the outcome of the incident determines what penalty is called. For instance, on a check from behind where the hittee is not injured, a two-minute minor for cross-checking or boarding might be assessed if the referee feels that there was no harm done. If there is injury, the more severe penalties may be assessed.

This makes a referee’s job much harder because the penalty is outcome-based rather than what actually occurred. Also, consistency could be a problem as referees choose to apply the rules in several ways.

Coaches are also placed between a rock and a hard place because they might feel that their players need to adopt a very physical posture in order to compete in the games; so we have a Catch-22 situation. Fortunately, the answer is pretty simple and it goes like this:

Referees were instructed by USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey in mid-December 2010 to call all checks from behind and head contact violations, and assess the proper penalties as established in the rulebook. They are not to waiver or minimize the calls based on the outcome of the situation, but instead make the calls in order to protect the players and the integrity of the game.

Coaches need to do two things in this regard. The first is to support the on-ice calls by the officials regardless if they agree or not. The second is to teach their players’ body contact skills and how to protect themselves along the wall by proper angling and mindful positioning in the danger zone along the walls. It is interesting that players with the lowest skating skills are more prone to these types of injuries.

In the event that an on-ice official misses a call on a dangerous play, the coach should sit the player out for a few shifts to reinforce respect for opponents, fair play and the rules. To ignore the behavior cheats players out of valuable lessons that can be learned from team sports.

Comments like “hey, good check” when their player is on the way to the penalty box simply sends a message that the coach approves of the dangerous play and that rules do not matter. Arguing with an official or yelling at them sends equally bad messages to the players. When coaches exercise emotional control, your players will follow your example.

Team practice plans should routinely include body contact drills with instruction and reinforcement that the ”head is off limits” and when an opponent has his/her back to you do not “check them from behind.” Failure to provide these skills to youth players is a failure of coaching responsibilities and competency. A body contact/confidence skill video for coaches can be found in the coach resource center at www.minnesotahockey.org and will provide youth coaches with explanations and drills that they can use with their teams.

I hear from referees that coaches do not support them in this effort, and I hear from coaches that referees are inconsistent. There is likely truth on both sides and the goal is not perfection but excellence and shared responsibility.

In District 3, the referees are talking to coaches before the games, telling them that they are enforcing these rules virtually with a no-tolerance approach, In the last four weeks, reports of concussions has dropped as the number of these called penalties has increased.

It will not take long for players to adjust their play to avoid long and frequent sessions in the penalty box. Once players get the message, the number of these penalties will drop again and the game will be safer for all kids who want to play.

This is a game for kids and all of the adults are equally responsible for the safety of all participants. When the adults (coaches and referees) who are charged with the safety of players fail to live up to their obligations, the kids are the losers.

By working together, coaches and referees can help make this great game safer and more fun for youth players.

This article originally appeared in the Jan. 20, 2011 edition of Let’s Play Hockey.