750 The effect of body checking policy change on contact mechanisms in 11–12 year old ice hockey players

Abstract

BackgroundHockey Canada’s evidence-based body checking (BC) policy change (2013) was informed by evidence that policy allowing BC in Pee Wee (11–12 year old) ice hockey players resulted in a >3-fold increased risk of injury and concussion compared with leagues where BC was not allowed.ObjectiveTo compare the frequency of type and intensity of physical contacts (PC) and head contact in elite (upper 30%) Pee Wee ice hockey games in leagues not allowing BC (2013–2014) compared with leagues allowing BC (2007–2008) using video analysis.MethodsTen elite games pre-policy change (2007–2008) and 11 elite games post-policy change (2013–2014) were video recorded and analysed using a validated methodology to compare the frequency of type (trunk and other types of PC with limb/head/stick) and intensity (trunk contacts – level 1–5 intensity) of PC and head contact. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated using Poisson regression controlling for clustering by game) to compare PC before and after the BC policy change.ResultsA total of 4409 trunk PCs and 2623 other PCs were observed. The total number of trunk PCs (IRR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.83–1.14) and other contacts (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.59–1.29) did not change post-policy change. High intensity contacts (levels 4 and 5) were less frequent post-policy change (IRR4 = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.19 and IRR5 = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.07–0.26) and low intensity contacts (level 2) increased (IRR2 = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21–1.79). Limb PCs decreased in 2013–14 (IRR = 0.48, 95% CI; 0.33–0.71) and there was no difference for head contacts (IRR = 0.81, 95% CI; 0.51–1.30).ConclusionsThere were no significant differences in total number of PC by study year. However, the incidence of high intensity (level 4–5) PCs decreased post -policy change. There was no significant difference in direct head contact or total number of other contacts. This will inform the development and evaluation of injury prevention and skill training strategies in youth ice hockey.

The Incidence and Types of Physical Contact Associated with Body Checking Regulation Experience in 13–14 Year Old Ice Hockey Players

“…In Canada and in the United States of America, this increased sensibility and research evidence triggered policy change delaying the age of body checking in youth ice hockey. But, recent studies comparing offensive skills [ 22 ], and contact mechanisms [ 23 ] of Pee Wee players (11–12 years), before (2007–2008) and after body checking policy change (2013–2014), did not reveal significant changes that would suggest that data of this study are not valid. We have no reason to believe that the situation is different for Bantam players (13–14 years).…”

Does Increasing the Severity of Penalties Assessed in Association With the “Zero Tolerance for Head Contact” Policy Translate to a Reduction in Head Impact Rates in Youth Ice Hockey?

“…Based on previous video analysis in Canadian U15 ice hockey with body checking (2007-2008), an estimated 10 HC1s per team game of a total of 160 total player contacts (6%) were assessed. 25 To detect a 25% difference in the proportion of total HC1 after changes of the “zero tolerance for HC” policy, a minimum of 12 team games (6 games with an estimated >2000 player contacts) were required (α = 0.05, 1 − β = 0.8). A more conservative estimate was used to account for cluster within our analysis (minimum 8 games per cohort with an estimated >2500 player contacts).…”