Body Checking in Pee Wee Hockey

Abstract

In brief: Two separate studies were done to determine the effects of body checking at the Pee Wee level. Study 1 evaluated eight of the smallest and eight of the largest players from leagues that allowed body checking. The players were measured for height, weight, grip strength, maximal skating speed, impact force during a body check, and speed of skating at impact. Significant morphologic differences (p <.05) between small and large players were reflected in forces of impact. Study 2 investigated the incidence and types of injuries sustained among players competing in leagues with body checking and without. In the checking leagues 55.5% of all injuries were due to body contacts, and serious injuries occurred six times more often than in nonchecking leagues. In addition, body checking accounted for 88% of the 25 fractures recorded during one hockey season.

Risk factors for injury and severe injury in youth ice hockey: a systematic review of the literature

“…Eleven of the 22 studies did not provide an effect estimate12 16 18 21 23 25 29–32 and of these, six also did not report any assessment of random error (ie, confidence limits or p-values) 12 21 23 30–32. Effect estimates from six studies were calculated where data were available 12 16 21 23 29 31. Other general limitations are summarised.…”

A Systematic Review of the Association Between Body Checking and Injury in Youth Ice Hockey

“…1,5,11,13,16 Body checking has also been established as an important contributing factor for fractures and other types of injury. 1,5,14,15 All but 1 study that met our inclusion criteria found an increased risk of injuries due to body checking. 12 The results of this study have been questioned on the definition of the study denominator and possible underreporting of injuries in the body checking group.…”

“…Data from several studies [11][12][13][14][15] were extracted and synthesized into usable data for this review. All other data were extracted as recorded in the original studies.…”

Growth Status and Estimated Growth Rate of Youth Football Players:

“…The largest boys were also more than twice as strong (grip strength) and generated about 1.7 times more force at impact and about 1.2 times greater speed at impact under experimental conditions than the smallest boys. 39 The size and maturity differences among young athletes in contact sports and their relationship to risk of injury should be a concern but have not been adequately studied.…”