The Olds Albertan carried an article on Tuesday Nov. 24, discussing a clinic held in Olds on bodychecking for bantam hockey players.
As a coach of bantams for seven seasons years back, and being very familiar with the growth and development of children of this age group, I am alarmed.
Surely parents and coaches would question the promotion of bodychecking in what is an already fairly dangerous activity. That being said, what is needed then are regulations that discourage deliberate body contact in the game.
Most parents are aware of the danger of injury when a child participates in games where body contact is part of the game strategy. This is NOT a pre-requisite in bantam hockey, I hope.
If bodychecking is deliberately promoted at the bantam level, take out some insurance, since injury waivers are useless in a court of law.
I'm not primarily interested in the parent, only the child. Get bodychecking out of bantam hockey.
I've coached five provincial bantam C hockey championships. These kids did well, because they attended power skating. Nobody could catch them after period one.
If you want your future NHLer to make it to the big leagues, the first thing he must develop exceptionally well are skating skills. After that, concentrate on what's going on at the top end of that hockey stick.
Good luck, and support a safe playing environment
Syd Moore
Olds
