Concussions in hockey pose a serious health risk to both professional and amateur players alike. Head injuries may be somewhat inevitable as hockey is a tough physical sport and body contact is a part of the game. In the past not a lot of attention was paid to head injuries with players and coaches simply dismissing the injury as "having their bell rung". This in fact could very well have been what is now known as a Grade one concussion. Symptoms usually last no more than 15 or 20 minutes and are characterized by the player being a bit dazed or confused. Improvement is quite fast and there are usually no lasting effects.
Grade two or three concussions however, are much more serious and players should seek medical attention as soon as possible. In these types of concussions the player may lose consciousness and often has no memory of the incident which caused the injury. Other symptoms may include disorientation, headaches, vomiting, vision and hearing impairment and loss of coordination.
All concussions in hockey and other sports shouldagel
vietnam lua dao
Unicity
vietnam lừa đảo be treated as a very serious injury. Concussions are most often caused by a blow or jolt to the head or even whiplash. Any head injury will usually result in some form of concussion. It is important that steps be taken to reduce the number and severity of this type of injury. It is the responsibility of anybody involved in hockey in any way to help with this awareness as head injuries can and do end careers and may even be severe enough to cause death.
Parents and fans, league officials, equipment manufactures, coaches and referees are all culpable to a degree. Players must learn to respect each other and play within the rules of the game. Any deviation from these rules, such as deliberate attacks to the head, should be dealt with severely. At the professional level nothing less than a 20 game suspension should be the norm with more severe penalties for the repeat offender. Minor hockey organizations should consider raising the age limit for body contact as children are more susceptible to permanent damage from concussions in hockey.
The proper equipment must always be worn and used correctly. How often have you seen players sporting helmets with a loose chin strap or chewing on their mouth guards during play? I believe that the rules of hockey include penalties for the improper use of equipment. These rules should be strictly enforced, especially when it comes to head protection. I can remember a time when coaches would call for a measurement of the curve in the blade of an opposing players stick at a crucial point in the game, often resulting in a penalty. Maybe the coaches can now employ these same tactics as the rules apply to helmets.
It is unfortunately next to impossible to completely prevent head injuries but certainly the incidents and severity of these injuries can be limited. As fans we should be concerned as these injuries often cut short the careers of our favourite stars. By the use of common sense, player's respect for the rules and each other and proper use of equipment we can diminish the consequences of concussions in hockey.
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Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Five Tips to Playing Defence in Hockey
If you like those bone crunching checks and physical play then playing defence is for you. A good defenseman is always in the right position, is patient and has great timing. You need to be able to control both the neutral and the defensive zones of the ice. Playing tough along the boards and winning those battles for the puck requires grit, determination and hard work. Of course, making that great break out pass from the defensive end and jumping into the rush is always fun and exhilarating too.
Here are five tips to playing defence in hockey:
1. Always try to stay between the forward and the net keeping your hockey stick out in front of you. Don't watch the puck, keep your eyes on the opponent's hips instead and always try to force them to the outside. Anticipate the pass.
2. Control the Gap. The "gap" is the space between you and the oncoming forward. A gap too big will allow the forward to cut to the inside, too narrowagel vietnam lua dao
Unicity vietnam lừa đảo and he can get around you if you miss the check. Allow about 2 stick lengths for the gap. Keep your stick close to your body, tricking the forward into thinking the gap is larger than it is.
3. One of the most critical aspects of playing defence is controlling the front of the net. Most goals are scored from this, the slot area. Keep your body between the player in the slot and the goal. Face the play and try to tie up his stick by keeping your stick over top of his. All the time this struggle is going on be sure not to screen your goalie.
4. Keep your stick on the ice and use your feet. Your stick is doing you no good if you are carrying it too high. It takes too much time to bring it into play to intercept a pass or break up a rush. Also, your feet can be used as a second or third stick. Use them to move the puck along the boards or to make a pass when your stick is tied up. Practice playing soccer to become more adept with your feet.
5. As a defenseman you won't be able to prevent every shot on net but it is your job to prevent or limit the quality chances. Your opponent is the greatest threat when positioned between the face-off circles. Force them to the outside away from this area and try to get them to their backhand (their weak) side. Once they are in a side lane their chance for a quality shot is greatly reduced.
Remember, as a defenseman you are part of a team and you can't play the game of hockey by yourself. Always communicate with your defensive partner, forwards and goalie while on the ice. Know where your team mates and your opponents are at all times. Keep your head on a "swivel" and have a 360 degree view. Following these five tips to playing defence in hockey will help you and your team to success.
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Here are five tips to playing defence in hockey:
1. Always try to stay between the forward and the net keeping your hockey stick out in front of you. Don't watch the puck, keep your eyes on the opponent's hips instead and always try to force them to the outside. Anticipate the pass.
2. Control the Gap. The "gap" is the space between you and the oncoming forward. A gap too big will allow the forward to cut to the inside, too narrowagel vietnam lua dao
Unicity vietnam lừa đảo and he can get around you if you miss the check. Allow about 2 stick lengths for the gap. Keep your stick close to your body, tricking the forward into thinking the gap is larger than it is.
3. One of the most critical aspects of playing defence is controlling the front of the net. Most goals are scored from this, the slot area. Keep your body between the player in the slot and the goal. Face the play and try to tie up his stick by keeping your stick over top of his. All the time this struggle is going on be sure not to screen your goalie.
4. Keep your stick on the ice and use your feet. Your stick is doing you no good if you are carrying it too high. It takes too much time to bring it into play to intercept a pass or break up a rush. Also, your feet can be used as a second or third stick. Use them to move the puck along the boards or to make a pass when your stick is tied up. Practice playing soccer to become more adept with your feet.
5. As a defenseman you won't be able to prevent every shot on net but it is your job to prevent or limit the quality chances. Your opponent is the greatest threat when positioned between the face-off circles. Force them to the outside away from this area and try to get them to their backhand (their weak) side. Once they are in a side lane their chance for a quality shot is greatly reduced.
Remember, as a defenseman you are part of a team and you can't play the game of hockey by yourself. Always communicate with your defensive partner, forwards and goalie while on the ice. Know where your team mates and your opponents are at all times. Keep your head on a "swivel" and have a 360 degree view. Following these five tips to playing defence in hockey will help you and your team to success.
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Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Five Tips for Great Hockey Goaltending
One of the most specialized positions in all of sports, a hockey goalie needs to be dedicated and able to concentrate at all times in the heat of battle. He or she is the last line of defence and is considered by many to be the most important player on the ice. A great performance or a crucial save at an important point in the game can elevate the play of the whole team resulting in many victories. Playing goal is very rewarding when you win and can be exasperating when you lose.
Here are five Tips for Great hockey goaltending:agel vietnam lua dao
During play you should always be at the ready position. Keep your knees bent with both hands at the same height in front of you. Keep your catching glove open towards the play and your blocker in front of your knee. The stick is held on the ice in front of, but never touching your toes. You are now ready to make that great save.The secret to great goaltending is positioning and concentration. Positioning means to keep square to the puck, cutting down the angles and giving the shooter less of the net to aim at. He can't hit what he can't see. Concentration means keeping your eye on the puck at all times during play, even when it is at the opposite end of the rink.When the opposition has control of the puck either in the corner or behind your net be sure to hug the post. Stand in the ready position with your backside in the net and your leg, waist and arm tight to the post. Do not turn your body to face the shooter but rather only position your stick to block a pass out from behind. In this way you can easily move from side to side while still remaining in position to face a shot from the front.One of the most popular styles of goaltending today is the butterfly. This is because you can cover more of the net and minimize openings. From the ready position drop to your knees with your pads spread to either side. Keep your head, shoulders and torso tall and square to the puck. The blade of your stick should be on the ice, between your pads and protecting the five hole. Your catching glove should be open, a little in front of your body and positioned just above your pad. Practice dropping into the butterfly and getting up again while remaining square to the puck.Work on your skating and puck handling skills. You need to be mobile and able to control the puck. Practice starts, stops and direction changes, all the while keeping square to the puck. Being able to handle the puck will enable you to control rebounds and give up fewer scoring chances to the opposition.
Playing goal is great fun but requires hard work and practice. The best part is that your team mates think of you as being a little (or a lot) eccentric. These five tips for great hockey goaltending should help on your path to becoming the next great hockey goalie.
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Here are five Tips for Great hockey goaltending:agel vietnam lua dao
During play you should always be at the ready position. Keep your knees bent with both hands at the same height in front of you. Keep your catching glove open towards the play and your blocker in front of your knee. The stick is held on the ice in front of, but never touching your toes. You are now ready to make that great save.The secret to great goaltending is positioning and concentration. Positioning means to keep square to the puck, cutting down the angles and giving the shooter less of the net to aim at. He can't hit what he can't see. Concentration means keeping your eye on the puck at all times during play, even when it is at the opposite end of the rink.When the opposition has control of the puck either in the corner or behind your net be sure to hug the post. Stand in the ready position with your backside in the net and your leg, waist and arm tight to the post. Do not turn your body to face the shooter but rather only position your stick to block a pass out from behind. In this way you can easily move from side to side while still remaining in position to face a shot from the front.One of the most popular styles of goaltending today is the butterfly. This is because you can cover more of the net and minimize openings. From the ready position drop to your knees with your pads spread to either side. Keep your head, shoulders and torso tall and square to the puck. The blade of your stick should be on the ice, between your pads and protecting the five hole. Your catching glove should be open, a little in front of your body and positioned just above your pad. Practice dropping into the butterfly and getting up again while remaining square to the puck.Work on your skating and puck handling skills. You need to be mobile and able to control the puck. Practice starts, stops and direction changes, all the while keeping square to the puck. Being able to handle the puck will enable you to control rebounds and give up fewer scoring chances to the opposition.
Playing goal is great fun but requires hard work and practice. The best part is that your team mates think of you as being a little (or a lot) eccentric. These five tips for great hockey goaltending should help on your path to becoming the next great hockey goalie.
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Coaching Hockey
Coaching hockey carries a heavy responsibility as you mould and shape the lives of tomorrow's hockey heroes. Most coaching positions, especially for younger teams, are voluntary so you must really love the game and working with young people. Be prepared to spend many unpaid hours away from home and at the rink. For young boys and girls interested in playing hockey the coach is often looked on with adulation and can become almost the most important person in their lives.
As a coach you will not only run practises and call the shots during games but you will have many diverse off ice responsibilities as well. You will have to be knowledgeable about the game of hockey, hockey equipment and hockey injuries. You will be a motivator, a mentor, an arbitrator, a guidance counsellor and a teacher. You must be able to plan, organize and schedule practises and ice times around the life commitments of your players. You must be both friend and foe, humorous and serious and be firm but fair.
There are many characteristics and qualities that will help you achieve success coaching hockey. Here are the top five:
1. Quality of your practises - There should be time during practise to teach the skills and knowledge required during the playing of a hockey game. There should also be time devoted to conditioning. Your practise sessions before the season starts should be shorter as you concentrate more on conditioning and becoming longer as the season progresses and focusing moreagel vietnam lua dao
Unicity vietnam lừa đảo on learning skills. Keep practises fun and remember young players tend to lose focus and bore easily.
2. Communicating - The ability to transfer knowledge can affect the outcome of a single game or an entire season. A coach must be able to not only get their points across but also interpret feedback from the players and others. Feedback can be both verbal and non verbal and should be considered when making decisions.
3. Motivating your athletes - The ability to motivate can be fairly elusive and often depends on the desire and skill level of the player. Possessing a high level of skill does not in itself guarantee an athlete's success. Recognize that everyone is unique and will be motivated differently.
4. Developing and evaluating hockey skills - Coaching hockey successfully depends on the teaching of the fundamentals of the game. Repetition is essential to these skills becoming a habit without having to think about them. Teach the basics first, practise, practise, practise and then evaluate the progress and only when satisfied should you move on to more difficult skills.
5. Possessing strong hockey knowledge - It should go without saying that you know as much about the sport as possible. Without this knowledge you will not be able to teach others and you will lose credibility with your team. Educate yourself and draw on your own and other's experiences. Knowledge is not just about rules and regulations but also knowing the resources you have available to you and using them when making your decisions.
Dedication and commitment to these five characteristics and qualities of coaching and incorporating them into your coaching philosophy will enhance your enjoyment of the game and help you and your team succeed. Coaching hockey and young athletes will be very rewarding and satisfying as you pass along your knowledge and watch them achieve their goals.
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As a coach you will not only run practises and call the shots during games but you will have many diverse off ice responsibilities as well. You will have to be knowledgeable about the game of hockey, hockey equipment and hockey injuries. You will be a motivator, a mentor, an arbitrator, a guidance counsellor and a teacher. You must be able to plan, organize and schedule practises and ice times around the life commitments of your players. You must be both friend and foe, humorous and serious and be firm but fair.
There are many characteristics and qualities that will help you achieve success coaching hockey. Here are the top five:
1. Quality of your practises - There should be time during practise to teach the skills and knowledge required during the playing of a hockey game. There should also be time devoted to conditioning. Your practise sessions before the season starts should be shorter as you concentrate more on conditioning and becoming longer as the season progresses and focusing moreagel vietnam lua dao
Unicity vietnam lừa đảo on learning skills. Keep practises fun and remember young players tend to lose focus and bore easily.
2. Communicating - The ability to transfer knowledge can affect the outcome of a single game or an entire season. A coach must be able to not only get their points across but also interpret feedback from the players and others. Feedback can be both verbal and non verbal and should be considered when making decisions.
3. Motivating your athletes - The ability to motivate can be fairly elusive and often depends on the desire and skill level of the player. Possessing a high level of skill does not in itself guarantee an athlete's success. Recognize that everyone is unique and will be motivated differently.
4. Developing and evaluating hockey skills - Coaching hockey successfully depends on the teaching of the fundamentals of the game. Repetition is essential to these skills becoming a habit without having to think about them. Teach the basics first, practise, practise, practise and then evaluate the progress and only when satisfied should you move on to more difficult skills.
5. Possessing strong hockey knowledge - It should go without saying that you know as much about the sport as possible. Without this knowledge you will not be able to teach others and you will lose credibility with your team. Educate yourself and draw on your own and other's experiences. Knowledge is not just about rules and regulations but also knowing the resources you have available to you and using them when making your decisions.
Dedication and commitment to these five characteristics and qualities of coaching and incorporating them into your coaching philosophy will enhance your enjoyment of the game and help you and your team succeed. Coaching hockey and young athletes will be very rewarding and satisfying as you pass along your knowledge and watch them achieve their goals.
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Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Goalie Masks
Goalie masks not only give protection but each one is a unique piece of art. No two are exactly the same and they allow for the goaltender to express his or her individuality. Many goalies will change the way their mask is painted every year while others will keep the same theme their entire career. Gerry Cheevers of the Boston Bruins started this tradition in the 1960s'. He would paint stitches on his mask to indicate where he would have had real stitches if he hadn't been wearing a mask.
Although it is widely held that Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens was the inventor of the goalie mask in the late 1950s' he was actually not the first to wear one. Elizabeth Graham of Queen's University wore a fiberglass fencing mask in 1927 to protect her teeth. The first NHL goalie to wear a mask was Clint Benedict of the Montreal Maroons in 1930 when he wore a crude leather mask to protect a broken nose. Teiji Honma of Japan wore a cage mask similar to a baseball catcher's mask at the 1936 Olympics.
Plante's design was made of fiberglass and moulded to fit his face. He used the mask in practise but it was not until after he received a cut in a 1959 game against the New York Rangers that he actually wore it in a game. Montreal then went on a long unbeaten streak with Plante wearing the mask. He was asked to remove it and Montreal lost the game. Plante put the mask back on and used it for the rest of his career. His moulded fiberglass design was adopted by other goaltenders and was immortalized by Jason of the "Friday the 13th" horror movie series. The last NHL goalie to play without a mask was Andy Brown of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 1974.
Further evolution of the goalie mask in the 1970s' saw hockey helmets fitted with a wire face cage. This style of protective head gear for goalies was first popularized in Europe but soon found its way to North America. Some NHL goalies to have worn this type of mask were Billy Smith, Dan Cloutier, Dominek Hasek and possibly the last one was Rick Dipietro of the New York Islanders. Like the fiberglass facemask this style of mask has lost favour because it doesn't provide adequate face and head protection.
Today's masks are much improved over the old designs. They are made in one piece of fiberglass, carbon fiber or a mix of fiberglass and kevlar. They cover both the face and the side of the head to back behind the ears and have a cage fitted in the middle. This design disperses the impact of the puck better than the helmet/cage style and are now in use at all levels of play. Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins has come up with a new mask which sort of looks like a helmet/cage but is made like the one piece. He claims it allows him to see and hear better and to breath easier.
Goalie masks are available for all ages and skill levels. Purchasing a mask can be difficult as every person's head is shaped differently and the masks will not fit everyone the same. Be sure to select one that is comfortable as well as giving the protection you need. Goalie masks are also available to fit most budgets.
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Although it is widely held that Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens was the inventor of the goalie mask in the late 1950s' he was actually not the first to wear one. Elizabeth Graham of Queen's University wore a fiberglass fencing mask in 1927 to protect her teeth. The first NHL goalie to wear a mask was Clint Benedict of the Montreal Maroons in 1930 when he wore a crude leather mask to protect a broken nose. Teiji Honma of Japan wore a cage mask similar to a baseball catcher's mask at the 1936 Olympics.
Plante's design was made of fiberglass and moulded to fit his face. He used the mask in practise but it was not until after he received a cut in a 1959 game against the New York Rangers that he actually wore it in a game. Montreal then went on a long unbeaten streak with Plante wearing the mask. He was asked to remove it and Montreal lost the game. Plante put the mask back on and used it for the rest of his career. His moulded fiberglass design was adopted by other goaltenders and was immortalized by Jason of the "Friday the 13th" horror movie series. The last NHL goalie to play without a mask was Andy Brown of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 1974.
Further evolution of the goalie mask in the 1970s' saw hockey helmets fitted with a wire face cage. This style of protective head gear for goalies was first popularized in Europe but soon found its way to North America. Some NHL goalies to have worn this type of mask were Billy Smith, Dan Cloutier, Dominek Hasek and possibly the last one was Rick Dipietro of the New York Islanders. Like the fiberglass facemask this style of mask has lost favour because it doesn't provide adequate face and head protection.
Today's masks are much improved over the old designs. They are made in one piece of fiberglass, carbon fiber or a mix of fiberglass and kevlar. They cover both the face and the side of the head to back behind the ears and have a cage fitted in the middle. This design disperses the impact of the puck better than the helmet/cage style and are now in use at all levels of play. Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins has come up with a new mask which sort of looks like a helmet/cage but is made like the one piece. He claims it allows him to see and hear better and to breath easier.
Goalie masks are available for all ages and skill levels. Purchasing a mask can be difficult as every person's head is shaped differently and the masks will not fit everyone the same. Be sure to select one that is comfortable as well as giving the protection you need. Goalie masks are also available to fit most budgets.
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