Reducing injury risk from body checking in boys' youth ice hockey

Pediatrics. 2014 Jun;133(6):1151-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-0692.

Abstract

Ice hockey is an increasingly popular sport that allows intentional collision in the form of body checking for males but not for females. There is a two- to threefold increased risk of all injury, severe injury, and concussion related to body checking at all levels of boys' youth ice hockey. The American Academy of Pediatrics reinforces the importance of stringent enforcement of rules to protect player safety as well as educational interventions to decrease unsafe tactics. To promote ice hockey as a lifelong recreational pursuit for boys, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the expansion of nonchecking programs and the restriction of body checking to elite levels of boys' youth ice hockey, starting no earlier than 15 years of age.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Academies and Institutes
  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Athletic Injuries / psychology
  • Body Size
  • Brain Concussion / epidemiology
  • Brain Concussion / prevention & control
  • Brain Concussion / psychology
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Hockey / injuries*
  • Hockey / psychology
  • Hockey / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Male
  • Pediatrics
  • Protective Clothing
  • Risk
  • United States