Each attribute and recommended behaviour in this story benefits safety, player development and on-ice performance.

The first article in this series for The Coaches Site featured advice and recommendations for coaches for the prevention of serious injury in our game. In this article, advice, activities and specific steps are outlined for players. Coincidently, this article and this series of articles mirror discussions by the NHL Board of Governors in Florida (9-Dec-2021) and Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs report entitled “Respect Hockey – Committing Ourselves to the Game’s Greatest Values.

The advice in this piece acts as both a guide and a challenge to players. It is meant to directly engage them and help them recognize their responsibilities as a player. They may struggle with these actions a bit because of the commitment, accountability and dedication required. But, if they can dedicate and take responsibility for the outcome – a safer game for themselves and others – everyone will benefit. Fortunately, each attribute and recommended behaviour also benefits player development and on-ice performance. It is expected that players may also stumble on the notion they can play safely and all out, to the best of their abilities. After all, shouldn’t they “play on the edge” instead of concerning themselves with safety?

While coaches do love intensity and vigour and want nothing more than players to play with grit, leaving it all on the ice, the facts are that serious and catastrophic injuries are not part of our sport. They are simply unacceptable! The prevention of serious injuries like concussions, spinal injury and lacerations is an unmistakable concern in the modern game. Here is how players can make a difference.

1. Be aware and recognize that all serious injury is preventable and as a player, you can play, act, and perform safely. Your attitude must be that hockey is intended to be played safely. Promise yourself and your team that you will always play with safety in mind.
2. As a player, come to play prepared, physically ready and physically fit. Evaluate your fitness and physical capacity honestly and quarterly over the season. How do you stack up when a comparison is made to the physical abilities of your teammates and those that you play against? Seek improvement beyond your baseline by getting into a comprehensive exercise and training program, one that develops a healthy and resilient capacity for on-ice play. Make sure the training is matched to your age, your level of play, your season of play and your readiness as an athlete. Train your musculature for strength, stability, suppleness (flexibility), stamina. Your body’s structural integrity and ability to withstand the repeating demands of hockey require optimal capabilities in the above-noted categories. Include and emphasize the musculature of the neck and shoulder in your training. To help seek out valid and reliable professional advice and/or guidance from a competent Personal or Athletic Trainer. And remember, the most physically fit players are the most ‘injury resistant,’ so this investment into yourself physically will not only make you better as a player but also make you safer. Then eagerly apply what you have learned about your health, including the practice of good nutrition, and proper rest, recovery and rejuvenation.
3. Before training, practice and performances, players should participate in quality warm-ups. A quality warm-up physically activates the large muscles of the body that you will be using and the nervous system. Work up a sweat using quick feet drills, ladder drills, bounding and skipping routines and callisthenics. Use small group games after these exercises to stimulate your body’s coordinative abilities and wake up your reaction timing. And don’t forget to include the head, neck and upper extremity using dynamic movements and range of motion exercises.
4. Safe players prepare, inspect and maintain their equipment. Build in enough time before practice and games to check over your gear. Verify each piece of equipment continues to offer the intended protection. Report broken or compromised equipment to a parent, guardian, coach, trainer or equipment manager before it is put back into use. Replace any compromised equipment. Wear only officially endorsed/certified equipment i.e., CSA, HECC and only use equipment that has not been altered or modified beyond manufacturers specification and approval. Always wear your protective equipment correctly (see manufacturer’s advice) so that it can serve its purpose in protecting your body as it is intended.
5. On the ice, practice and work hard to develop flawless and reproducible stability, balance, agility and coordination skills. These skill sets are the foundation for athletic movement and allow for the application of hockey’s basic sport-specific techniques. Allowing these basic skills to get ‘rusty’ suggests a greater likelihood of on-ice technical and tactical error. This error may result in some injury potential or exposure that is unnecessary. Your rehearsal and training of skills sets and technical/tactical fundamental sports movements is vital when it comes to preventing what’s called ‘catastrophic error’ on the ice. Focus on getting good at skating, puck skills and checking skills more than getting overly concerned with competition, tournaments, showcases and winning.
6. Play with respect for the game. Seek out and value the sport by playing with intensity, but always with control. Do this by following the advice in items 7, 8 & 9.
7. Listen to your coach’s instructions and lessons and apply your coaching instruction and feedback to the best of your understanding and ability. Show a desire to get and be a better athlete. This will align you to your team’s overall seasonal plan and will help you learn prerequisite skills and tactics required for your next season. Find ways to show appreciation and value to your team administrators/executives and even your fans/supporters and while you are at it, demonstrate respect for all game officials, referees and game or event/facility organizers.
8. Value and respect your opponents. No matter what the score, your ability to appreciate your opponent is one of the key learnings in sports. Play with best-effort and always seek personal bests, but focus on teamwork, teammates and team successes. Try to win, but also accept losses with dignity and grace knowing you will get another opportunity to compete again. We cannot play without a rival and our opponents help us stretch our abilities, providing tests and opportunities to be better.
9. Learn about the sport of hockey becoming a student of the game and always play within the rules of the game acting with sportsmanship regardless of the call. Perform with accountability for all individual actions when playing and when you don’t understand a rule or the reason for a penalty, seek clarification respectfully and courteously.
10. Anytime you or a teammate is hurt or injured, report the incident and injury to a Trainer, a parent or to a guardian. Post-injury or after you have sufficiently recovered, participate in an assessment for return to play performed by a competent medical practitioner. Return to play only when you feel it is safe to do so.

As a player read through the list above and reflect on what you are already doing to play safely. Add any missing items to your game. And if you are a coach reading this article, print a copy and discuss the list with your squad.