Helmets for Coaches

[speedfire]

I was at a coaching clinic today and USA Hockey wants to mandate helmets during practice for coaches. Any youth coaches out there have any thoughts? USA hockey has a survey on their website- if you coach youth hockey go fill this out. usahockey.com<br> <p></p><i></i>

[Reggie Dunlap]

Even with the stone age mentality that Canada has towards hockey, they've required it for some time. Other than for insurance reasons, I don't see the reason for it for PeeWee's & under. I have seen some scary scenes when coaches take pucks in the head at the Bantam/Midget/ Jr. Gold/ HS levels, though. <p></p><i></i>

[ptown tigers]

A guy I know was coaching A squirts this year, and took a puck to the side of the head. Lots of blood and lots of stitches, may not be the worst idea for helmets. <p>Good Teams Would be Nothin without Good Water.....</p><i></i>

[Gumper]

Safety is always a good idea, but I'm getting tired of USA Hockey and their rules. The next thing you know they'll come up with another new puck design (other than the blue pucks that are a complete joke) that isn't so hard. Maybe we should just go with foam pucks to further prevent injuries.<br><br>If a coach wants to wear a helmet, there is nothing stopping him from doing so. I don't think we need USA Hockey to mandate it. Furthermore, if a coach doesn't know where to stand on the ice during practice to avoid getting hit with a puck then he has more problems than a helmet will solve.<br><br>I filled out the USA Hockey survey that I received in my E-mail, but since they brought up the issue I'm sure that they've already made the decision. This is going to be just one more new rule for them to pat each other on the back about.<br><br>Prediction: after the coaches are required to wear helmets, someone will get run into by a player and get hurt. In their effort to prevent this from happening, USA Hockey will mandate orange stop signs on the backs of our jackets. <p></p><i></i>

[upucker]

Yes the only catch is you have to buy these helmets from USA hockey at the cost of $150.00. Oh by the way the helmets are a special florescent orange so nobody runs into the coach, you wont need the patch. <p></p><i></i>

[HBBHOCKEY]

coaches are (or should be) adults and know how to handle themselves and if they want to take the risk of getting hit with a puck, well then it is ther problem. <p></p><i></i>

[williplett24]

Gumper,<br><br>I agree with nearly all your thoughts. You're right on! I do disagree with the blue pucks. Do you actually work with or teach the 4-7 yr. olds? The blue pucks are great because you can actually teach kids the right way to shoot and stickhandle AND they can have success with those things too. Other than that, you're right on - helmets for coaches are a joke. <p></p><i></i>

[2AhockeyOldTimer]

willi, I am not for or against the blue pucks because I haven't really tested them out. But, did Al Mcinnes learn how to take a 102 mph slapshot with a light, blue puck <p></p><i></i>

[williplett24]

al wouldn't have learned with a blue one anyway, no slappers until pee wees <p></p><i></i>

[Gumper]

<br>We're a little off topic from the helmets, but then I did bring up the blue pucks. I actually coach both mite age and HS age players. So, I do have first hand experience with the dreaded blue pucks. As much as I hate the blue pucks, I can see some advantage for the instructional mite levels only. Here are the problems with the blue puck for league mites and squirts: it's almost impossible to ice it, snow sticks to it (some times it looks like a snow ball bouncing around the rink), the puck doesn't glide on the ice for passes or stick handling, it bounces 12-18 inches high on face-offs, any bump in the ice will send the puck bouncing, breakaways are extremely difficult due to the puck sticking to the ice, players with a good shot shoot the blue puck much faster than the black pucks, and the blue pucks are at least 50% more expensive than black pucks. Playing with the blue pucks reminds me a lot of when I'd play boot hockey with a sponge puck. It's not hard to take a shot from the goal line and hit the glass on the far end of the rink. The only advantages that I can see for the instructional levels is that they can work on stick handling more easily and there won't be any icing calls during games.<br><br>This past season mainly instructional mites through league mites used the blue pucks. A few squirt teams around the state also used them. Next season all of the squirts are supposed to begin using the blue pucks. It's going to be a huge change for the players that go from an A squirt level with the blue pucks to an A peewee level with a puck that actually glides and then having checking too.<br><br>Overall I think they should have just left it alone. But in typical fashion, they had to mess with something that didn't need fixing just to rationalize their existence. I think someone is making a lot of money off these blue pucks too. The rumor is that it's the same guy that's getting all our money for the stop signs.<br><br>Speaking of the stop signs, I have something else to rant about. I watched several girl's hockey games this past season and a lot of players have a pony tail that covers up the stop sign. There's not exactly a lot of checking going on in a girl's hockey game, but what's the use of having the stupid patch if it can't be seen anyway. Maybe I should invent a flashing light for the backs of helmets and then market it to USA Hockey! <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub33.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUser ... >Gumper</A> at: 3/21/04 11:01 pm<br></i>

[BELOW 0 ZERO]

Gumper I dont care if you coach the girls waterpolo team ...the blue pucks are the stupidest thing to be introduced into this sport since collective bargaining. Now for the topic of helmets, I appreciate what you say about wear one if you want..kinda like harley guys say. But many coaches participate in drills and feel the 'macho' need to get right in there and these numbnuts should have (at least) helmets on. If USA Hockey says to wear a lid...then dernit I guess they are right about the development program and everything else too, right? Practice outside, work on skills and fundamentals, and don't worry about it, a CCM looks good on EVERYONE. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyisit]

Well i think it should be up to the individual if they want to wear a helmet. If you are scared and can't take a little pain then put a helmet on. If you dont want to wear one dont. <p></p><i></i>

[Chieftan]

I don't think helmets should be required. We all know and understand the risk involved. Pay attention as to what is going on during practice and it shouldn't be a problem. Some of us still like to muck it up in practice and assume full responsibility.<br><br>I've seen some coaches wear helmets and that's fine. If it makes them feel more comfortable on the ice great but don't make it mandatory for all of us. <p></p><i></i>

[troll21]

USA hockey is controlled by the insurance company that puts a policy in place for its registered players to avoid an unnecessary expense out of the insurance companies bottom line.<br><br>The helmet issue has been coming for a while. Yes, its unfortunate that a coach has had a serious accident on the ice participating in the sport he or she loves. But would a helmet really have helped? Unknown. <br><br>Wearing a helmet should be that of the individual. USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey are placing alot of policies and regulations on the sport that are ruining it for the individuals that give a lot of volunteer time to develop players and programs.<br><br>A few side notes:<br><br>Gumper: You ask what the next thing will be? Not the puck issue but a no check league for all ages that if I recall will be starting in the fall of 2004...Not positive.<br><br>Blue puck issue: I have asked for research to justify this change, but funny, its not available. An ugly rumor I have heard is that it was some discussions between between the puck manufactures and USA Hockey. And this has nothing to do with development and insurance. <p></p><i></i>

[Chieftan]

Question, does this include facemask or is it just the helmet itself? I can understand why they would do this (insurance) but would like it to be the decision of the individual. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

District 4 was supposed to use blue pucks at the squirt level for an experiment this year. They decided to end the experiment around christmas time because the pucks didn't play well at that level. They bounced around too much. It was like the kids were playing with a super ball. I think I heard the original idea was to have all squirt teams go with blue pucks next year, but I would hope, based on District 4's experience, that they scrap that idea. <p></p><i></i>

[williplett24]

I didn't realize they are going to use the pucks in squirts...I agree that they shouldn't be in squirts. I do still think they're great for the 4-6/7 yr old generation. They don't bounce too much for those kiddos. I don't think they're as necessary for the elite 3rd graders. I am surprised that they think they have to be used for all squirts. The only squirts I would use them with would be a squirt that is just starting hockey for the first time (in practice) and might just need a little confidence right off the bat. I work with squirt A's a lot in clinics and we have always used the black ones just fine. I can't imagine a game at that level with blue pucks. Somebody must be making money off those things. <br><br>Were you a goalie? What's the deal with your handle? <p></p><i></i>

[Gumper]

Willi-<br><br>Ya, I was crazy enough to want to play goalie. Gump was my hero and became my nickname. I had 'Gumper' put on some of my jerseys and even to this day I still get 'Gumper' put on most of my hockey sweatshirts. I can just imagine what Gump would have to say about coaches wearing helmets and kids using bouncy blue pucks!<br><br>"My face is my mask" - Gump Worsley<br> <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

willi--you said maybe beginner squirts, but my experience this year was with Squirt C...we had several first year players on the team and it bounced just as much for them as anyone else. I agree it can help with mites, but maybe just the beginner mites. Advanced mites can handle the black pucks just fine. <p></p><i></i>