USA Hockey is getting insane

[Chadd 916]

To:  USA Hockey Registered Coaches

From:  USA Hockey

RE:  Helmets for Coaches

At the upcoming 2004 USA Hockey Annual Congress, our Board of Directors will vote on proposed changes to the USA Hockey bylaws, rules and regulations.  The subject of mandating helmets for youth coaches will be considered. During the 2001-02 season, there were two fatalities to youth coaches who hit their head on the ice. The District of Michigan mandated helmets for youth coaches in 1999. As a USA Hockey registered Coach, we are asking you to take a few moments to fill out this survey. Safety and prevention is always a major concern within the USA Hockey family. We look forward to hearing from you.

The survey is available until April 9, 2004, and can be filled out by clicking on the link below: 

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/helmetsurvey

I was hoping it was a joke bit it appears to be legit.

[dgaronzik 1]

Oh man....Thats just a step too far. Sorry to hear that for your sake.

I agree thats going a bit too far, it should be the coaches choice to wear a helmet or not. Its not like they are constantly in danger, coaches in general are out of the way unless they are showing the next drill.

I hope the reffing clinic for USA hockey isnt too bad. I start reffing this weekend to save some money up for the GF's ring and the rink is going to set up a clinic for all the ref's in april to get us all certified. Im sure it'll be a blast.

[Eazy_b97 1]

They've been attempting to do that up here for the last little while. High school coaches have to (or at least mine do) and for now it is "Heavily recomended" in league play. None of the guys I coach with wear them and I havent seen any league coaches wear them either. Except for a few guys teaching Hockey school.

[Veltri 0]

the problem is that, some coaches are just out there because there was no one else for the job. they're usually just parents trying to fill in, and they dont know how to skate. So they go out there, whipe out and smack their heads. I think they should do something at coaches seminars like at reffing seminars, where u have to pass some sort of skating test. If you do not pass it, you should still be allowed to coach, but with a helmet. This could go on your coaching license, so that your organization knows this.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

I think they should...two days ago, I was watching a house league bantams practice...the coach was skating around and one player unleashed a slapper, he skated right into it, but it whizzed by his ear...

[Chadd 916]

That kid would have been skating for the rest of that practice and most of the next.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

He never saw it.

[Chadd 916]

Only one coach on the ice? 90% of that kind of stuff is poor discipline.

[QandA 0]

In Canada, If I'm not mistaken any coach that coaches PeeWee and under is required to wear a helmet. Unless this is a Provincial or Minor Hockey regulation but I am pretty sure it is a CHA rule.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Two teams, two coaches each.

[Chadd 916]

kids got no damn respect anymore

[Veltri 0]

when i was younger, I took a slapshot from the top of the circles, and hit hit the post and flew into the corner, nailed my coach in the leg. lets just say he wasnt to happy about it. but to hit a coach in the head, or come close? unless it goes off of something, and redirects in a completely opposite direction, then i dont understand why a kid would be shooting in the vacinity of his coach in the first place.

[EricG. 0]

The kid just wasn't looking. I shot a puck last month, and my coach skated into it, and it hit him in the ass. I turned around, and all I felt was a puck hit me in the leg. When I turned to see who it was, my coach was looking at me laughing.

[Chadd 916]

That''s why you don't do that crap at practice. I'm always watching when people are supposed to be shooting and my guys know they better not shoot when they aren't supposed to.

[rh_joel 0]

The kid just wasn't looking. I shot a puck last month, and my coach skated into it, and it hit him in the ass. I turned around, and all I felt was a puck hit me in the leg. When I turned to see who it was, my coach was looking at me laughing.

That is actually quite funny. But unfortunately stuff just meant to be a joke can turn out to be very serious.

I'm pretty sure that in the OMHA helmets are manditory for all coaches. And in the other leagues, its not manditory but heavily suggested. I wonder what leagues will try to do next. Every year it seems as if they are making more and more equipment manditory for coaches/players. A few years ago they tried to do it with mouth guards, now helmets for coaches...I wonder what is next.

[D3nZ 0]

In Canada, If I'm not mistaken any coach that coaches PeeWee and under is required to wear a helmet. Unless this is a Provincial or Minor Hockey regulation but I am pretty sure it is a CHA rule.

I coached a Atom A team in Edmundston and wasn't obligated to wear a helmet. I think it's just a personal decision.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

In Ontairo it's you wear one and if you get caught not wearing it, well, your not going to be coaching for much longer.

I was at a tryout one year when a kid shot a puck and hit a coach in the head, coach's fault, he tried to get a puck during a shooting drill right while this kid was winding up, kid ripped a slap shot and smoked the coach in the head, his helmet had a large crack in it and I think if he haden't been wearing one he would have had some major brain damage. So, for all you coaches out there wear a helmet!

[Chadd 916]

Next time a dumbass walks in front of a slapper and eats it are they going to make coaches wear cages too? Somtimes it's just Darwin's theories being proven correct.

[Stampeder 2]

When I first read this I thought it ment they had to wear them while coaching on the bench. Now that would be embarrasing.

[Chadd 916]

And in the car on the way to the rink, because that isn't safe either.

[Veltri 0]

Next time a dumbass walks in front of a slapper and eats it are they going to make coaches wear cages too? Somtimes it's just Darwin's theories being proven correct.

haha nice comparision.

as far as coaches having to wear on the bench as stampy thought at first, i wouldnt go that far, but, I wouldnt be surprised if they make coaches wear helmets while shaking hands after the game, and walking to the benches if the need to go across the ice or along the boards.

[Guest phillyfan]

When I first read this I thought it ment they had to wear them while coaching on the bench. Now that would be embarrasing.

Actually, I don't think that's a bad idea. Twice in the past two years I have seen coaches hit by a puck during play. Most recently, it was pretty serious and only during an in-house Peewee game I was refereeing. The side of his face was all bloody, quite disturbing to me. Helmets would prevent a lot of the injuries that occur. They can develop a special coaches helmet so they aren't embarassed or whatnot.

[thunder-18 0]

Some coach from my league died when one of the kids took him out from under his legs and he landed and hit his head. Ever since our league has made it mandatory to wear helmets unless you sign a waiver.

[prenny207 1]

i coach a midget aa team in michigan, and i have had to wear a helmet for the past four years...sucks...i understand why they do it, but i sent usa hockey a nice email describing my thoughts. i did fill out their survey, but the survey pretty much sucked if you are against the mandatory helmet use.

[Chadd 916]

I did the same but it's not going to change anything. They're going to do it and they just want to know how much heat they're going to take.