USA Hockey Article

[mdamson 0]

I just read USA Hockey's monthly magazine. They were actually advocating buying used helmets at places like Play It Again Sports. This does not seem like a very good idea, especially coming from the supposed authority on youth hockey. The hidden defects in a used helmet should discourage anyone from purchasing a used helmet.

[starsfan71 9]

I just read USA Hockey's monthly magazine. They were actually advocating buying used helmets at places like Play It Again Sports. This does not seem like a very good idea, especially coming from the supposed authority on youth hockey. The hidden defects in a used helmet should discourage anyone from purchasing a used helmet.

They said to a few years ago in a magazine and it shocked me. Same with Pro stock helmets IMO.

[Chadd 916]

Play it again sports is a sponsor of USA Hockey. USA Hockey will say anything to benefit their sponsors, regardless of the safety implications.

[DarkStar50 680]

Play it again sports is a sponsor of USA Hockey. USA Hockey will say anything to benefit their sponsors, regardless of the safety implications.

Any other antidotal evidence?

[Fisticuffs 0]

Play it again sports is a sponsor of USA Hockey. USA Hockey will say anything to benefit their sponsors, regardless of the safety implications.

There is another aspect at work. Hockey in general is an expensive sport to get involved in. Articles on used equipment make USA Hockey look like they are making the game more accessible to the middle class. The more homes USA Hockey magazine goes to, the more they can charge for ad space. If you look at the direction they're going with the sport, their whole program is designed to decrease cost, and increase participation. Safety comes somewhere after getting rink time filled, and getting membership numbers up in the grand scheme of things.

[Chadd 916]

Any other antidotal evidence?

Anecdotal?

To be honest, USA Hockey has put out the worst possible advice when it comes to equipment. I don't recall ever seeing good advice, just marketing from the manufacturers. A couple years ago they had an article with someone from a retailer in Denver suggesting people buy high end skates for their kids, but to get them a size or size and a half big so they would last longer and save money in the long run.

There is another aspect at work. Hockey in general is an expensive sport to get involved in. Articles on used equipment make USA Hockey look like they are making the game more accessible to the middle class. The more homes USA Hockey magazine goes to, the more they can charge for ad space. If you look at the direction they're going with the sport, their whole program is designed to decrease cost, and increase participation. Safety comes somewhere after getting rink time filled, and getting membership numbers up in the grand scheme of things.

I'm all for increasing participation as well, but that won't decrease cost for players. In fact, high demand will raise the price for ice time and that's usually the singe biggest cost for most people over the course of a year. You get a lot better value with clearance or mid to low end new stuff than with used gear 95% of the time anyway. They have a major sponsor that specializes in used gear so you will never hear that. Kids skates are about the only thing that make sense to buy used, and that's only if you know what you're doing. In many cases, having to replace the steel can be the difference between used skates and a mid to low end pair of new ones.

[DarkStar50 680]

Chadd,

Brain freeze on that word!! Thanks.

I agree that USA Hockey has so many hidden agendas that it gets to be silly with some of the comments they make. Buying low-end to mid or clearance gear is so much better than anything used. I understand the cost factor of equipment very well but I value the proper fit protection factor for a kid any day of the week. Ice time costs are reflective of many factors for a rink. Energy costs, rink maintenance, etc. will contribute as well to increase cost of ice time, especially energy!

[Fisticuffs 0]

Kids skates are about the only thing that make sense to buy used, and that's only if you know what you're doing. In many cases, having to replace the steel can be the difference between used skates and a mid to low end pair of new ones.

I don't have a problem with used gear in general. I can understand an argument for buying a kid new to the sport used shin pads or pants... but a helmet? I can't think of a piece of equipment more deserving of a few extra dollars.

[Chadd 916]

I don't have a problem with used gear in general. I can understand an argument for buying a kid new to the sport used shin pads or pants... but a helmet? I can't think of a piece of equipment more deserving of a few extra dollars.

I'm not against used gear, just saying that the savings often aren't as substantial as some people think. Like you though, a used helmet makes no sense at all to me and there is no way the national governing body of the sport should be espousing the use of used helmets. Especially when you have no idea what kind of abuse it may have experienced.

[Fisticuffs 0]

I'm not against used gear, just saying that the savings often aren't as substantial as some people think. Like you though, a used helmet makes no sense at all to me and there is no way the national governing body of the sport should be espousing the use of used helmets. Especially when you have no idea what kind of abuse it may have experienced.

I'm with you 100%. I personally don't see the sense in buying used stuff when you can find new stuff on clearance for a pittance. I'm sure some think differently, but a helmet? That's crazy. My GF is learning to skate, and I got her a hockey helmet/cage. It was about $100. She thought I was crazy when she has a perfectly good bike helmet. $100 is cheap compared to the cost of losing her $100,000 post-HS education to a head injury.

Plus she won't look like an idiot wearing a hockey helmet.

[zebra_steve 11]

My 8 year old daughter just started playing... I saved a bunch of $$$$ buying used. I was able to put her into some really good equipment for less than $130. This included a new cage and bucket for the best fit, and used CCM 752's that looked new. BTW - I have no problem with a used helmet that is in good shape for a mite or squirt (given my personal opinion on what a helmet is actually designed and expected to do). Once you get into the checking ages I would likely want a new bucket.... The key is knowing what to look for, and most new hockey parents do not....

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I don't recommend an used helmet REGARDLESS of age.

[AfftonDad 88]

Look at it in terms of a simple cost/benefit curve. At what point is the risk of your dead or brain injured kid worth the few dollars saved?

[Chadd 916]

Look at it in terms of a simple cost/benefit curve. At what point is the risk of your dead or brain injured kid worth the few dollars saved?

If you're going to factor in genetics, some cases have very little risk.

[LkptTiger 1]

[Ansonwolfe 0]

i might have a misconception on this but I assumed the higher priced helmets offer better protection for the coconut than the lower end, $50 helmets after all, the materials in the padding are noticeably different. Why is it then that there are so many out there who would rather either purchase used (and HECC expired) helmets or helmets that might not offer adequate protection? It's only reasonable to to spend a few more bucks on your head, after all, damage to that could be life, death or veg...

I see helmets offered all the time on Craigslist and wonder who would risk buying something expired a few years back.

[sher-awesomeness 0]

Chadd,

Brain freeze on that word!! Thanks.

I agree that USA Hockey has so many hidden agendas that it gets to be silly with some of the comments they make. Buying low-end to mid or clearance gear is so much better than anything used. I understand the cost factor of equipment very well but I value the proper fit protection factor for a kid any day of the week. Ice time costs are reflective of many factors for a rink. Energy costs, rink maintenance, etc. will contribute as well to increase cost of ice time, especially energy!

Hidden agendas? You mean like how every other article in the magazine this year has been a coach talking about how great the American Development Model is? But this little blurb just takes the cake. I couldn't believe they would actually advocate buying used helmets.

[DarkStar50 680]

The ADM propaganda has been non-stop for some time now in the magazine. Locally and within the districts, USA Hockey came down really heavy handed with the ADM model for rinks. It was either their way or no way for the rinks and their hockey programs. Dropping the Peewee National Championships is another example of USA Hockey saying they know what is right for hockey in the US. I have seen some incredibly talented and strong Peewee AAA teams from Canada at local tournaments here. Our teams will still have the opportunity to enter Canadian tournaments but will never be able to truly measure themselves against each other in the US. Stepping back from even trying to compete against those teams is not necessarily the only way to go. Time will tell.

[VakarLajos 5]

The ADM propaganda has been non-stop for some time now in the magazine. Locally and within the districts, USA Hockey came down really heavy handed with the ADM model for rinks. It was either their way or no way for the rinks and their hockey programs. Dropping the Peewee National Championships is another example of USA Hockey saying they know what is right for hockey in the US. I have seen some incredibly talented and strong Peewee AAA teams from Canada at local tournaments here. Our teams will still have the opportunity to enter Canadian tournaments but will never be able to truly measure themselves against each other in the US. Stepping back from even trying to compete against those teams is not necessarily the only way to go. Time will tell.

I couldn't believe this when I heard it. Un-effin-believable.

[Fisticuffs 0]

The ADM propaganda has been non-stop for some time now in the magazine. Locally and within the districts, USA Hockey came down really heavy handed with the ADM model for rinks. It was either their way or no way for the rinks and their hockey programs. Dropping the Peewee National Championships is another example of USA Hockey saying they know what is right for hockey in the US. I have seen some incredibly talented and strong Peewee AAA teams from Canada at local tournaments here. Our teams will still have the opportunity to enter Canadian tournaments but will never be able to truly measure themselves against each other in the US. Stepping back from even trying to compete against those teams is not necessarily the only way to go. Time will tell.

There will still be a National Championship... USA Hockey just won't be running it. Obviously, it won't be quite the same, but someone will run Peewee Nationals, and probably make a mint in the process.