RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of bodychecking on injury rates among minor ice hockey players
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 155
OP 160
DO 10.1503/cmaj.051531
VO 175
IS 2
A1 Hagel, Brent E.
A1 Marko, Josh
A1 Dryden, Donna
A1 Couperthwaite, Amy B.
A1 Sommerfeldt, Joseph
A1 Rowe, Brian H.
YR 2006
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/175/2/155.abstract
AB Background: In 2002, Hockey Canada changed the age classifications for minor ice hockey. Previously, 10- and 11-year-old children played at the Atom level (no bodychecking), and 12- and 13-year-old children played at the Peewee level (bodychecking allowed). After the policy change, 11-year-old players were placed in the Peewee division with 12-year-old players; the Atom division included 9- and 10-year-old players. The objective of this study was to examine the effect that the policy change had on injuries to 11-year-old players and compare this information with injury trends among 10- and 12-year-old players. Methods: The study location was the Capital Health region, which serves the greater Edmonton area in Alberta. Capital Health maintains a database of all emergency department visits in the region. A search of the database identified 10-, 11- and 12-year-old players admitted to 7 emergency departments with hockey-related injuries during the 2 years before and the 2 years after the policy change. We also conducted a chart review for the 11-year-old players, extracting detailed information on the nature and circumstances of their injuries for the same period. Results: The rate of injuries sustained by 11-year-old children playing at the Peewee level (with bodychecking) increased significantly compared with the rate among 11-year-0ld players at the Atom level (rate ratio [RR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–2.4). The rate of severe injuries was more than 2 times greater among 11-year-old Peewee players than among 11-year-old Atom players (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.6). Injury rates among the 10-year-old players (bodychecking never allowed) and the 12-year-old players (bodychecking always allowed) changed little over the study period. Interpretation: The introduction of bodychecking to 11-year-old players was associated with a large increase in injury rates. From a public health perspective, the age at which bodychecking is introduced in minor hockey should be raised.