How do you feel about checking?

[Yvonne]

I was wondering how girls/women feel about the no checking rule for females. I don't play hockey myself, but I'm a die-hard hockey mom and fan. Having spent 10-plus years watching A LOT of both girls and boys hockey, it seems like it's much harder to play a no-check game. Is it? Even the NHL is moving away from the hard knocks/slammin style of play in favor of more finesse and skill. I imagine that the original intent of the rule was to take in to account the delicate nature of females, but do you think girls should be allowed to check?

[Jesse Frasszzerriiback]

I really think that would be a good idea for girls to play checking... but maybe we should wear more protective gear than most girls do now. By the way, I also think it is a good idea for checking because some girls can get way too physical in a non- checking game....

[Bill Pavone]

I would like to add links to our website, www.glghl.comwhich has the USA Hockey Video called "Body Contact For Non-Check Hockey - Playing Within The Rules" on it. I got permission from USA Hockey to do so. It is on YouTube and I have it embedded on our site, Great Lakes Girls Hockey League.

If you haven't yet seen it, it is a much watch for all players, parents, coaches and referees. In fact only one ref I know of in my area has seen it. It should be required viewing for all people involved in non-check hockey. You will see examples of what is allowed and what is not. The video was edited into 4 parts, as it it around 20 minutes long.

www.glghl.com/videos_articles.html

[Julia]

Yah! I totally think girls should be allowed to check. I mean, you always see girls hitting and getting penatlies for it anyways so why not just let us hit! I think girls can easily take a hit.. most girls can, and I know that I can. Some girls or teams might have to attend checking clinics but I think that if guys can hit then girls should also be allowed. Dont get me wrong, I dont think that its all about hitting because the game of hockey is all about skill and being able to skate through the players and take the puck away rather then be dirty and hit them.

[dawn secord]

I absolutely, know girls can take a hit , and deliver a good one too. My daughter plays with the boys partly because of that. The only thing is, it really embarrasses a boy when the trainer has to carry him off after being hit by a girl. My daughter has been playing "boys" hockey for 9 out of the last 11 years(she's 15) , and she's never needed a trainer or anyone else to get her off the ice because of a hit.
She's caused that to happen, though, One time the ref. was behind the boy she hit, and they both needed help off the ice. She's only 5'3" of dynamite on skates, haha!

[Anne-Marie]

I think compeitive girls/women's hockey should have body checking. If girls learn from young like the boys, then it wouldn't be a big deal for them. And it's women playing against other women.... so the fact that we aren't as "strong" as men doesn't apply.

I think that if there was body checking allowed in competitive female hockey, then there would still be non-checking leagues to play in if you didn't want to play the more physical game (rec leagues/house leagues etc.).

I just feel there should be the option to choose.


Anne-Marie
www.SheSkatesHard.com

[dawn secord]

Totally agree. There are at least 3 men's leagues in the Sault, and I think only one of them allows body checking. ( most have day jobs, etc. ) Our women's rec. division wouldn't allow it, the competitive could, if they chose. I heard about a study about concussions in hockey, and their hypothesis was that girls would have less concussions, but guess what? Girls had more concussions(girls in girls hockey, not boys) Their conclusion was that maybe, because boys were taught how to take a hit, and be prepared for it, and that in "girls " hockey, they're never prepared, or ready for it, thus the more serious head injuries occur. Because we all know, that even if it's incidental or accidental, contact or hitting is going to happen. The game can be just as intense in a girls game, so I say, teac them how, even if it's not part of the official rules.

[dawn secord]

Totally agree. When they're used to a hit, they're aware it's coming, they're less likely to be injured. There was a study about head injuries, and girls in "girls" hockey had a higher proportion of head injuries(ie:concussions) , than girls in boy's hockey. It doesn;t make any sense, other than to explain it as being ready to take a hit, as opposed to never expecting it, only because it's girls hockey.
Don't want to jinx it, but my Amanda has never had a concussion, or any other hockey related injury, other than the odd bruise, etc.

[dawn secord]

My daughter is now playing boys midget(15 to 17 yr. old) She's only 15. Last year, in bantam, she was the best "hitter" on her team, maybe that's part of the reason they made her Captain. This year, being one of the younger ones, and a fair bit smaller, she's not going to knock over a guy who out-weighs her by 60-80 lbs.
She avoided a "sandwich", though a couple weeks ago, that was hilarious! She deeked 2 boys, one coming at full speed, and they hit each other, it took them out of the play , and her team got a great scoring chance. Too bad it wasn't a goal!
I made her go into girls hockey for a couple of years when she was 11 and 12, but they already had full hitting here for 2 years, so she had a hard time with the adjustment. She wanted back to full body contact, even though she's only 5'3" , but she's strong on her skates, and enjoys it, who am I to say? I'm still working on getting her back into the girl's league, though.
Mixed feelings on this one. I like the finesse of women's , but I do like the hard hitting of men's too. Like it all, I guess!