The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hockey Canada, in conjunction with its 13 member Branches, launched an educational plan around the topic of checking in minor hockey, which includes an educational DVD. Over 30,000 complimentary copies of the "Check It Out!" DVD will be mailed to all minor hockey associations in Canada beginning the week of October 20th. An informative and interactive web site section called "Check It Out" is available at www.hockeycanada.ca and a series of clinics and resources for coaches across Canada has also been put in place to ensure the proper instruction of checking skills in minor hockey. The DVD, created by Hockey Canada and produced by Insight Sports Ltd. of Edmonton, is an educational tool that is the cornerstone piece of Hockey Canada's goal of educating all hockey participants of the four step teaching progression of checking skills in minor hockey: 1) angling and positioning; 2) stick checking; 3) body contact/confidence; and 4) body checking. Minor hockey associations are encouraged to hold coaching meetings within their associations to review the content outlined on the DVD, conduct checking clinics for all coaches through their Branch office, and make resources available to their coaches at all levels of play on checking and other skills. Additional copies of the DVD are available through Breakaway by calling 1-800-441-0449. "The 'Check It Out!' DVD is an educational resource that is targeted at players, coaches, officials, parents and minor hockey associations to educate them on the progressive teaching approach on the 4-step progression of checking," said Hockey Canada's Vice-president, Hockey, Johnny Misley. "Checking is a skill, and needs to be taught properly by our coaches which will result in a safe and fun environment for all participants of our great game." As of October 16th, Hockey Canada's web site will have a special checking section at www.hockeycanada.ca. All minor hockey participants in Canada are encouraged to view the resources available on this web site. Additional educational resources on checking and skill development are available from all 13 Branch offices of Hockey Canada, and at the four Hockey Canada Centres of Excellence (Saint John, NB; Montreal, QC; Calgary, AB; Vancouver, BC). All of Hockey Canada's 13 branches deliver checking clinics which are available upon request by minor hockey associations. Minor hockey associations in Canada that are interested in hosting clinics are encouraged to contact their Branch office to get more information about the process to confirm dates, locations and times. Links to branch resources and clinic information are available at www.hockeycanada.ca. "The Officers and the Board of Directors of Hockey Canada feel that these additional educational resources we are providing to our members will benefit all participants of the game," said Allan Matthews, Chair of the Board for Hockey Canada. "We will continue to work closely with all Branches, and particularly with those Branches that have been approved to conduct controlled research projects to ensure that all participants are taught the proper skills of checking in a progressive manner." Hockey Canada has focused on three streams of information to clarify the action steps taken to support the proper implementation of checking skills in the game of hockey. These areas of information include: background and regulation, education and research. For further information on Hockey Canada, body checking and Hockey Canada's numerous development programs, visit Hockey Canada's official website at www.hockeycanada.ca.
