As the controversy of fighting in hockey grows, SportMedBC’s Safety Coordinator Seb Hartell gives us his thoughts about on ice safety and how things can improve moving forward.
"In the ongoing battle to prevent concussions in hockey, many experts are questioning the role of fighting and whether it belongs in the game. Thursday night sparked more controversy. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Arron Asham caught Washington Capitals winger Jay Beagle with a solid right hook that knocked Beagle to the ice. Asham then taunted the Capitals forward and the debate picked up.
Some people are calling for fighting to be banned from the game. Concussions and head injuries are under the microscope and the NHL has taken steps in an effort to lower the number of head injuries. An increase in penalties, the famous rule 48, and stiffer suspensions for violent hits to the head have been the biggest changes that the NHL has implemented. But aren’t bare knuckle, unsanctioned fights causing exactly what the NHL is trying to prevent? No fighting might mean less head injuries!
Many people close to the sport suggest that fighting actually reduces on ice violence. If fighting is banned, players wouldn’t feel the immediate repercussions of their actions on the ice. If a player tries to deliver a cheap shot or a dirty hit, you can bet that he’ll have to answer to a big-bodied enforcer and have to skate with his head up at all times. But do two wrongs make a right? Players know the risks that they are taking when they get into fights. It’s their choice.
I can see why people like fighting in the game. I’m not alone in standing and cheering when two guys get into it. When you’re watching a game, the food gets put down, conversations stop, everybody wants to watch two guys go at one another. It’s entertainment and the league knows it. But is there a way to make fighting less dangerous?
The Ontario Hockey League banned players from purposely removing their helmets before a fight. If the helmet accidently falls off, the fight continues.
Hockey fights have often being referred to as “dropping the gloves.” What if they forced the players to keep the gloves on? Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts forces the participants to wear gloves, why not hockey? Devastating, unprotected blows to the head would be reduced and fighting wouldn’t be taken out of the game, seems like a pretty good compromise.
What do you think?"
Photo: Getty Images
The 2011 SportMedBC Annual General Meeting and Conference - entitled Best Practices in Social Media - was held Saturday, September 24th at the North Shore Winter Club.
We very much appreciated the support of a number of practitioners who have a special interest in social media and were available to participate in the keynote address and two workshops which preceded our AGM. Thanks to all of those who contributed, participated and attended. We have received nothing but terrific feedback.
For those of you who might not have had the opportunity to attend, we wanted to pass along a link of our 2011 SportMedBC Annual Report for your reference.
The Annual Report provides an overview of the work we are doing to promote optimal sport health on the strength of the Best People, Best Practices and Best Programs in sport medicine, sport medicine and sport science. We are proud to present this on behalf of our more than 580 practitioners, a network which grew again for the sixth consecutive year.
On behalf of all of us associated with SportMedBC - our Board of Directors, our management team and the dynamic community of medical and paramedical practitioners who make up our network here in British Columbia - all the best for the balance of 2011 and in the months to come.
Sincerely,
President & Chief Executive Officer
SportMedBC and The Vancouver Sun are seeking mature, active and enthusiastic individuals to be InTraining Clinic Coordinators.
InTraining is a gradual 13-week RunWalk program that provides expert advice, guidance and companionship on the road to improved health and fitness. The program meets the needs and interests of all exercisers, from the walkers and first-time joggers to the experienced runners wanting to improve their Vancouver Sun Run 10K race time.
If you are an experienced runner or walker, have a keen interest in physical fitness and have great motivational and organizational skills, you are an ideal candidate for an InTraining Clinic Coordinator!
Clinic Coordinators supervise the implementation of the InTraining Program for the Vancouver Sun Run; lead the weekly education session, provide leadership to the volunteer leaders and liaise on a regular basis with the host centre’s programmer and SportMedBC.
The position requires you to be present at all designated sessions for your host clinic centre, and regular email access in order to ensure efficient and cost-effective communication with both participants and SportMedBC.
As the program’s frontline person, you will ensure the delivery, overall “quality control” and consistency of the InTraining Program.
The program begins the week of Saturday, January 14, 2012 and continues for 13 weeks, which leads participants to the Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, April 15.
Clinic Coordinators receive an honorarium, an entry to the Vancouver Sun Run with a souvenir run T-shirt, leader garments and education support, including CPR training.
Deadline for applications is Friday, November 4, 2011.
For more information please contact:
SportMedBC RunWalk Manager
Tel: 604.903.3883
SportMedBC and The Vancouver Sun are seeking active, enthusiastic individuals who have a passion for running and/or walking for our 2012 Sun Run InTraining Program.
The community-based program introduces walkers and runners of all levels to a 13-week training program. InTraining is a program that meets the needs and interests of all exercisers from walkers and first-time joggers to experienced runners wanting to improve their 10K race time.
Volunteer RunWalk leaders help make the InTraining Program a welcoming experience even for the most uncertain participants. Volunteer leaders share an interest in physical activity and understand the challenges of starting a new exercise program.
Leaders should be fit and have the energy to motivate others to follow their RunWalk training schedule regardless of the weather or other circumstances. It is important however, that the motivation to become a leader is to help participants achieve their goals, not for leaders to further their own goals for completing a 10K.
Under the guidance of a Clinic Coordinator, InTraining leaders work as part of a team that leads novice runners and walkers to the safe and successful achievement of their fitness goals and the completion of the Vancouver Sun Run.
As a volunteer leader, you must attend the SportMedBC training session in January 2012. All volunteers will receive an entry to the Vancouver Sun Run (April 15, 2012), a souvenir T-shirt, a long sleeve technical training shirt, and education (including CPR training).
We are recruiting leaders for our four InTraining programs – Walk10K, LearnToRun10K, Run10KFaster, and NordicWalk10K.
Clinics begin the week of Saturday, January 14, 2012.
For more information please contact:
SportMedBC RunWalk Manager
Tel: 604.903.3883