Poster Session II
Project Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Valerie Moody
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Integrative Physiology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Due to the physical nature of the sport of hockey, head contacts are a common occurrence in games and practice alike. Youth athletes that are exposed to repeated head contact may be at risk for both acute conditions as well as neurological health conditions as they age. The purpose of this study was to identify head contacts and examine patterns and trends seen in those contacts in a population of 9–12-year-old youth hockey athletes during both game and practice. While checking is not allowed at these age groups, the physical aspect of hockey, still generates head contact exposures at a young age.
To record incidences of head contact we observed 10 practice and 10 games and logged statistics such as player activity, mechanism of contact, zone where contact occurred, and location of hit on players’ head. This data was then examined to identify common risks.
During these 20 events, athletes faced 440 exposures. Out of those 440 exposures we noted 39 incidences of head contact, resulting in a ratio of .08 head contacts/exposure. Out of 39 head contacts, we were able to identify that 44% occurred in zone 5 (in front of the net) and 36% occurred in zone 1 (by the boards). The most common mechanisms of head contact were both head hitting the ice and players taking a puck to the head, with 23% each. The most common player activities when head contact occurred was skating the puck (51%) and defending the puck (39%). 56% of contact occurred In the frontal region of the head.
Identifying and examining the incidence of head contact in youth hockey players can lead to changes in player behavior and rules that allow for a safer hockey experience without changing the physical aspect of the game. Finding a way to limit head contact in youth hockey, will help youth athletes avoid both acute and chronic health problems as a result of head contact exposure.
Category
Physical Sciences
Head Contact Incidence Study
UC South Ballroom
Due to the physical nature of the sport of hockey, head contacts are a common occurrence in games and practice alike. Youth athletes that are exposed to repeated head contact may be at risk for both acute conditions as well as neurological health conditions as they age. The purpose of this study was to identify head contacts and examine patterns and trends seen in those contacts in a population of 9–12-year-old youth hockey athletes during both game and practice. While checking is not allowed at these age groups, the physical aspect of hockey, still generates head contact exposures at a young age.
To record incidences of head contact we observed 10 practice and 10 games and logged statistics such as player activity, mechanism of contact, zone where contact occurred, and location of hit on players’ head. This data was then examined to identify common risks.
During these 20 events, athletes faced 440 exposures. Out of those 440 exposures we noted 39 incidences of head contact, resulting in a ratio of .08 head contacts/exposure. Out of 39 head contacts, we were able to identify that 44% occurred in zone 5 (in front of the net) and 36% occurred in zone 1 (by the boards). The most common mechanisms of head contact were both head hitting the ice and players taking a puck to the head, with 23% each. The most common player activities when head contact occurred was skating the puck (51%) and defending the puck (39%). 56% of contact occurred In the frontal region of the head.
Identifying and examining the incidence of head contact in youth hockey players can lead to changes in player behavior and rules that allow for a safer hockey experience without changing the physical aspect of the game. Finding a way to limit head contact in youth hockey, will help youth athletes avoid both acute and chronic health problems as a result of head contact exposure.