NFHS Changes Hockey Rules To Minimize Dangerous Hits

HighSchoolOT.com

http://www.highschoolot.com/ice-hockey-rule-changes-look-to-minimize-dangerous-hits/12428638/

In continuing efforts to minimize the risk of injury in the sport, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee approved changes that will strengthen the language for dangerous hits as well as give game officials discretion for issuing a game disqualification when a player illegally hits another player from behind.

Rule 6-7-2 states, “No player shall push, charge, cross-check or body-check an opponent from behind into the boards or goal frame,” and a violation would result in a major and misconduct penalty or — if flagrant — game disqualification.

The checking-from-behind change was one of four major rules revisions approved by the committee at its April 22-23 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“Checking from behind is the most dangerous act in the sport,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS assistant director of coach education and staff liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee. “With all of its rules changes, the goal of the committee is to minimize the risk of injury.”

In another risk-minimization change, Rule 6-41-3 now states, “No player shall deliver a check to an unsuspecting and vulnerable player.” This addition was implemented to eliminate blind-side hits from the sport as well as to stress legal body-checking.

“This helps protect the defenseless player,” Schuster said. “The committee is striving to take these dangerous and unnecessary hits out of the game.”

The final rules change dealing with risk minimization is Rule 3-3-5. The rule now includes a goalkeeper’s glove as being a piece of equipment that, if it becomes displaced, requires play to be immediately stopped.