Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

"A concussion usually is caused by a blow to the head, face or neck. A blow to the body that transmits a force to the head also can cause concussion. As the brain moves inside the skull, the brain tissue is stretched.

A concussion may not result in loss of consciousness. Less than 1 in 10 people with concussion lose consciousness. But after a concussion, a person is three to four times more likely to sustain another concussion during the same sports season."

Read more HERE.

While concussions will always be part of any physical sport, they can even happen while tripping and falling walking down the street.  When studying how concussions happen in hockey, we have found common patterns that unfold just prior to many concussions.  We teach these common patterns in out Contact + Concussion Prevention Camps.

Hockey is a physical game and unfortunately, concussions will always be a part of it.  There are, however, ways to put yourself in "better" positions to help avoid them.  This comes with education and understanding of what common traits happen prior to many concussions in hockey.  We teach these situations in our Contact & Concussion Prevention Camps.

Mouthguards were originally designed to protect the teeth and facial trauma that occurs in contact sports.  Studies have shown that they can serve a purpose of helping prevent the jaw from absorbing some of the forces that occur in connection with TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries).  More information can be found HERE.

The NHL is considered to be the leader in professional hockey.  They have continued to further their advancement in concussions and protocols pertaining to head injuries.  While this is a evolving subject, the NHL has taken to research to help them continue to use the resources to them to better protect their players.  The NHL reviews all of their games and any hits that have concerns with possible head injuries.  

Even with the resources they have, we don't feel they are anywhere near where they should be.  More can be done to put the players first and the NHL interests second.  A great article can be found HERE.

Hockey is a physical game.  The game needs contact.  With that contact is the possibility for concussions.  Because everyone's body is different, concussions can happen at slow speeds, even while falling while walking down the street.  

We have, however, found common traits that happen, just prior to, many concussions in hockey.  We teach that and educate parents and players of these situations so they can put themselves in better positions to help prevent the possibility of a concussion in our Contact + Concussion Prevention Camps.

Heads up is an initiative designed to help inform players of the importance of playing with their heads up to help prevent head neck and brain injuries.

Here is a USA Hockey video that can explain more.

We pride ourselves in making kids better hockey players while teaching them safe and proper contact.

We teach about concussions.  

• What concussions are

• How concussions happen

• What situations are "high risk" and are a cause of many concussions

We teach about proper contact/angling/checking.

• We review USA Hockey rules

• What improper contact is

• What proper contact is

• How valuable proper contact is to the player's game and safety

There isn't a checking problem in youth hockey, but there is a problem with the way checking is taught and viewed in youth hockey.  Checking is a skill.  Just like skating, shooting, passing, etc., but checking isn't taught very much.  It is one of those skills that coaches and parents say to do, but many times they aren't properly taught.   That is where we come in.  

HERE is a good article about the way checking is "perceived" in today's youth hockey and what needs to be done to fix it.

This can be a difficult question.  A question that no parent or team would want to face.  With that being said, are you doing everything you need to do to be educated in teaching or training?  

This article written in 2018 can answer some questions about youth sports injuries and who is liable, but also begs the question, who is being proactive to help teach proper precautions?