%0 Journal Article %T Does disallowing body checking in non-elite 13- to 14-year-old ice hockey leagues reduce rates of injury and concussion? A cohort study in two Canadian provinces %J British journal of sports medicine %D 2019 %A Emery, Carolyn %A Palacios-Derflingher, Luz %A Black, Amanda Marie %A Eliason, Paul %A Krolikowski, Maciek %A Spencer, Nicole %A Kozak, Stacy %A Schneider, Kathryn J. %A Babul, Shelina %A Mrazik, Martin %A Lebrun, Constance M. %A Goulet, Claude %A Macpherson, Alison %A Hagel, Brent Edward %V ePub %N ePub %P ePub-ePub %X OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of injury and concussion among non-elite (lowest 60% by division of play) Bantam (ages 13-14 years) ice hockey leagues that disallow body checking to non-elite Bantam leagues that allow body checking.

METHODS: In this 2-year cohort study, Bantam non-elite ice hockey players were recruited from leagues where policy allowed body checking in games (Calgary/Edmonton 2014-2015, Edmonton 2015-2016) and where policy disallowed body checking (Kelowna/Vancouver 2014-2015, Calgary 2015-2016). All ice hockey game-related injuries resulting in medical attention, inability to complete a session and/or time loss from hockey were identified using valid injury surveillance methodology. Any player suspected of having concussion was referred to a study physician for diagnosis and management.

RESULTS: 49 body checking (608 players) and 33 non-body checking teams (396 players) participated. There were 129 injuries (incidence rate (IR)=7.98/1000 hours) and 54 concussions (IR=3.34/1000 hours) in the body checking teams in games. After policy change, there were 31 injuries (IR=3.66/1000 hours) and 17 concussions (IR=2.01/1000 hours) in games. Policy disallowing body checking was associated with a lower rate of all injury (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.44; 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.74). The point estimate showed a lower rate of concussion (adjusted IRR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.18), but this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Policy change disallowing body checking in non-elite Bantam ice hockey resulted in a 56% lower rate of injury. There is growing evidence that disallowing body checking in youth ice hockey is associated with fewer injuries.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Language: en

%G en %I BMJ Publishing Group %@ 0306-3674 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101092