‘High hits’ rule could help stem NHL concussion tide

The reason why the NHL and its players are resisting a simple ban on all hits to the head is this: Bodychecking is part of hockey, and it isn’t just for show or intimidation. Defending in hockey depends on playing the body. Playing the puck is too risky, because skilled players can move it around and leave you chasing air. You defend by stopping the puck-carrier with body contact as far from your net as possible.

To successfully do this, you must keep yourself positioned between the attacker and your net. This requires a specific angle of approach and perfect timing or the player will get past you. So what happens if his head is in front of his body in your line of approach? There is no way to avoid hitting it. Or what if he falls at the last second? There is no time to stop or change your trajectory.

However, I believe there are ways to eliminate the problem of hits to the head. Here is my proposal, fully explained:

1. Create a rule banning “high hits” the way we ban high sticks. A high hit could be defined as:

a) Any time a player leaves his feet to make a check;

b) Any part of the checker’s arm being extended above his own shoulder prior to or at the moment of impact;

c) All contact with another player’s head by anything other than a shoulder.

via TheStar.com | Sports | `High hits’ rule could help stem NHL concussion tide.

There are some really good ideas on dealing with the problems of hits to the head here, from a former player who ended his career with a concussion.

I’ve been thinking down similar lines, but I think you can define it in simpler terms — Extend the ban on high sticking to include the arm from the hand to the elbow. Any hit to the head by a hand, forearm or elbow is a penalty. (personally, I’d love to see this penalty, and high sticking, upgraded to be a minimum double-minor, with five minutes for blood drawn or injury, and match for intent to injure, but that’s a secondary argument).

Force players to learn to keep their arms down, the way high sticking forces them to keep their sticks down. encourage hitting, but make it clear hits are done body to body using the shoulder. By outlawing the”forearm shivver” and the guys who lead with high elbows, you’ll solve the worst of the injury-causing hits. That these hits are generally seen as dirty, and I doubt anyone wants to argue that an elbow to the jaw is a “hockey play”, makes this a reasonable path to pursue, without markedly changing the game or reducing the physical aspects.

In many ways it IS simply an extension of high sticking; the forearm and elbox are as dangerous as sticks, and really have no purpose being in that position for a hit, other than a guy trying to hurt or injure a player.

I also like his idea of tightening up late hits by making it clear what the parameters are. In hockey terms, one second is a long time, more than enough to recognize the puck has left and pull up on the hit. I’m all for it.

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