skip navigation

USA Hockey & Mass Hockey Require On-Ice Helmet Usage

By Mass Hockey, 01/10/19, 2:15PM EST

Share

RULE APPLIES TO ALL USA HOCKEY REGISTERED ASSOCIATIONS & SKILLS INSTRUCTORS

Please read this important information below which pertains to ALL Massachusetts Hockey registered programs. This includes towns and clubs coaches, volunteers and other program personnel, skills instructors and/or other hired independent contractors* that are registered and participate with USA Hockey.

Massachusetts Hockey would like to remind all USA Hockey certified coaches, volunteers and other program personnel, skills instructors and/or other hired independent contractors* are required to wear helmets when they are on the ice.

Please review the below language from page 144, V. Coaching Education Program, A. Coach Registration, in the USAH Annual Guide.

“All ice hockey coaches and instructors of registered USA Hockey Youth 18 & Under and below, high school, girls’/women’s 19 & under and below, and disabled programs must properly wear an approved ice hockey helmet during all on-ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and all Coaching Education Program clinics and/ or workshops. Failure to comply will result in a 30-day suspension from all activities involving USA Hockey registered programs.”

All coaches, volunteers and other program personnel, skills instructors and/or other hired independent contractors* are required to wear a helmet when participating on ice contracted to a registered USA Hockey Association. If such person is found on the ice without a helmet, the following rules apply to report the person not wearing the helmet on ice.

Pursuant to these rules Massachusetts Hockey will enforce them as follows:

  • Any complaint concerning violation of these rules must be made using the provided link.
  • All complaints will be reviewed by the Chair of the Massachusetts Hockey Disciplinary Committee.
    • After review, the complaint will be referred to the relevant program for action and enforcement of the rule.
  • Program must report back to the Disciplinary Chair on the action it has taken and the said Chair will keep records of same and follow up as necessary.
  • The penalty is mandatory. There is no discretion involved in the matter, however, as this is a disciplinary matter, the offending party has a right to a hearing. The hearing must be held by the program before it invokes the penalty. The offending party has a right to appeal.

All complaints to be considered must have the following:

  • Name of the complaining party, along with their contact information.
  • Information sufficient to identify the offending individual can include but are not limited to:
    • Date, time & place of the violation.
    • Program offending individual is associated with.  
    • Name & contact information.
  • Real evidence of the incident, such as a photograph, must be included with the complaint in order for it to be actionable.

If the identity of the individual violating the rule is clear, the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee may, in her sole discretion, issue a summary suspension pursuant to the provisions of USA Hockey By-law 10 and Massachusetts Hockey By-law Article XIV.

Any questions concerning this procedure should be directed to: Disciplinary Committee Chair Christine Mayer, cmayer@mahockey.org.

This rule is for the safety of all and Massachusetts Hockey requires it be complied with by all.

 

* A hired instructor(s) is any person that goes on the ice teaching/educating/supporting USA Hockey and Massachusetts Hockey members.


SUBMIT THE HELMET COMPLAINT BY CLICKING ON THE REGISTRATION LINK BELOW:

Christine Mayer

Christine Mayer

2nd Vice President; USAH Director (2024)

Phone: (617) 429-2103


Family: Hockey coach dies from traumatic brain injury after falling at practice

A Minnesota hockey coach has died after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall during practice last month, family confirmed. Click on link to read more.