Safety
USA Hockey Team Up Against Concussions Week
October 23 - 27, 2023
USA Hockey is participating with the Concussion Legacy Foundation to raise concussion awareness. We would like to see our teams from MA Hockey promote awareness through videos and social media. Please see the attached flyer for more details on how your team can participate.
NEW USA Hockey Concussion Policy
USA Hockey is now requiring reporting of concussions to Player Safety Coordinators for each district. The information will be gathered using de-identifying information obtained from the return to play forms that ALL teams should be utilizing, in compliance with USA Hockey's concussion policy. Currently there is very little concussion data for the youth hockey level, since most data involves high school player levels and beyond. The reported data will prove highly beneficial as it will allow USA Hockey to identify concussion concerns and/or trends in youth hockey.
Please review the attached USA Hockey concussion policy and return to play form. USA Hockey Concussion Page
- This form MUST be filled out by the player's PCP for any player that is removed from play for a suspected concussion.
- Parents who are health care professionals are NOT permitted to medically clear their own child, due to the conflict of interest.
MA Hockey is also reminding our affiliates that ignoring USA Hockey's Concussion policy, is considered a SafeSport violation.
Please submit data and any further questions to your Player Safety Coordinator, Nicole Siglin, at safetycoordinator@mahockey.org. Thank you for your cooperation.
Signs Observed by Coaching Staff
- Appears dazed or stunned
- Is confused about assignment or position
- Forgets sports plays
- Is unsure of game, score, or opponent
- Moves clumsily
- Answers questions slowly
- Loses consciousness (even briefly)
- Shows behavior or personality changes
- Can't recall events prior to hit or fall
- Can't recall events after hit or fall
Symptoms Reported by Athlete
- Headache or "pressure" in head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
- Concentration or memory problems
- Confusion
- Does not "feel right"
Action Plan
If you suspect that a player has a concussion, you should take the following steps:
- Remove athlete from play
- Ensure athlete is evaluated by an appropriate health care professional. Do not try to judge the seriousness of the injury yourself.
- Inform athlete's parents or guardians about the known or possible concussion and give them the fact sheet on concussion.
- Allow athlete to return to play only with permission from an appropriate health care professional and with the completion of the Return to Play form.
Safety Committee Co-Chairs & Contact Information:
Tom Smith
Massachusetts Hockey Safety Chair
Phone: (781) 254-6811
Nicole Siglin
Massachusetts Hockey Player Safety Coordinator
Massachusetts Hockey Concussion Cards:
These wallet sized cards have been given to the associate registrars and board of directors in Massachusetts. Coaches should be receiving these cards in the through out this fall. If you would like a concussion card and haven't received them, please email us.
USA Hockey: Safety Education
USA Hockey: Flu, Locker Room, Ice Safety, Neck Guard & Zero Tolerance information
The medical waiver process allows for individuals with certain qualifying medical conditions the opportunity to experience ice hockey in a safe environment.
Allowing players to “play down” is not a trivial matter. Considerations extend beyond the excepted players. There are many other players on the ice who also have a right to the expectation of fairness and safety.
Exceptions can create situations where one participant has an advantage over all other participants, creating an inequity that perpetuates unfairness.
Simply being “small for their age” or “not very skilled” are not considered to be adequate reasons for granting a “play down” exception, as such conditions do not rise to the level of a qualifying handicap under the definitions and current court decisions within the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Medical waiver requests may be approved after careful review from the Safety Committee (or a medical waiver subcommittee created by the Safety Committee if the following criteria has been met):
• The Primary Care Physician (PCP) for the player must provide written documentation addressing the specific medical condition that requires the player this medical necessity of “Playing down”.
• The Medical waiver form and PCP document must be completed and submitted during the waiver application period of March 1- April 30.
• Completed Release and Waiver Liability form submitted to registrar and kept on file with the team.
• Waivers will not be granted for Tier 1 or Tier 2 (Club or Hometown) teams.
• Waivers will not be granted for participation on Club teams (youth and Girls/Women’s).
• Waivers will be issued for participation on the lowest hometown program offered for the upcoming season Tier V, Tier IV team or III, whichever is the lowest level.
• Waivers are for only one season and must be applied for annually.
Once approved, waived players are ineligible to participate in district playdowns or State Championships Tournaments at any level.
The program of the waived player must have approval by the league and player eligibility for Invitational Tournaments granted only if Tournament Director approves it.