SAFETY RESOURCE CENTRE

This section of our website is to inform our members of the critical need for safety and its role in making the game enjoyable. It offers a series of items tips and procedures that will help you and your team create and maintain a safe environment and adhere the policies of KGHA. This section is meant to be interactive and a place where we can all contribute. If you have any safety-related tips or suggestions, we strongly encourage you to submit your thoughts to the Director of Risk & Safety.

INSURANCE

 

As a member of Hockey Canada, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association is a participant in the National Insurance Program. The mandate of the program is to ensure that adequate financial resources are in place to compensate those who are injured or who have suffered a financial loss as the result of their involvement in hockey. All managers and trainers should visit the OWHA insurance site in respect to event sanctioning, those events that are permitted or not permitted or not permitted within the OWHA and the insurance certificate request process.  If further clarification is needed, contact the Risk and Safety executive.

 

EQUIPMENT SAFETY

 

All players equipment must meet the safety standards established by Hockey Canada as identified by the CSA approved sticker.  Additionally, equipment must meet the regulations in terms of size and configuration as established by Hockey Canada.

Fitting.  Properly fitting equipment is as critical as having the accepted safety standard in the prevention of injury. While we realize that the cost of hockey equipment makes “buying a bit big” very attractive, there must be an overriding safety concern.  All Team staff officials are mandated to ensure that equipment fits properly throughout the season. We have put together an equipment fitting guide to help parents get the proper fit that ensures safety for their child that can be found on our Parents resource page. 

Helmets . Only approved stickers supplied by the helmet manufacturer can be affixed to helmets.  The team must be able to provide proof from the manufacturer that they are approved upon request.

All helmets require ear protection.
All straps must be secured to keep the helmet in place.  (This applies to players and staff)

Cages must be approved type and configuration, identifiable by the CSA sticker

Goalie Masks.  Goalie masks must be CSA approved. The cage cannot be the pro “cats-eye” type with the large eye wholes.  There is an approved version that has an additional bar to reduce the hole to an approved standard.

Goaltenders are required to wear commercially available neck protectors and throat protectors (commonly referred as "cow catchers") at all levels in the KGHA, unless the goaltender's helmet is equipped with a Type 3 facial protector distinguishable by a blue sticker bearing the CSA certification mark.

Stick Safety.  Regularly check sticks to ensure there are no breaks, chips or cracks in the blade or shaft.  If any of these are found, the stick or blade should be replaced.

Any cuts of a fibreglass stick should be done with a hacksaw and taped to prevent penetration of the skin by any strands and dangerous splintering.

Butt End Safety.  There is the potential that the butt end of a stick might fit through the CSA approved cage if not covered sufficiently.  Hockey Canada Rule 21(a) states that the end of the shaft of all sticks must be covered to protect against injury.  All staffs are to check sticks to ensure that the butt end is sufficiently covered and large enough to prevent penetration of CSA approved cage masks.

Skates. You should always wear socks in your skates. They absorb sweat and helps reduce the spread of bacteria and corrosion of the skate materials.

Do not allow pressure points to blister as it will promote bacteria in the skate and infect the wound. You should apply Vaseline to pressure points as soon as they are noticed and reapply periodically. Cover any blister with moleskin, medical tape or form pads. 

 

INJURY PREVENTION

On-ice

Stretching

Properly fitting Equipment

Protecting yourself

Control your stick

Preparing for Body contact

Sportsmanship

Off-ice

Stretching

Fitness

Nutrition

Equipment

Horseplay

DRYLAND TRAINING GUIDELINES

 

The same principles for safety apply to the facility and equipment for strength and conditioning training as those for on-ice activities.  This includes consideration of the condition of the facility, location, lighting, ventilation, other patrons, personnel, equipment, and other similar items. 

It is the responsibility of the team and/or organization personnel to ensure that the facility and equipment being utilized for the purposes of strength and conditioning meet applicable safety standards.  If there is doubt about the safety of the facility, equipment or instructor, the team/organization personnel should stop the program.

Instructor.  Selecting a qualified and appropriate Instructor is vital to achieving the desired level of success.  The Instructor must be certified by an accredited organization.  The Instructor should achieve and maintain professional certification(s) and follow the applicable code of ethics.

Program Design.  Strength and conditioning programs are to be designed and supervised by a certified Instructor and executed under the supervision of Speak Out certified team personnel.

Location & Equipment.  The OWHA recommends that training sessions take place in accredited fitness facilities.  Instructors and Team personnel should ensure that facilities are appropriate for strength and conditioning activities.  Factors to be reviewed and approved prior to activity include, but are not limited to, floor surfaces, lighting, room temperature and air exchanges.  All equipment, including free weights, should be cleaned and/or disinfected regularly as deemed necessary by staff.  Users should be encouraged to wipe down skin-contact surfaces after each use.

Supervision.  Participants must be properly supervised and instructed at all times to ensure maximum safety.  There must be a minimum of two (2) certified team or organization personnel per team in attendance at each strength and conditioning activity in addition to the instructor(s).  Players will not be alone or left unsupervised with the Instructor at any time.

Frequency, Intensity & Duration.  The program design is the responsibility of the designated Instructor. The maximum number of formal training sessions, including resistance training, per week for children up to 12 years of age should not exceed three.  Each training session should last no longer than 90 minutes.  Resistance training should never exceed three sessions per week.

Monitoring & Evaluation.  Appropriate and timely feedback will help players to maximize their potential gains in strength and overall conditioning.  Players should be evaluated a minimum of 3 times during the course of the program or season – at the beginning, middle and end.

 

Age Specific.  Recognizing the differences between young children and older adolescents is important in program design and safety.  Strength and conditioning programs are not permitted for participants under the age of seven (7), even if that player is playing on a team in a higher division.  Strength and conditioning programs with additional restrictions are permitted for pre-adolescent participants (prior to the onset of puberty).  Strength and conditioning programs with fewer restrictions are permitted for adolescent participants (post onset of puberty).

Compliance.  A team engaging in strength and conditioning activities will demonstrate compliance with the requirements within these guidelines prior to receiving a Proof of Insurance Certificate by completing a secondary insurance request form and sharing that with the OWHA office.