Tag: coaches

Returning Back to Play – Phase II

Posted Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Officials, Organization Executive, Parents

After a 2+ month quarantine period, many provinces, states and countries are starting to ease up on the physical distancing measures implemented to ensure that we flatten the curve of COVID19.

In phase I, we have seen restaurants, hair salons, non-essential retail, hotels and other services return with various safety guidelines to ensure that we continue to flatten the curve of COVID19 but slowly return to a sense of normalcy.

The sector that we are involved with is one that I am most excited in seeing work on return to play protocols, youth sports.

What I have found over the last couple of months during the hiatus, however, is the overall direction provided from national authorities and the trickle down effect from national, to provincial (or state), to municipal levels and literally every organization I have talked to saying they are waiting to see what their respective governing bodies provide in terms of guidelines so they can start the process of having their members return to play.

The first of the most anticipated documents that all sports groups in British Columbia (our home province in Canada) were waiting for was the guidelines for ViaSport, the provincial governing body under new leadership and legacy from the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver/Whistler.

The link to the guidelines has now been released, click on the image below to download a copy for reference.

The 35-page document outlines a generic return to play guidelines for all provincial sports organizations to then create their own guidelines to then in turn provide to their local organizations to the same.

Note that ViaSport is requiring that level has their own return to play guidelines, board members review/approve before are provided to their memberships.

I.e. First The National Sport Organization, then Provincial, then Regional (if applicable) and lastly local sports organizations.

The document was released June 1st, so it will take weeks for the various levels to prepare their own set of return to play guidelines to minimize the risk of the further spread of the COVID19 virus.

Yesterday I attended a webinar that was hosted one of my colleagues in Alberta, Lea Weins a Quality Sport Consultant in Alberta, outlining the project they undertook in various communities in Alberta identifying what quality sport would look like which now will look different as a result of the various health and governing guidelines

What I found interesting was a poll of the attendees from various sports organizations highlighted what I suspected, almost all (97%) stated that their were looking for clear guidelines and timelines to return back to activity.  Almost half were looking for assistance to mitigate risk as well as sanitization/cleaning support to ensure the safety of participants.

Source: Alberta Quality Sport Webinar June 2, 2020

This theme is consistent regardless of what sports organization I have talked to in recent weeks and I came across a survey that was done for Project Play By North Carolina and Utah universities of over 1000 youth sports parents in the USA

When asked how comfortable they were with their kids returning to sports 49.5% of parents are afraid of their kids getting sick if sport resumes and just shy of 46% stated they are afraid of getting sick if their child returns to sport!

When parents were asked of their comfort level for their kids returning to various types of sport, over 70% were comfortable for their kids to return to pickup sports (AKA Free Play) and only 50% for what was the pay to play model pre-covid in terms of travel/elite club league sports.

In literally every webinar, Zoom or phone call I have had for over a month the one thing that was consistent was the LACK of consistency but it is due to the fact that every sport has their own challenges how they will return to play, some are low risk (i.e. archery) vs. higher risk team contact sports (rugby) how they can modify their practice sessions initially to adhere to physically distancing requirements.

Below is a chart prepared outlining the various phases for sport activity (also prepared by ViaSport)

Phase I – State of Emergency Quarantine Period (March 13- May 18th)

Phase II – the phase we (and others are about to enter)

Notice the bare minimum requirements regardless of the sport

  1. Physical Distancing (6’/2m) must still be adhered to
  2. Increased Hand Hygiene (washing hands for 20 seconds regularly)
  3. Outdoor participation is safest … indoor facilities (gyms, pools, rinks) slowly reopening
  4. Small Groups, no or limited spectators, focus on fundamental movement skills
  5. NO Contact activities which will require contact sports like Rugby, Football, Hockey to revamp programming but also many others like basketball, soccer to ensure adhere to physical distancing
  6. Minimal shared equipment and must be disinfected frequently

Phase III/IV are still a ways away so in the short term (at least until September 1st projected for Phase III), any spring programs/summer camps will have to improvise, adapt and overcome to meet the COVID19 phase II guidelines.

Here are some of the challenges that are holding back sports organizations from shifting to phase II

  1. Insurance Requirements and if a pandemic/contagion exclusion is needed
  2. Updates to Player Participation/Waivers to include COVID19 disclaimer (i.e. that organizations are not to be found liable if participants test positive for COVID19)
  3. Facility Rental – Who is going to bear the costs (product and payroll) to ensure that common areas, equipment is sanitized and if masks will be needed
  4. Scheduling – to ensure minimize overlap of large groups for dropping off/pick up of participants
  5. Spectators – Yes or No … if so how many?
  6. Total Number of participants permitted (players, coaches, trainers, other)?
  7. Will lower numbers make the business model viable?

I even had some ask about what others were doing in terms of tryouts, coach and team selection which I shared that was not even being considered, the goal was merely to get kids back out to their sports in the safest way possible, there are not going to be any competitive games in phase II from the all the sanctioned sports organizations I have talked to.

**As far as non-sanctioned sports that is another thing it itself, only time will tell if they also practice the DO NO HARM philosophy vs. ramping up games and tournaments before health authorities deem it safe for us to do so **

Why is there so much ambiguity, confusion?

Because even the experts are no longer experts when it comes to dealing with a pandemic like the novel coronavirus, which is why over and over again we are hearing the term unprecedented.  Never in the course of human history has ALL sport been shut down, from professional to U-sport to high school and community sports.

The other challenge is there are many organizations leary of taking the risk of putting their toe in the water until someone else does so or they are given clear outlines from the higher-ups so to speak.

In sum, as health authorities have now deemed it safe for us to enter phase II, we shared in “What will the new Normal Be” how some organizations were returning to play starting with the infamous Mother’s Day Baseball tourney hosted in St. Louis that many felt was too much too soon.

I just checked my best friend Google to see if any other news had been shared since and to date there have been no reported cases of people that tested positive that participated in the event.

There have been a few others that have or are about to open their doors to return back to play implementing various safety measures to adhere to health authority guidelines.

 

Following the lead of Burnaby Winter Club who re-opened for bookings May 5th with rigid safety protocols, now my the multi-sheet facility that I coached at for many years has re-opened after their parking lot was turned into a Hyundai new vehicle parking lot

 

 

I started to see cars being parked early part of April as I drove past the rink which I can only assume was a means to generate some revenue as the private facility did close its doors to adhere to the quarantine period.

Fast Forward to May 19th, they also have opened up 2 of their 4 sheets of ice for skill development sessions like BWC according to Surrey Community staff member that shared during one of the many webinars I have done the last month.

 

Note – just in a few days the facility manager confirmed that 95% of their ice was booked!

Only 6 skaters are permitted on the ice with a skills instructor, dressing rooms and concession are closed, and there is a one way flow inside the arena

They also have been creative in terms of signage for spectators (only one per player permitted and for markings on the ice to ensure that players adhere to physical distancing, including expanding the goalie crease by 6’!

 

Once Soccer Canada, ViaSport reviewed BC Soccer released their return to play guidelines on June 3rd.

Click on the image for the guidelines shared with their members

 

 

They outline 3 return to play phases only so their phase I is what ViaSport is calling phase II (after the quarantine period)

The documents include guidelines for local organizations, sample sessions and timelines

The sample sessions do outline how fields can be utilized (outdoors) to ensure that number of attendees on the field at any one time does not exceed 50

Session Example of 10 players in group 1 with 2 coaches working on various soccer skills

 

There is no reference to competitive game play, only skill sessions which adheres to ViaSports and BC Health Authority Guidelines.

 

 

Still working on their return to play guidelines for clubs but one of their directors shared in webinar how they envision their return to play will be in three components;

#1 – Only singles play, no doubles or mixed doubles play will be permitted

This will be mandatory for U11 and U9 age groups to start which they believe will be a good thing for their overall sport so coaches can focus less on tactics and more on skill development until the players mature and players have the skills to execute tactics

This also will permit coaches to do more one on one coaching vs. group sessions where coach to player ratio was a high as 1:8

HMMMMM … where I have I shared that before???

#2 – No Spectators initially, only players and coaches will be permitted

#3 – They had already started looking at piloting but are going to roll out AIR Badminton (AKA outside badminton like kids have done in their yards for 2 months during quarantine)

This was initiated pre-COVID lockdown to provide another playing experience than indoor, similar to the Beach Volleyball concept

More examples will follow in the coming weeks as more organizations release their return to play guidelines but as the cliché goes, good always comes out of bad and as more and more sports ramp up for Phase II the challenges we faced pre-covid in terms of adult behavior in the stands/sidelines, focusing on winning at all costs will not be an issue we deal with.

Perhaps this also will be the much-needed catalyst for sports in North America to consider other youth sports development models that we have shared in past like Norway, Sweden and Iceland who don’t even have competitive games until kids acquire the skills to from 6-12 years of age and as a result have had huge success at the Olympic and International Levels as a result.

Only time will tell.

Let’s all work together to bring the game back to the kids.

 

PS Tagline - Dont be a kids last coach

 

 

 

What will the “New” Normal Be?

Posted Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Organization Executive, Parents

With the state of uncertainty that has evolved the last couple of months as countries locked down to flatten the curve and now many looking at easing up physical distancing to shift to phase II of the COVID19 era, I for one can say I am crossing my fingers that we do so in a manner that will ensure that we all continue to stay safe.

In the last few weeks, I have had conversations with various sports leaders, coaches, parents, players as well as various small business owners who are looking forward to returning but the big question we all keep asking ourselves is what will that in fact be?

If the recent outbreak that happened in South Korea where a man who was positive for COVID19 has any indication of a worst-case scenario leading to infecting 40 others while going to night clubs is potentially going to happen, I continue to caution everyone to adhere to all of the recommendations from health authorities to ensure that EVERYONE is safe when we start returning back to sporting activities.

I also must confess, I came across an article that shared the anecdote it is going to be like the Wild West when we do so, as so many people have been cooped up at home for many weeks that ANY opportunity will one people will be chasing.

This is what I do know .. as I have shared with students who we have sponsored for years, Haste Makes Waste.

In lieu of diving into the pool, we need to all tip our toes to test the waters so to speak before entering phase II, IV and beyond.

Here are just a few of the examples who have returned to play and safety measures they have implemented;

#1 – Mother’s Day St. Louis Tournament for 54 Youth Baseball teams May 8-10th, 2020

COVID19 Safety Measures per the Tournament Coordinator Rob Worstenholm

  • Players and Coaches to adhere to physical distancing by only having 3 people in the dugout
  • Umpire standing 6’ behind the pitcher
  • High-Fives, Fist Pumps, Hand-Shaking Banned (in lieu tipping their hats)
  • Balls were cleaned every half-inning
  • Dugouts cleaned after every game
  • Spectators had to sit in the outfield (bring their own chairs)

This was against recommendations of Missouri Health Official, Lynelle Phillips who shared “To hold a huge baseball tournament, even the most optimistic of us have to cringe at that” and Morstenholm said 50% of parents were for hosting the tournament vs. other thought it was too risky to do so.  Only time will tell if any COVID cases came out of the 1000+ players, parents, coaches, officials that participated.  If none, then it sets the bar for others to follow, if any, it could push youth sports back for quite sometime to ensure we flatten the curve.

 

 

  1. Burnaby Winter Club Renting Ice for small groups – May 5th

Within minutes of announcing they would be re-opening over a hundred parents reached out to BWC’s registrar but shared that the ice rentals that had traditionally been for spring hockey teams, games and potentially tournaments would be different than Pre Covid era

This means no team practices, only private lessons for skills development with 4 players on the ice and a skills instructor

Other safety measures to include;

  • Players must arrive at the rink in full gear (even when they were in full operation I know first hand this may be more beneficial due to the smaller size of the dressing rooms vs. newer facilities) as dressing rooms would be closed
  • Arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to ice time (no warming up in the parking lot permitted)
  • One way traffic flow both entering and out of the building

#3 – MLS (Soccer) / European Premiere (Football) Teams commence practicing in anticipation of playing games

Safety measures include;

  • Adhering to Physical Distancing (minimum 6′ / 2 metres)
  • All Players, coaches and support staff are wearing masks
  • Regular Handwashing for 20 seconds
  • All equipment and practice areas will be sanitized on a regular basis
  • Players are also  taking pay cuts in anticipation of shortened seasons
  • League games will be played in empty stadiums live-streamed by sports media
  • MLS league games will be on a neutral site, Disney World, where all players/coaches will be isolated in hotels

Other professional sports are also ramping up in anticipation of seasons continuing (NHL/NBA) or starting up (MLB)

  • NBA teams have been given the green light to practice but continuing to adhere to safety measures
  • Hosting games in a neutral site where all players/coaches would be quarantined in hotels and playing games in empty arena’s
  • MLB continues to look at a shortened season when they are able to Play Ball based on what the required safety measures will be
  • NFL – already hosted their virtual draft and anticipating starting league play as normal after labor day (albeit may be empty stadiums)

All of which so they can at least start providing live games on TV, one their top revenue generators but by no means will that offset loss in merchandise, concession, and ticket revenue

What then is going to happen with other community youth sports organizations either trying to salvage some semblance of a spring season or those with traditional fall sports programming (Ice Hockey, Field Lacrosse, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, and Soccer in certain provinces as well as others)

Each one I have talked they all say the same thing, they are waiting for direction from health authorities and their governing bodies to advise what the next phase will be.

All, including yours truly, are anxious to return back to play, but until a vaccine is developed and the majority of the population has been exposed to, tested positive and recovered from the novel coronavirus we are still going to be in this for the long term.

Just as I have been saying when it comes to athletic development, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, before we take the deep plunge to return to play I truly hope that we slowly tip our toe in the water and ease back into it. The other upside to the Global Sports Time Out is it has given us all time to reflect what truly is important and many kids have had the opportunity to sample various other athletic skills they may not have had based on crazy organized sports schedules they had.  The other big positive, they have experienced what “free play” is again, no coaches or officials telling them what to do, they just played for the sake of playing.

The last thing we need is to regress backward like South Korea is doing now as a result of easing up their physical distancing requirements way too early.

Nothing would please me more when we do see teams competing For The of The Game again but until we do, let’s do everything, and then some that medical practitioners advise to do to ensure that not only participants but all other stakeholders stay safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Silver Lining For Youth Sports

Posted Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Parents

As we have now had over a month’s break from all sports, the sector that we work with directly is one that I hope is taking the much-needed breather to reflect and regroup for what youth sports can be again vs. what it had become.

For years we have been advocating to bring the game back to the kids against early sport specialization, adultification, professionalization, pay to play, travel ball, empowering the silent majority and other hot topics in youth sports that lead it to a $9 Billion industry in Canada, the highest cost per capita in the globe.

Much of which we had planned to share insight on during workshops, conferences as we headed into the Spring sports seasons with various sports organizations we had partnered with so they could provide resources to all their stakeholders but are in limbo.

Ironically it seems like this hiatus, or what I am referring to as the Global Sports Timeout, will have the desired effect all of us in the space that are advocating to bring the game back to the kids will do just that.

For years I have been sharing why kids play sports in our core talk for coaches “Don’t be a Kid’s Last Coach” which I share personal anecdotes from coaching as well as the research done over the years.

The thing that amazes me each time I have done the talk and start out with the question “Why do kids play Sports” literally everyone knows the #1 answer – FUN but rarely will confirm that they have actually asked the kids on their teams or their own kids the same question and why it is just that, FUN.

During this Global Timeout, I encourage you to take the time to ask your kids the following questions:

 

  1. What do you miss most about your sport(s)?
  2. What do you love the most?
  3. Dislike the Most?
  4. Are there any others that you would like to try?
  5. What can I do to support you?

 

I suspect you will hear similar answers to when I posed the questions to a number of kids on teams I coached the top answers will be for the first two questions:

Being with my friends – playing when it’s my turn to play – pool parties/team dinners and the Snacks

Dislike the most?

When Coaches Play their favorites (run short benches), you/they scream at us for making mistakes and the Ride (to/from home), traveling to new places, working with a specialty trainer/coach, not being able to hang out with my friends

Any others you would like to try ?

I suspect will be anything from other team sports to individual sports to other activities like dance, drama, art, music, robotics, reading books or just going outside to horse around with their buds

What can I do to support you?

Be quiet or cheer for us in a positive way

NOT Screaming at us, officials or focusing on Winning at all costs

I suspect the majority of kids won’t say I want to go this prospect/showcase tournament in Yukatuk because there may be a scout there that will be recruiting for a NCAA Div 1 school full-ride scholarship or potential draft many years down the road when they are 9 years old (trust me, if they are to be found, they will be)

They probably will say please don’t coach me in the car to and from games, practices or criticize me or the refs for making mistakes we are just kids

NOT

I want to go to more off-season camps, more skills coaches, more tournaments, more practices, more, more more ….

Fast forward to now when none of that is available … what are they doing at home?

Are they now trying other activities or other sports did not have to time to do so?

Are you now spending quality family time including family home cooked meals each night vs. grabbing something on the run to a practice, game?

Are you connecting with your kids more than you ever have?

Are they saying Mom/Dad … watch this when they try a new skill/activity they had not in past?

Are they happy they are learning different skills than just the ones they learned playing one sport?

I suspect the answer is yes.

That is why you need to look at the Silver Lining right now, have those conversations while you are not running off your feet and spending quality time with your family.

 

As more times passes in the coming weeks and months, take the time to recharge, reflect, regroup and refocus for what your family priorities should be in what will be a revamped youth sports landscape.

One that I aspire will be more like what it should be vs. what it had become.

One that will focus on quality coaching development beyond X’s/O’s, Wins/Losses but on the importance of connection, caring and development of the person.

One where parents will recognize the value of seeking out resources, attending seminars, reading books/blogs for insight from industry experts regarding the science/data of the best path for your kids vs. private organizations selling a dream

One that will be affordable, in lieu of thousands of dollars with mandatory travel, just a few hundred dollars participating in community or school programs or better yet FREE, free unstructured play opportunities so all families can afford as the recessionary impact we will be dealing with will be long term. Many families have had parents lost jobs or unable to keep their small businesses going and will be looking for more affordable programming for youth sports orgs, parks and rec and schools.

One that will be all inclusive for all, regardless of socio-economic status,  gender or ethnicity.

One that will have fair play policies where all kids get to play and contribute to the outcome.

One that is safe to fail for coaches, players and the officials who are all learning and should not be scared of making a mistake as they may be screamed at for doing so.

One where the adults recognize that youth sports is just that, youth sports.  Kids playing kids for the love of the game, to have fun, to play with their friends, to be active and learn new skills of the game and of life.

One where it brings communities together because that is something we all will need when health authorities raise quarantine restrictions so we can rebuild.

One that will be reminiscent of what kids are doing today, free play without fear of making mistakes in their driveways, front and back yards or other public areas that permit physical distancing.

One where we value sportsmanship, winning with humility and losing with dignity.

One where the value of respect is not just a word on a sign but a core value of all stakeholders involved with youth sports.

And most importantly, One where parents just Love Watching Their Kids PLAY.

THANK YOU!

Posted Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Parents

Our 4th Youth Sports Digital Summit ran this past weekend and I am writing this at the halfway point and must confess I am truly humbled from all the feedback, comments, shares and overall numbers that visited our site, signed up and watched one or more session.

I plan to do a Facebook live version of this prior to scheduling out our newsletter but I know I will miss someone so I felt best to share in a blog as well.

As the youth sports community is in limbo as the world continues to practice physical distancing, what amazed me the most the weeks going into the summit was the fact that so many amazing organizations and sports leaders reached out either directly or by sharing out via their social media platforms to make it our best Summit to date.

It was when we were having our weekly 2-4-1 Sports Zoom call and Steve Boyle said he would jump on Facebook live with myself and team member Geoff Lenahan was a wow moment for me.

Then I spent the better part of Thursday afternoon, less than 12 hours before the summit was going “live” to figure out how we could do a joint Facebook Live Call and thanks to my best friends Google and Youtube we were able to figure it out.  After a hour of testing with our co-op students we ready to do so at 9AM Friday morning on day 1, Steve and I went “live” (albeit not without glitches as the first time).

The number of people reached, engagements and views of our first and second Facebook live posts was tenfold what we normally see on our social media.

 

I would be remiss if my first thank you was not for Steve and Geoff for jumping on the Facebook live this weekend, THANKS GUYS!

I also want to take the opportunity to thank all of the amazing speakers who shared their insight for this and all of our past summits going back to Summer 2018.  Each time a speaker accepts our invitation or reaches out to me directly to participate I am truly humbled they do so.

Thanks to all of our team members, Geoff, John, current Adriel, and Isabel and all prior co-op students who have put in the work to make the digital summits, podcasts and other digital resources we have built available in the last couple of years.

Thanks to the Federal and Provincial Grant Programs to provide funding to us as a small not for profit organization so we can sponsor students to provide them valuable work experience and help us continue to grow as an organization.

Just like it is when I have attended conferences either as a speaker or as attendee I know that it will take a few weeks to reflect on this weekend and the last few weeks that lead up to what was our 4th Digital Summit.

 

Kudos to every single person who visited our site, signed up for the summits, and watched one or more of the interviews to add to their tool basket and hone their crafts during this time of hiatus.  Special thanks to all of you that signed up for monthly or yearly membership passes to help us continue providing all grassroots sports stakeholders resources, especially now, when everyone is tightening their wallets due to the impact COVID-19 has had on so many industries, not just sports.

Ironically, the platform that we have been utilizing for over 3 years is one that is being ok … in December they had 10 million users, 4 months later, Zoom has over 200 Million users like schools, workplaces are shifting to digital vs. face to face meetings.

Thanks for everything that you do in the youth sports space, whether it as a coach, parent, official, volunteer board member volunteering for why we all do this, the kids.

The very same kids that are cooped up at home during this hiatus and when health authorities do ease up on physical distancing restrictions permitting kids to return to play at parks, fields beaches or organized sports the big unknown is what is that going to look like post-COVID-19.

 

 

I know after coaching for over 25 years how it can be a thankless gig in a sense and those of you that understand the importance of lifelong learning and are doing so to get ready for the time we can return to play …. THANK YOU!!!!

To all of our allies across the globe, thanks for locking arms with us in recent years so we can all work together to bring the game back to the kids … where it belongs.

Last, but not least, I would be totally remiss if I did not thank my amazing family, my wife Melissa for 25 years, daughter Erin and Son Liam for their unwavering support to permit me to do what I am truly passionate about, Kids and Sports.

Just like it is when I have attended conferences either as a speaker or as an attendee I know that it will take a few weeks to reflect on the last few days and weeks that lead up to our 4th Digital Summit.

With the uncertainty of when youth sports programming will ramp up again, I to add a live webinar (or some facsimile thereof) in the coming weeks to augment our podcast and building other digital resources.

In the event I forgot anyone, I apologize for doing so, I will ensure that I amend this blog and update if so as all of those that have supported me I want you to know

I am truly humbled and gracious for your support.

 

#WeApplaud #OnApplaudit

Please say thank you to all medical and front line workers you know for their selfless dedication to fight this fight.

We are all in this together.

Be Safe.

 

 

 

 

 

Why All Hockey Coaches Should Wear Helmets

Posted Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Organization Executive, Parents

Picture of an image in the photo album I received after coaching peewee AAA

Having suffered a few major concussions myself I can relate all too well of the aftermath and challenges for recovery.

My last concussion had nothing to do with playing sports, however, it was when I was on a friends stag and while at one of the many bars we visited that evening that I share via those that told me after the fact as I have no recollection of the events I received a serious beating by three men when I jumped to the aid of my buddy who had been hitten over the head with a beer mug and knocked out.

The only recollection I have of the event was when I awoke in ICU of the hospital I had been taken to a couple of days later and had NO idea where I was, how I had gotten there, and recall vividly that I had the worst headache EVER.

At my side was my then-girlfriend, now my wife of 25 years who wept when I woke up saying she was so happy I was OK to which I said to her, OK?  My head is exploding, I’m hungry and I want to get out of here.

Thanks to my mother being in a couple of major car accidents when I was young, the second leading to her being hospitalized for over a year while she recovered from a broken neck and back I have always had an aversion of being in hospitals, particularly ICU.

My girlfriend drove me home and took several pictures of my beaten face and bruising on my back and arms for evidence for the criminal prosecution which I buried away long ago (back in the day when digital was not commonplace as it is today) but another recollection I recall is how I did not recognize myself as my face was so bruised from the punches and kicks to the face I had taken.

I share this with you as I wanted you to know that I can relate the challenges that athletes face today when they are dealing with a major concussions, it took me over 3 months before I was symptom free from my last one (diagnosed) but as a result of this being my third, and the highest severity, concussion the specialist that I was dealing with said I would have to stop playing any form of contact sports which meant my club rugby and adult recreational hockey days were over.

Having been an athlete for the better part of my life to that point, most of which playing competitively in various organized contact sports it is the reason why I then shifted to playing slo-pitch (although as years evolved and I took the mound as a pitcher dodging the dingers was no the smartest idea) and coaching.

Looking back at dealing with the fog, headaches, balance issues, nausea and even bouts with depression and frustration I can say first hand that dealing with a major concussion is not pleasant, particularly when you are very active.  The other part to this day that I have deal with is the complete loss of memory not only of the event itself but approximately 2 weeks prior to when I was concussed.  Many of my friends at the time were members of the Vancouver Police Department, Paramedics, Fire Department who all helped me fill in the blanks as several were at the scene and argued that the criminal proceedings would be a slam dunk (which only one of the three was prosecuted due to “technical issues” but that is another story in itself)

As a result of my recovery forcing me to have bed rest, dark room for a few months, I also missed two months of my third term at BCIT of my diploma in Marketing Management that followed my degree in Physical Education in UBC as my career aspirations were to get into the business side of sports.

That never came to fruition until many years later when I recognized we are in the business of developing youth into adults, and I have now coached boys, girls, young men and women for over 25 years of coaching and as a result of this and other experiences I dealt with growing up taught me the importance of resilience and how to overcome adversity, one of the core life lessons one can learn thru sports.

 

Source: Mike Hensen/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

I write about the impacts of concussions this week as recently read another article that Eric Lindros contributed to coincide with recent symposium regarding concussions and applaud him for becoming a passionate advocate for concussion awareness due to being forced to retire from the game, like his brother who did so much earlier in his career, as a result of concussions he sustained.

I don’t think anyone that has followed hockey can forget when Scott Stevens hit Eric in the playoffs where he blatantly hit him directly in the head at full speed leading to one of his many concussions.  Stevens was infamous for those types of hits (another was the infamous blindside hit to Paul Kariya) but fortunately, the NHL has taken steps to eliminate them from the game and concussion protocols subject to evaluations if suspected to ensure a concussed player like Paul does not return to play in the same game.

Here as some of the numbers pertaining concussions in general, however, not specifically impacting the game of hockey that was highlighted in the recent article;

  • One in five of us have a lifetime risk of concussion
  • Half happen to youth under 19
  • 60% during sport and recreational activities
  • One in 10 youth suffers concussion requiring medical attention
  • 30% of those visits are recurring
  • Majority return to play within a month but 30% have longer-term symptoms

As I went thru each one of the points above, I check all the boxes but am happy to say have been symptom-free since I shifted to coaching many years back.

One of the kids that I coached in hockey the following year met many of the above also he was unable to return as he fell out of hammock in the summer and hit his head so hard on a rock he had to take a year off from all forms of contact so it does not have to be contact in hockey, or other contact sports like football, rugby, concussions can happen no differently than other injuries.

Fast forward from the day I woke up in the ICU, when I first started coaching Minor Hockey I did not wear a helmet, rather a baseball cap as did almost every other coach at the time as we naively thought we did not have to and did so for several years until Hockey Canada made wearing helmets mandatory for coaches.

This change went into effect in the 2008-9 season, after a coach in Alberta died after falling on the ice and other a coma with a head injury.  At the time, like there is with any changes for safety reasons there was a lot of push back from coaches.  The rule now applies to all winter minor hockey coaches of sanctioned leagues, Junior B, A, and university coaches.

Ironically, the very year that the helmet rule was implemented, I was coaching a couple of teams, helping my sons Atom A1 (AAA) team and also coaching an Atom rec team to honour my agreement with a player that returned to play I would coach his team after taking a year off after his father passed away.

During one of our early 6 AM practices for the Atom Recreation team, I was talking to my assistant coach explaining the drill set up as the kids were doing stick and puck before I knew it I was lying horizontal on the ice after player skated into me.  Per my AC, he had caught an edge and slid into the back of my knew and I fell backwards and had hit my head on the ice.  I did blackout for what felt like a few seconds perhaps more and then all the players and my AC came over and said COACH are you OK?

Thankfully I was able to get up and finish the practice (albeit felt a little woozy having my bell rung) and was reminded why coaches should be wearing helmets for their safety just as much as players wear for theirs.

It is that last point that I wanted to address in this week’s post, last week I was asked to present for the Pacific Coach Amateur Hockey Associations Coach Coordinator annual meeting on the changes to this year’s evaluation process of competitive coaches and the risk manager reminded all the coach coordinators that any outside skills providers they have on the ice MUST wear helmets.  Many of which that also run skills sessions in Spring Hockey do not wear helmets when doing so but if they do so when on the ice for sanctioned minor hockey ice sessions the insurance could be voided.

I get the fact that wearing a baseball hat is more comfortable than wearing a helmet, and many skills providers are very adept skaters, but as a result of a helmet saving me from yet another head trauma, worse yet potential death, I can’t for the life of me understand how one wouldn’t.

To date, the helmet rule does not apply to spring coaches, independent skills providers that are not certified by Hockey Canada or NHL/AHL and other pro league coaches which has me shaking my head in disbelief how their insurance costs are not thru the roof as a result.

Kudos to Hockey Canada, PSO’s and RSO’s like PCAHA for mandating minor hockey coaches to wear helmets for their safety just as the players have to wear them for theirs.

I only hope that spring hockey programs, NHL and affiliate professional team (i.e. AHL) coaches would follow-suit and not wait for a coach to be seriously injured or die as a result of not wearing a helmet during practices.

That’s just my two cents.

Don`t be a kids last coach

 

 

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