Player Safety
Prevention starts with the right attitude, preparation (warm-up and cool down), and protection (proper equipment). One of the most important things in preventing injuries is respect, and that respect starts with the example you as a parent set:
- Encourage your child to never check to the head, hit someone from behind, or attempt to injure a fellow player.
- Be a positive influence by encouraging and celebrating positive behaviors like teamwork and skill development rather than negative behaviors like intimidation.
- Understand and respect the rules and reasons they are in place.
- Communicate to your child why certain rules are emphasized.
Hockey Canada Safety Resources >
Stretching and Warm-up/Cool Down
While the player may be in top form in terms of their physical conditioning, participation in vigorous sports like hockey requires a proper warm-up to help prepare the body for the increased demands and to help prevent injuries. Proper warm-up includes a stretching component once the participant is “warmed-up”.
The cool down is the opposite of the warm-up. If the warm-up prepares the body for exercise, then the cool down recovers the body following exercise. The cool down is one of the most important features of the recovery process following exercise. In addition, proper stretching should also occur during the cool down.
Concussions
Effective May 6, 2025, Hockey Canada has updated their national concussion policy and protocol, with new requirements and tools for parents.
HOCKEY ALBERTA CONCUSSION POLICY AND INFORMATION >
Pre-Season Concussion Education REQUIREMENT
All Hockey Alberta players (via Parent/Guardians) are expected to review and sign-off on special pre-season concussion education yearly, at the time of registration, through the concussion waiver found on the HCR.
*For the 2025/2026 season, if you have registered before June 19 – you do NOT need to go back in and completed this step.
Pre-Season Concussion Education (Player – Parent/Guardian) >
PREVENTION
Many factors like RESPECT, skill development, avoiding unnecessary actions and behavior, and education are all effective at creating sport spaces where concussions and injuries are less likely to occur, injury responsiveness increases, and player safety and well-being is a top priority.
Concussion Prevention Resource Centre >
RECOGNITION
Concussions are injuries, and should be taken seriously, playing time should not take priority over a player’s health and safety. Parents play a crucial role in helping with the recognition of concussions.
Be aware of RED FLAGS, if you observe any signs or your player tells you about any red flag symptoms following an impact to the head or body, the player needs to receive urgent medical care and attention by a licensed healthcare professional. The medical professional should provide a completed Medical Assessment Letter or traditional medical documentation confirming a concussion diagnosis, the player is not permitted to return to play before completing the 6 step hockey-specific return to sport strategy.
If NO red flags are present, a concussion should still be suspected if the player sustains an impact to the head, face, neck, or body and:
- demonstrates one or more observable signs of a suspected concussion OR reports one or more symptoms of suspected concussion
The player should not return to any hockey-related activities until assessed medically by a licensed healthcare professional and has provided a completed Medical Assessment Letter or traditional medical documentation before any return to play conversations can occur.
CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
Players diagnosed with a concussion are to be managed according to the Return-to-School (if applicable) and Hockey-Specific Return-to-Sport Strategies, both these strategies begin at the same time, can happen concurrently and the first step of both is the same.
The return to sport strategy is comprised of 6 steps that are intended to be a gradual progression and increase of tolerance to activity.
The player should spend a minimum of 24 hours at each step before progressing on to the next, however progression can vary and the key to proper recovery is not to rush through each step. It is common for a player’s symptoms to worsen slightly with activity. This is acceptable as they progress through steps 1 to 3 of return to sport, so long as symptom exacerbation is:
- mild: symptoms worsen by only one to two points on a zero-to-10 scale, and
- brief: symptoms settle back down to pre-activity levels within 1 hour.
If the player’s symptoms worsen more than this, they should stop the activity and try resuming the next day at the same step.
Before progressing to step 4 of the return to play strategy, players must:
- successfully complete all steps of the Return-to-School Strategy (if applicable), and
- provide the appropriate people (e.g., coach, trainer, Safety Personnel, organization administrators) with a Medical Clearance Letter or traditional medical documentation indicating they have been medically cleared to return to activities with risk of falling or contact.
If the player experiences concussion symptoms after medical clearance (i.e., during steps 4 to 6), they should return to step 3 to establish full resolution of symptoms. Medical clearance will be required again before progressing to step 4.
Return to School & Hockey-Specific Return to Sport Strategy
RETURN TO SPORT
When NO concussion has been diagnosed and the player has provided a Medical Assessment Letter or traditional medical documentation to the appropriate people (e.g., coach, trainer, Safety Personnel, organization administrators) indicating that they can return to hockey-related activities without restriction, the player may resume all hockey-related activities.
When a concussion HAS been diagnosed, the player cannot return resume any hockey-related activities until:
- all steps of the Return-to-School Strategy (if applicable), and
- steps 1 to 3 of the Hockey-Specific Return to Play Strategy.
- the player must provide a Medical Clearance Letter or traditional medical documentation to the appropriate people (e.g., coach, trainer, Safety Personnel, organization administrators), that specifies that a medical doctor has personally evaluated the patient and has cleared the participant to return to sport.
- Players may then progress through steps 4, 5 and 6 of the Hockey-Specific Return to Play Strategy to gradually return to full, unrestricted hockey-related activities.
Return to School & Hockey-Specific Return to Sport Strategy
INJURY REPORTS
Don’t forget that concussions are injuries, even if you don’t think you have use for insurance during or immediately after the concussion recovery process the Hockey Canada Injury Report form should still be filled out within 90 days.
Equipment
Ensure that all equipment fits properly, is in good working condition, free of damage, well maintained, and is only used to protect. Use the tips below to wash your equipment properly to ensure your health is maintained as well.
Everything you do can affect your health and happiness, so it’s important to take good care of yourself. You should focus on activities and thoughts that are good for you and will help you feel your very best. Without taking care of your health and well-being, you may find that you do not have enough energy or dedication to do what you love. Once you live a healthy lifestyle for a few months, you may wonder how you ever did anything differently!
