There is more to April than Showers! It’s field lacrosse season

That’s right, the hockey sticks are being put away and the field lacrosse sticks are being dusted off; less equipment, but just as much body checking and fast paced action. For parents of lacrosse players, it is time to store away those arena seat cushions and get out the rain suits, umbrellas and lawn chairs. The season may be shorter, but it doesn’t always feel that way when the weather is often volatile. Field lacrosse games are very rarely cancelled due to weather; the players love it, the parents, not so much.

Field lacrosse is played with 10 players on the field – 1 goalie, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 attackers. The attackers must always stay on the offensive side of centre, and the defenders must always stay on the defensive side of centre. The midfielders can go all over the field. If a team has less than 3 players in the attacking zone, or less than 4 in the defensive zone (3 defenders plus a goalie) the team is off-side and possession will be awarded to the other team. Sound complicated – not really, but this game is highly strategic.

Are Canadians making an impact in the Men’s American Field Lacrosse world? According to a recent Lacrosse Magazine article there were only 18 Canadian men in NCAA Division I teams in 2000. That number has increased steadily and in 2009 there were 74 Canadians including 10 alone on the roster at Bellarmine, in Louisville, Ky.

And what about on the international scene? Team Canada will be defending their world title – which was won on home turf in 2006 against the U.S. – in Manchester England this coming July.

The Canadian Women have also been making strides capturing bronze at the World Championships in Prague last summer.

We’re mighty! We’re crazy! We’re never, ever lazy!

We’ll beat you! Defeat you! We’ll even try to eat you!

We’ll cover you in hot sauce, cuz we’re the best at lacrosse.

Gooooo Team Canada
(Girl’s Lacrosse Cheer Courtesy of Prettytough.com)

For more information on the world of Canadian Field Lacrosse go to http://www.lacrosse.ca/.

Krome, Paul. Quality Control: behind LM’s research into high school alumni on Division I rosters. Lacrosse Magazine, April 2009, 33 (4), p.15.

Other field lacrosse references from Sport Discus:

• From Frances Jane Dove to Rosabelle Sinclair and beyond: the introduction of women's field lacrosse to North America. Forbes, S.L.; Livingston, L.A., Unpublished Paper Presented at the 10th Commonwealth & Scientific Congress, University of Victoria, BC Aug 1994: p. 1-4
• Physical and Mechanical Properties of Various Field Lacrosse Balls. Crisco, Joseph J.; Drewniak, Elizabeth I.; Alvarez, Martin P.; Spenciner, David B., Journal of Applied Biomechanics Nov2005, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p383
• ZAP THE ZONE With a Simple Sideaway 3-3. Kenney, John M., Coach & Athletic Director Apr2002, Vol. 71 Issue 9, p16
• Painting women's lacrosse fields quickly and accurately. Marcotte, Bob, SportsTurf Jun2009, Vol. 25 Issue 6, p18
• Lacrosse - the warrior's field sport. Bell, N., Golf & Sports Turf Australia Aug/Sept 2002: Vol. 10 Issue 4. p. 6-7;9-12

Dry Land Training for Ice Speed

Although hockey season in not quite here yet, dry land training season is. Many young players are taking part in strength and speed training clinics in order that they may perform better on the ice come September. You will see them outside on the fields using agility ladders, step hurdles and even speed chutes to improve their performance on the ice. Experts suggest that dry land training for hockey players should start when the player hits the 12 to 14 year age group. This is when they can benefit the most from a fitness regime both on and off the ice. It will not only improve their ice speed but also help them to develop a harder shot.

Anaerobic endurance is one of the benefits of dry land training. This can be done by including running, jogging, cycling or skipping in your workout. But one of the most effective benefits of dry land training would be for power, strength and speed. These would be exercises that focus on the legs and core, such as sprints, squats, lunges and any abdominal exercises such as sit ups. To increase an athlete’s power resistance training is also important, as well as exercises such as the jump squat.

SIRC has lots of resources on dry land training as well as drills specifically suited for hockey. So before you strap on those skates for the hockey season, strap on those cross trainers and get outside and run, sprint, squat, lunge and jump and before you know it you will be the fastest player on the ice.

• Jumping into plyometrics: 100 exercises for power & strength. Chu, Donald A. Human Kinetics, 1998.
• THE SECRETS TO EUROPEAN DRY-LAND WORK. DIXON, RYAN, Hockey News 2009 Special Issue, p7
• Training for high-performance collegiate ice hockey. / Entrainement pour la haute performance en hockey sur glace universitaire. Hedrick, A., Strength & Conditioning Journal Apr 2002: Vol. 24 Issue 2. p. 42-52
• Ice hockey/roller hockey: in-season resistance training. Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter Dec 1998: Vol. 7 Issue 4. p. 2
• Intensive Hockey Camps establish new training benchmark. Hockey News 2/7/2006, Vol. 59 Issue 20, pHS41

Applause is the Parent's New Cheer!

Players play, coaches coach, referees officiate and parents cheer! They all have their role at a sporting event. It is pretty common place that parents cheer some form of encouragement from the sidelines in an effort to guide the child to experience a positive outcome. However, all too often, well intended parents become overly enthusiastic with advice and instruction. Turns out, this could be having a negative effect on the child, leading to embarrassment and affecting their self-esteem, at a time when their energy should be spent focused on the game, decision making and technique. On occasion, overzealous commentary from the stands has even escalated to the point that there is abuse of referees, and parents even getting into fights.

In an effort to curb overly enthusiastic parents during sporting events, organizations are starting to implement policies with respect to the amount and type of encouragement parents can deliver from the sidelines of youth sport. Last week, the Aurora Youth Soccer Club in Ontario, implemented a week of silence for house league matches to remind parents and spectators the game is about having fun, and to present the players with an opportunity to play soccer without constant instruction and noise from the sidelines, while parents were asked to cheer by way of applause and signs.

Hockey, no stranger to experiencing excessive parental coaching from the stands, goes so far to report that the number one reason cited for coaches, managers and officials of all ages leaving the sport is unacceptable parent behaviour. So last year, Hockey Alberta launched the “Respect in Sport Parent Program.” This one-hour online program for parents involves watching short videos on bad parental behaviour with follow up questions, in an effort to demonstrate acceptable, rewarding and respectful forms of behaviour and communication for all parties involved.

In cooperation with True Sport’s “What You Can Do: Parents,” which outlines promoting fair play and respectful behaviour, Sport Manitoba offers "The Guide to Sport Parents", providing scenarios, instructions, and reminders for parents who want to make their kids’ sports experiences as positive, constructive and inspiring as they can.

For more information on this topic, please visit SIRC.

Saving Face

The position of goaltender in the game of professional hockey is so specialized that no goalies play other positions, and likewise, no other players play goalie.  Because of the tremendous power of the shots of the puck towards the net, the goaltender wears special equipment designed to protect the body from direct impact. Goalies may use any part of their bodies to block shots, including their face and head. After receiving a seven-stitch laceration to the face in 1959, Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens, was the first goaltender to employ the practical fiberglass mask to protect his face, and since then the goalie masks have evolved to the full fiberglass helmet and cage combination most popular today. However, while the National Hockey League (NHL) specifies maximum dimensions of goaltending equipment to prevent goalies from having an unfair advantage, there is no agreement on the standards for goalie masks, only for other player’s helmets.

Every goalie wants to have the advantage – they want to see better, have an improved range of motion, use lighter and better fitting equipment, and they are willing to wear below standard equipment in protecting their head in order to have those advantages. Concussions have dominated the hockey news for the past year, losing some of its top players to the sidelines. According to CBC TV Sports, $118 million worth of goalies were injured by shots off the mask in the past year.

The NHL and its General Managers want three things to insure proper protection for the goalies:

1. an inability for sticks and pucks to get through holes in the cage
2. evidence that the forehead/jaw of a mask can withstand the most extreme forces the game can bring
3. a minimum of ½” foam inside the shell

While comfort is important, safety for the goalie should always come first.

For more information, contact SIRC.

When is it Right to Return to Play?

The comeback of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins began last night when he took to the ice for the first time since suffering a concussion against Tampa Bay on January 5.  Now the poster child for concussions, Crosby, recognized as the best player in the world, actually suffered two hits to the head just four days apart and went on to miss 61 regular season games and the playoffs. At times it takes a high profile all-star player like Crosby to bring the seriousness of a condition like concussions from the shadows and into the limelight, doing everyone a favour in the long run. The concussion education that has been gained over the past year has provided much needed awareness to athletes, coaches, administrators, parents, teachers, fans, media and sponsors.  SIRC's Concussion Resource page compiles  the latest and relevant resources on concussion in sport, where everything from research articles to assessment tools to youth videos can be found.

According to ThinkFirst and the Return to Play guidelines, there is an order of activities that the concussed patient must follow and be symptom-free before moving on to the next step. If symptoms re-occur, the patient must return to the previous stage until the symptoms are gone.

1. No activity, only complete rest.
2. Light aerobic exercise, such as walking or stationary cycling.
3. Sport specific activities, such as skating, throwing, jumping, running, etc. can begin.
4. Drills without body contact.
5. Game play.

Anyone can suffer from a concussion on the ice rink, the playground, the basketball court or the ski hill. The same guidelines must be followed as it is very important to never return to play while still experiencing symptoms of a concussion. It is of vital importance that concussion management include cognitive and mental function, not just any physical demands, in order to achieve the proper recovery.

For more information on concussions and return to play guidelines, please read SIRC's latest Newsletter on concussions.

2012 NHL All-Star Weekend

As the NHL season takes a break, the City of Ottawa is catching All-Star Fever! The 2012 All-Star Weekend Celebration kicked off yesterday in Ottawa with a parade of the NHL Trophies escorted by future NHL hopefuls, Timbits hockey players, down the Rideau Canal Skateway. Fans lined the canal, on the ice and on the banks, just to catch a glimpse of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Beyond the obvious highs of the All-Stars coming to Ottawa, the city will benefit from the excitement built up within the community.

All of Ottawa and Gatineau will be involved in the weekend. Events will be held at various sites around the city, including the Rideau Canal Skateway, Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy, Ottawa Convention Centre, and Scotiabank Place. Not only is it an opportunity for the All-Stars to show off their skills but there is the NHL Junior Skills National Competition for the best 7-12 year old hockey players from across the country. Fans can also get a taste of being a pro at Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

The weekend isn’t just about the greatest hockey players in the world coming together, there is also the Energizer Night Skate happening tonight at 7pm on the Rideau Canal Skateway. Participants will light up the night sky over the Rideau Canal while raising money for a good cause. Each participant receives an Energizer LED headlight and an Energizer Night Skate toque. All proceeds from the event go to the Sens Foundation which helps fund charitable organizations that improve quality of life for children and youth across Eastern Ontario.

Thursday, January 26

• 2:30-3:00pm Trophy Procession Down the Rideau Canal
• 3pm-10pm Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair
• 8pm2012 NHL Fantasy Draft

Friday, January 27

• 10am-10pm Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair
• 7pm Energizer Night Skate

Saturday, January 28

• 9am-noon 2012 NHL Junior Skills National Championship
• 10am-6pm Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair
• 7pm All-Star Skill Competition

Sunday, January 29

• 4pm 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game

For full schedule of events and details click here.

Contact SIRC for more information on hockey!

Rebecca Johnston

Rebecca Johnston a étudié à l’Université Cornell, où elle faisait partie de l’équipe de hockey universitaire. Elle a été nommée recrue de l’année de la Ivy League à sa première saison, et elle a été finaliste à trois reprises pour le prix de meilleure joueuse de hockey de la NCAA. Après avoir reçu son diplôme, Rebecca a été repêchée par les Furies de Toronto de la CWHL. À l’échelle internationale, elle s’est jointe à l’équipe du Canada en 2007 et a fait partie de l’équipe olympique de 2010, qui a remporté l’or. Elle fera partie des 12 anciennes joueuses qui espèrent répéter l’exploit en 2014, à Sotchi.

Renseignements généraux:

Date de naissance : 24 septembre 1989
Lieu de naissance : Sudbury (Ontario)
Résidence : Sudbury (Ontario)
Taille/poids : 170 cm/76 kg
Twitter : @RJohnst16
COC : http://olympique.ca/team-canada/rebecca-johnston/
HC : http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/roster_players/4160850?subseason=143144

Rebecca Johnston

Rebecca Johnston attended Cornell University where she played for their hockey team. In her first season she was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year and was also a three time finalist for the top female player in NCAA hockey. When she graduated Rebecca was drafted by the Toronto Furies of the CWHL. Internationally Rebecca joined team Canada in 2007; she was part of the 2010 Olympic gold medal winning team. She will be one of 12 returning players hoping to repeat the team’s success in Sochi 2014.

General Information:

Date of Birth: September 24, 1989
Birthplace: Sudbury, Ontario
Residence: Sudbury, Ontario
Height/Weight: 170 cm/ 76 kg
Twitter: @RJohnst16
COC: http://olympic.ca/team-canada/rebecca-johnston/
 HC: http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/roster_players/4160850?subseason=143144

Dominic Larocque - Hockey sur luge

Dominic Larocque fait partie des Forces canadiennes, et il a connu le hockey sur luge dans le cadre du Programme Sans limites. Bien que Dominic ait toujours eu une passion pour le hockey, il a dû s’ajuster quelque peu pour apprendre à se déplacer et à jouer en se servant uniquement de ses bras. Cela dit, ça ne lui a pas pris beaucoup de temps. Dominic a attiré l’attention de l’Équipe Canada lors d’un camp d’entraînement en 2010, et il n’a pas chômé depuis. Il participera à ses premiers Paralympiques aux Jeux de Sotchi 2014.

Renseignements généraux:

Date de naissance : 30 juillet 1987
Lieu de naissance : Salaberry-De-Valleyfield (Québec)
Résidence : Shannon (Québec)
Taille/poids : 182 cm/83 kg
Entraîneurs : Mike Mondin et Curtis Hunt
CPC : http://paralympic.ca/fr/dominic-larocque
HC : http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/roster_players/4264749?subseason=145203
IPC : http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/theasp.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=565&personid=1097065&refreshauto=1

Dominic Larocque - Sledge Hockey

Dominic Larocque serves in the Canadian Forces and was introduced to sledge hockey through their Soldier On Programme. While Larcoque always had a passion for hockey, it took a bit of an adjustment to learn how to move and play the game relying entirely on his arms. The adjustment didn’t take long however. Dominic caught the eyes of Team Canada at a camp in 2010 and hasn’t looked back since. Larocque will be making his Paralympic debut at the Sochi 2014 Games.

General Information:

Date of Birth: July 30, 1987
Birthplace: Salaberry De Valleyfield, Quebec
Residence: Shannon, Quebec
Height/Weight: 182 cm/ 83 kg
Coach: Mike Mondin, Curtis Hunt
CPC: http://paralympic.ca/dominic-larocque
HC: http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/roster_players/4264749?subseason=145203
IPC: http://ipc.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/theasp.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=565&personid=1097065&refreshauto=1