Section 8 – Risk & Safety

 

There are a number of basic safety practices that must be followed:

  • Each Coach will ensure that, under no circumstances, will a player be allowed on the bench without their equipment (this is an insurance stipulation that is mandatory). Injured players that want to be on the bench must wear their full equipment. 
  • It is required that Coaches wear helmets at practice or whenever on the ice (see HEO Minor Helmet Regulation).
  • Adhesive tape, stickers or paint should not be put on the player’s helmet or goalie’s mask (unless CSA Approved Stickers). 
  • Remember to complete an accident report whenever a player is injured and return it to the hockey office immediately.

We are all responsible if we don’t play safe.

 

Dressing Rooms

Hockey Eastern Ontario and is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and fully inclusive environment for players, parents/guardians, staff, and volunteers. With the support of HEO, the Nepean Minor Hockey Association (NMHA) will proactively work to ensure that all dressing room spaces and procedures are safe, inclusive, and equitable by anticipating and removing barriers that prohibit the inclusive participation of any and all players.

Please refer to the Dressing Room Policy and Dressing Room Implementation Policy.

Ensure that dressing rooms are locked during all games and practices to avoid theft. Also, ask players not to bring valuables to the arena.

At some rinks, teams will be expected to leave car keys in order to obtain the dressing room key. The Team Manager, or designated parent, should always have the dressing room unlocked promptly after the game or practice so that the players can go directly in and avoid any potential problems in the hallway.

Also, someone should ensure that the cleanliness of the room. The condition of the dressing room should be checked before it is occupied by your team, as well as after all players have left. Look for articles left behind, and make sure there is no damage. Any damage to a dressing room should be reported to the rink attendant immediately.

The Risk and Safety Director of Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) has stressed the need for supervision of dressing rooms while players are in attendance before, during and after games or practices. Due to the need to ensure player safety and reduce the potential for player injuries in the dressing room while changing, HEO has adopted the following policy to be followed by all coaching staff during the hockey season.

Team officials are responsible for the safety and welfare of their players at ALL times during any sanctioned event. This definitely includes while players are changing in the dressing rooms both prior to and after on-ice activities. HEO covers this repeatedly in all clinics, and it is specifically addressed in the Respect in Sport course, given that supervision is the single most effective method of prevention when it comes to conduct- based issues.

It is stressed to every volunteer to practice the “two-deep” method of supervision which means having at least 2 adults (who have taken Respect in Sport Activity Leader, formerly Speak Out) providing supervision at all times during the sanctioned event. This not only protects the players, but also the Team Officials.

Females are not allowed in dressing rooms while the players are changing in divisions of U13 and above.

The NMHA has adopted this policy and will adhere to it for the hockey season. If an incident occurs and proper supervision was not provided, this may result in sanctions against the individuals involved up to and including suspension.

Accident & Insurance Information – Hockey Canada Injury Report

Hockey Canada has a program of General Liability and Accidental Medical Treatment insurance which are described in the booklet Safety Requires Teamwork found on the HEO website. It is strongly recommended that team officials read this booklet. It should be noted that the insurance provides coverage for registered players and team officials for certain limited medical/dental and disability claims. It is not a comprehensive medical or disability policy and will not pay complete medical expenses or loss of wages in the event of a disabling injury.

  • Whenever an accident occurs, a Hockey Canada Injury Report must be filled out no matter how minor the injury. Please remember to do this and return it to the NMHA Division Director, VP House League and Director of Risk & Safety within 48 hours. Also include a copy of the game sheet (where appropriate).
  • Please read the guidelines set out by HEO.
  • As soon as a player is registered, they are insured.

Hockey Canada Injury Reports must be submitted within 90 days of the date of injury in order for a claim for expenses to be made. The Hockey Canada Insurance program is the secondary insurer – this means that a claim must be submitted first to any other plan available through an employer or independent provider.

Helmet Regulation

Hockey Canada, our national governing body, has a safety rule for all on-ice people at practices. Approved helmets are mandatory.

Coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, managers, and any parent volunteers must wear a helmet. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please see the HEO Policy for Minor Hockey.

Emergency Response / Action Plan (EAP)

Each team should implement an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The EAP consists of three (3) designated people who will have specific roles in case of emergency. These roles are explained in the following pages. Alternates will be needed in case of absence.

The EAP needs to be completed by the end of November. The team will maintain an Emergency Sheet with Emergency numbers which will be carried to all games and practices.

The three individuals in the EAP are:

Person in Charge

The Person in Charge would normally be the Trainer on an individual with the most specialized training in injury care. The duties of this person include:

    • Initially take control and assess the situation with the injured player. 
    • Instruct the player to lay still. 
    • Instruct the bystanders to move away from the injured player. 
    • Not to move the player or remove any equipment. 
    • Evaluate the injury situation. This could be as simple as a sprained finger or as serious as an unconscious player. Determine the extent of the injury and the need for an ambulance or further medical care. 
    • If an ambulance is not required, determine the best action would be to remove the player from the ice surface. 
    • If an ambulance is required, signal the Call Person, give a brief description of the injury and instruct them to call an ambulance. 
    • Once the call is made, carefully observe the player for any changes in condition remembering to stay calm and reassure the player until medical services arrive. 
    • Throughout the situation always keep an even tone in your voice.

Call Person

This person is responsible for making the call when emergency services are required. This person should be someone who is normally present at all games and practices. This person should not be responsible for the bench and typically watches from the stands.

The Call Person’s responsibilities include:

    • Knowing the location of emergency telephones or pay phones in all facilities that the team uses. 
    • Carrying a list of emergency numbers both for local and any out-of-town locations. For out-oftown locations, verify if 911 services are available. The Call Person should have a list of emergency numbers in their possession at all times or use the one in the team’s First Aid kit. These numbers must include: Police; Fire; Ambulance; Hospitals and General Emergency. If the Call Person does not have a cellular phone or if cellular service is not available, then ensure that they have change for the pay phone. 
    • Awareness of the best route to and the location of the facility that the team is using. 
    • Communicating with the Person in Charge to determine and assist with emergency help and notification.

When making an emergency call, please remember: 

    • Always speak calmly and clearly. 
    • State to the dispatcher that this is a medical emergency. 
    • State your location, name, arena and its address. 
    • Explain the emergency (e.g. is the person conscious or unconscious, is there any bleeding, is respiration normal etc.). 
    • Give the dispatcher the telephone number from which you are calling in case they require further information or have someone wait by the phone. 
    • Provide the dispatcher the best route to the facility or enlist the help of someone that could give directions. 
    • Ask for an estimated time of arrival for the ambulance.
    • Remain on the line until you are certain that the dispatcher has all the necessary information and your call is transferred. 
    • Report back to the Person in Charge to confirm that the call has been placed and the estimated time of arrival of the ambulance.

Control Person

The Control Person is responsible for controlling the crowd and other participants to ensure that the EAP is executed effectively.

The Control Person’s responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring that team-mates and other participants and spectators are not in the way of the Person in Charge and the injured player. 
  • Informing the Officials, Opponents and Arena staff of your EAP. 
  • Ensuring that there is a proper room to attend to the player if it requested by the Person in Charge or Emergency Personnel. 
  • Ensuring that the route for the ambulance to reach the injured is clear and available and them directing them to the injured player. 
  • Seeking highly-trained medical personnel (e.g. doctor or nurse) if the Person in Charge feels that the injury is serious and needs immediate attention and cannot wait for the ambulance to arrive. This can be done by a loudspeaker or by having arena staff ask throughout the facility.

Police Records Check Policy

All NMHA volunteers must have a valid Police Record Check (PRC) for the Vulnerable Sector. An individual can apply for the PRC directly online as long as you have the NMHA letter indicating that you are volunteering with the NMHA. The letter is available on the NMHA website, or from the HL Manager Liaison. To apply for a PRC, simply go to: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/contact-us/Police-Record-Checks.asp For the complete Police Record Check policy, please visit the NMHA website.