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Hook Checking.

The hook check is accomplished by placing your top hand on the stick then bend one knee and bring the shaft of your stick down where it is nearly flat on the ice. Hook your stick blade in the direction of the puck.  The curved part of the stick should cup the puck and drive the puck away from the opponent.  This type of stick checking is the most difficult to use.

Lift Checking

Lift checking is the act of lifting the opposing teams stick to gain possession of the puck. A lift check is done for two reasons. The first reason is not to allow them to score a goal when they are positioned in front of the net. The second reason is to take the puck away and take it in for a goal yourself. Lift checking is done when you put your stick under their stick and lift up. This form of checking is another type of stick checking.

Press Checking

The press check is opposite of the lift check. The press check is when you use your stick to stop or control the movement of an opponents stick by placing your stick on top of their stick and pressing it down so that it can not move.

Poke Check.

A poke check involves using your stick to poke at the puck to knock it away from the opposing player. To accomplish a poke check place your top hand on the stick with palm down. The stick will face down and closed. Keeping your elbows tucked in toward your sides and use the other hand to keep your balance. Then poke the bottom of your stick blade at the puck using your top hand to get the puck away. With the poke check avoid sweeping your stick,the purpose of the poke check is to poke the puck not sweep it. Remember to always play the body after poking the puck away.

Stick Checking

Stick checking is the use of your stick to interfere  with an opponents stick to gain possession of the puck. There are many types of stick checking like left, poke, sweep, press and hook checking. Each type will separate the opponent from the puck and gain you the advantage. In the next few posts we will take a look at each of these types of stick checking.

Girls Checking in Hockey.

Up to 1990 girls were allowed to check in hockey after that it was disallowed. The debate has been a hot topic in last few years about weather girls should be allowed to check. There are people who believe girls should not check because they would get hurt or that it would promote violence in girl’s hockey. There is speculation that if checking is allowed back in girl’s hockey that there would be fewer girls involved in hockey due to the increase of physical demand and the worry of injury.

Others believe that putting checking back in girl’s hockey would only benefit the program. One reason is that it would teach the girls to play with their heads up instead of down. Some girls have the tendency to play looking down, not up, in which case it causes more injuries because they're concentrating on the puck and not on where they are going or what is happening around them. This leads to them getting hurt from getting pinched up on the board and not being prepared for it. In boys hockey they are all always anticipating the next hit so they tend to skate with their head up and can prepare for the hit or can see were the next open player is at on the ice. Girls are two times more likely to suffer from a concussion than their male counterpart. Another reason for allowing checking into girl’s hockey according to some is that it would bring more excitement to the game; this would then bring in more spectators to the game.

I believe that girls should be allowed to check in hockey. If you don't think that there isn't hitting and shoving going on in girls hockey, then you are sorely wrong. Girls seem to know when the referees are not looking and get a cheap shot on each other. When they are going for a puck on the boards, the arms are moving and bodies are trying to separate the other player from the puck and it gets to be quite physical. There is hip checks going on and pinching against the board going on all the time. The reason I think checking should be allowed in girls hockey is because they will teach them to skate with their heads up and less injuries will occur because they are anticipating the next hit, they will see where they are going, who’s open, and who's coming after them. There would also be less hitting that is done on the sly, behind the officials back, and this will help in girls having fewer injuries also. The bottom line is that I think it would make for better players and would reduce the amount of injuries in girl’s hockey. Isn't that as parents of girls in hockey one of our major concerns? If not allowed to check girls at least should be taught how to check and to receive one properly. This is important in kid’s sports and my kid’s sports.