college hockey  heath and safety

ACSM CALLS FOR REFORMS BY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
 a better model of sportsmanship must be provided in light ofthe Bertuzzi-Moore incident

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has today called for reform in the National Hockey League (NHL) to establish zero-tolerance policies toward violent acts. Meaningful steps not only will protect NHL athletes, but also provide a responsible and positive model of sportsmanship. Based on this week’s incident involving NHL’s Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore, ACSM’s sports medicine experts say the NHL must do more to protect its athletes and confront the negative effects on-ice fighting and violence has on youth sports, specifically youth hockey leagues.

ACSM, the world leader in the scientific and medical aspects of sports and exercise, has also voiced concerns over what it sees as an epidemic of violence in hockey, even at lower levels where these acts are penalized much more severely. Action by the NHL should result in greater respect for opposing teams and their players, zero tolerance for acts of retribution, stronger and more costly penalties for excessive and harmful play, and greater accountability for coaches and owners to control player behavior. Further, the NHL should take the additional positive step of enacting programs to promote respect and sportsmanship to younger athletes.

“Fighting is not an appropriate part of the game of hockey,” said ACSM President-elect William O. Roberts, M.D. “Unfortunately, the NHL has systematically allowed fighting to become a part of the professional spectacle. This week’s gruesome display demonstrates, once more, how extreme and uncontrolled the professional game can be within the current rules and officiating and culture. It’s time to stop these muggings masquerading as sport.”

“Sports bodies the world over have eliminated this problem by calling the rules the way they are in their rule books. This includes the successful governance of hockey at the lower levels of the game,” said Andrew Pipe, M.D., a sports medicine physician specializing in ethics in sports. “Amateur and Olympic-style hockey reveals a spectacular, crisp, clean sport absent of the violence that often reveals itself on the professional ice.” “Younger athletes often emulate what they see their heroes doing,” said Roberts.

“What we don’t want to see in youth sports is overly aggressive or unfair play because the professional athletes aren’t aware of their impact. Those who govern the heroes of the sports world should act first to eradicate fighting and unnecessary violence.”