8. ICESR 04-08-2014 City of
Elk Request for Action
ever
To Item Number
Ice Arena Commission 8.0
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Arena Manager's April 8,2014 Rich Czech,Arena Manager
Update
Item Description Reviewed by
Manager's Update Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
No Action Requested
Background/Discussion
USA Hockey is considering a"Look up Line," a solid orange line around the outside of the ice that
would extend 40 inches from the boards. I'm researching to see how seriously this is being considered,
including discussions with the Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association (MIA LA) for input.
The Spring Craft Fair is full, the soonest it's filled of late. Laura Estby, the arena office assistant,has
worked hard to bring back the integrity and quality of the show and should be commended for a job well
done. Next Spring will be the Arena's 251h Anniversary and we are planning on making it a great show.
On April 261h and 271h for the fourth year in the row we will host a Gun and Knife Show. It's typically is
a great day for our concession stand.
On May 161h and 171h the Elk River Learn to Skate will host our annual skate show. It features skaters
from the Learn to Skate Program as well as skaters that have been with our program and are now skating
with the club.
Financial Impact
• N/A
Attachments
• Look Up Line proposal
• Legislative Proposal Form
• Picture of proposed"Look Up Line"
• Response letter
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LO O- K UP LINE
Paper Title: Ice hockey's first warning track; an adjunct to decreasing the
risk for bead or catastrophic cervical spine injuries using a LOOK UP LINE,.
Abstract: Catastrophic neck injuries causing quadriplegia have decreased
greatly over the past twenty years since the introduction of the Heads Up,
Don't Duck Program by USA Hockey in 1995 and Think Smart by Hockey
Canada in the late 1990s. However, these horrific injuries still occur. A
warning track called the LOOK UP LINE (LUL), extending 40 inches fi•om
the boards around the entire rink surface, can provide players with
information that they will warn players 1. to keep their heads up to prevent
cervical spine fracture, and 2. to be careful to not body check (contact)
opposing players from behind. The LUL warning track will be colored
orange. This color will not interfere with any other lines on the hockey
surface, and orange is a color universally associated with caution. The forty-
inch width warning track allows for no overlapping of any face-off dots,
lower circles, or hash marks. This warning track (the LUL) will allow
players adequate time to lift their heads traveling at four miles per hour
before they hit the boards. At 4 miles per hour (walking speed), players
going into the boards with their beads dowry can sustain an axi"(ii loading
fracture of a cervical vertebra. The fractured vertebra could theca
lacerate the spinal cord. The LUL warning track will not affect the speed
or intensity of the garne of hockey, and does not require new playing rules
directed at the player. The LUL, in conjunction with the Heads Up, Don't
Derck Program, will help to make the game safer for players of al ages.
THIS IDEA DOES NOT AFFECT THE SICCED, INTENSITV,
HE TALE, OR RIJI.ES Off' .I4.00KEY
LOOK UP LINE
Most major sports are conducting their own injury research and looking for
ways to reduce the occurrence of head and spinal injuries. New studies are
focusing on better diagnostics and treatment procedures however we believe
a preventative approach is far more effective. Reactive rule changes in
response to injuries have passed with different degrees of success. Ice
hockey associations everywhere fear parents will begin to steer their
children towards seemingly less dangerous activities. Tile ice hockey
challenge lies in how we can continue developing bigger, faster and stronger
players within a safer framework. The best solution to a complex problem is
often the simplest one. We believe the `Look Up Line" is the beginning to a
gradually safer game of ice hockey.
We all know to slow down and cautiously interpret our surroundings when
entering a "School Zone;" we'd like to introduce the same concept to ice
hockey with a new line we call the "Look Up Line." For a young player
with his/her head down the line will act as a reminder to lift his/her head Lip
and brace for the boards. For older, more nature players the line can be a
way to signal a harsher penalty for illegal plays. Either way, we are
convinced the line can help induce a Pavlovian response to slow down and
lessen the impact of dangerous plays immediately, whether you are a
National Hockey League professional or learning to skate,
The "Look Up Line" is colored Safety Orange so as not to interfere with any
other lines on the ice, furthermore Safety Orange is globally associated with
calling for caution. Painting a 40-ineb area ai<or_rrrd the boards does not
interfere with current egtdprrrerre or rules; the lure won't affect (fie
speed or heritage of the game.
Measurements:
40 inches in width.
Why 40 inches? Because 40 inches allows a player enough time to pick
his/her head up before hitting the boards while NOT overlapping any
existing face-off dots, circles or hash marks on current playing surfaces.
ZERO COST INVOLVED! To install this line in a rink, it takes 7 gallons
of orange paint. A gallon of orange paint and a gallon of white paint both
cost $59.99 each or $129.99 for 5 gallons. (These prices are from JET ICE,
the main paint supplier of the NHL, NCAA, USA Hockey) Rink managers
simply substitute 7 gallons of white paint with 7 gallons of orange paint
when painting the surface of an ice rink.
Why orange?
Orange is a universal caution color that participants of all ages can identify
with.
The color orange is not used for any current on ice markings.
Why the /kook Up Line?
At four miles per hour (walling speed), players going into the boards
with their heads down can sustain an axial loading fracture of a cervical
vertebra. The fractured vertebra could then hicerat(e the spinal cord.
This idea will help reduce head and neck injuries because slaters will
now have tit-ne to make proper adjustments before hitting the boards.
All sports have made the proper playing surface modifications to help
ensure a participants' safety before hitting a solid object.
Football;
In 1974 the RITZ moved its goalposts to the back of the end zone.
Players and coaches stand 5 yards back from any out of hounds ling:.
Basketball:
The NBA has installed L shaped flaming posts (that are also padded) to
ensure player safety.
Players, coaches and fans are seated at least 4-6 feet back from any out of
bounds line.
Baseball:
Major League Baseball has implemented a warning track, ranging 12-15
feet, around the perimeters of its playing surfaces.
Swimming:
All Olympic size pools have black lines on the bottom of the pools in each
swimming lane. This line roughly stops 4-% feet before the end wall.
These modifications all have 1 thing in common: They give participants
the opportunity to snake adjustments before hitting a solid object.
Contact Information
Thomas E. Smith
(781 ) 254-6811
Thoi-nasC(l, UACUreparalysis.org
j
wwwj usteureparalysisorg
USA HOCKEY, INC.
2014 ANNUAL CONGRESS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FORM
PROPOSAL NUMBER: 2014 AC—
NAME OF PUBLICATION: USA HOCKEY 2014-15 ANNUAL GUIDE
MAIN HEADING: BYLAWS
REGULATION (Heading):
BY-LAW (Heading):
Section: Policies—
Reference (sub-section):
Paragraph / Page no(s):
CURRENT WORDING: (please type in Tahoma/Pitch 11)
NEW
This proposal refers to an additional area painted on the ice surface.
This would be under Rule 106 Face-Off Spots and Circles.
SPECIFIC WORDING OF PROPOSAL: (please type in Tahoma/Pitch 11)
(as it should appear with new wording-bold, Deletions- }.. o )
There will be an area extending 40 inches from the boards around the rink painted
orange called the Look Up Line.
INTENTION OF PROPOSAL:
This will provide a "warning track"for hockey rinks.
The "warning" is that this is an area where it is dangerous for players to be looking down
because of the possibility of severe catastrophic cervical spine injury causing quadriplegia if the
player's head impacts the boards with his/her head down.
It is also an area where players should be careful about body contact/body checking.
This is not intended as an area where special penalties will be called by the referee.
This LOOK UP LINE already exists at two rinks in the United States.
The same proposal is being made to the Ice Hockey Committees of the National Federation of
High Schools and the NCAA.
Submitter: Alan B. Ashare, M.D, Director Emeritus; Chair, SPEC
Proposal directed also to(Board, Council, Committee, Section): Board of Directors, SafeSport
Committee, Youth Council, Girls/Women s Section,Junior Council, Risk Management Committee
AUTHOR: Dr. Alan Ashare
AFFILIATION:Massachusetts
ADDRESS: 61 Sherbrook Road
CITY: Newton STATE:MA ZIP:02458
WORK PHONE:617-789-2828 HOME PHONE:617-653-8152
FAX:617-562-7247 EMAIL:alan.ashare.md @steward.org
Date submitted/sent to USA Hockey:10/28/2013
Date Submitted/sent to Affiliate (Dist Org):10/28/2013
Date submitted/sent to respective Council/Committee chairperson:10/28/2013
INSTRUCTIONS
• Please type or print all information. (Please use anothersheetif the current or,or000sed language
does not fit in the space pro vided on the form)
• When typing the"Specific Wording of Proposal", bold new wording and strike through deletions.
• Receipt of submission to the USA Hockey Executive Office has to be on or before November 1, 2013.
• Options for submission are:
• Mail to: 1775 Bob Johnson Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906—Attn: Kim Folsom
• Fax to: 719-538-1168—Attn: Kim Folsom
• E-mail to: kimf @usahockey.org
• Submit one copy to the respective Affiliate or District Organization/District Director(s) and a copy to
the Chairperson of the appropriate Council, Committee or Section. The Affiliate may submit any
comments to the USA Hockey National Office within one week of receipt.
• Use one form per proposal. Please reproduce this form as needed.
• You will receive confirmation from Kim Folsom in the Executive Director's office of receipt of the
submitted agenda item/proposal(s). The deadline for receipt of submission will be strictly enforced
in accordance with USA Hockey Bylaws.
NAME OF COUNCIL/COMMITTEE/SECTION SUBMITTED TO:
Name of Chair: Date:10/28/2013_
Review by Council/Committee/Section (comment/recommendation)
SUBMITTED TO DISTRICT DIRECTOR(S):
Name of Director(s): Date:10/28/2013_
Review by District Director(s) (comment/recommendation);
SUBMITTED TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Date:10.28/2013
Review by Executive Committee (comment/recommendation);
FOR USA HOCKEY USE ONLY
Date Received (in National Office):
Date Submitted to Staff-Council/Committee Liaison:
Late Submission: yes no
& � : L - -
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dr
40
Thomas,
We all agree down on injuries is a good thing. But has this really been thought through? In your
memo you explained how the process is cost neutral,which isn't as simple as it was explained. The
white base paint typically comes in a powder form which is less expensive than color and more easily
applied than color paint. Some rinks paint or stain the white base on the floor,while others keeps
their ice in for years at a time. This would create a finical hardship to rinks due to having to shut
down for a period of time when they are typically selling ice to re install their paint to include the
orange.
White paint is typically sprayed on the ice with a 10' to 12'wide spray bar,much like a farmer's crop
duster. A rink can be painted in 45-60 minutes. Painting the color, lines, circles, and dots,requires a
paint stick or another form of application that is time consuming. To give an idea, one blue line is
85 square feet and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to paint. The orange area proposed is about 1,230
square feet or more, depending on the rink size, and would take a minimum of 7 man hours to
paint.
I suggest that you contact our local arena association,Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association
(MIAMA) to get their viewpoint on the proposal. Their email address is: www.iniama.orc,where
you will find board member contact information. I sit on the board and have found that there're
very talented and open-minded ice arena managers that would provide valuable insight and
suggestions to the goal that we would all like to achieve. Most of the managers have played hockey,
seen thousands of games from youth to pro, and have high regard for the game. We are an engaged
association, and were instrumental in developing the new indoor air quality standards in
Minnesota. We are very conscious of safety in our buildings whether it's on or off the ice. We are a
very valuable resource that I hope USA hockey will utilize.
Personally,if the Heads' up line is the USA hockey consensus,modify it to an 18" - 24"line and
only add it to the zones from hash mark to hash mark. I believe a of 18" - 24"is sufficient to catch
the player's eye, although I also believe that over a short period of time the line will become second
nature to the players,like the Stop patches that players wear on the back of their jersey, and will do
little to help avoid unnecessary contact. Neutral zone body checks are usually in open ice and in
non-congested areas. If they occur along the boards,higher injury penalties like checks from
behind,boarding, charging, and head contact are easily recognized by referees (I'm a 15 year
referee). Body contact deep in the zone is more frequent due to player congestion in smaller areas,
more aggressive play and the desire to exert a punishing hit that results in injuries.
USA Hockey mandates that coaches and referees go through training classes to get certified each
year. I would suggest mandating players to have 2-3 hours per year of body contact training before
each season begins to learn basic concepts of safe and effective puck play. It seems to me this
would do the most good and falls within what they are already doing... plus, each player/parent
pays $30 to USA hockey every year... require a mandated 2-hour dryland/classroom and on ice
session certificate of completion before qualifying for a membership.
Best Regards,
Rich Czech
Elk River Arena Manager