| As children all over the United States ready | | | | Enforcement of rules has been given priority |
| themselves to play the best games of hockey | | | | one ranking in the standards that youth play |
| around their local area, they are also | | | | hockey by. All eyes will be trained on how |
| reminded by their coaches that grassroots | | | | youth are skating on the ice and how they |
| hockey is played under different standards | | | | handle the puck when it is in their |
| than the games that are played by members of | | | | possession. This rule enforcement standard |
| the National Hockey League. The rules of the | | | | will ensure that all players are playing |
| game are very similar to those that are | | | | hockey according to the rules of the game in |
| adhered to by the National Hockey League but | | | | every sense of the word. All youth hockey |
| certain standards had to be changed to | | | | players will be scrutinized as to how they |
| protect the innocent. | | | | choose to use their body during all periods |
| | | | of play. |
| Clarifying these standards in terms where | | | | |
| children can understand them though has been | | | | Other areas that will also be under scrutiny |
| rather difficult at times. Some managers of | | | | during a youth hockey game will be how the |
| grassroots hockey teams have found that only | | | | player uses the hockey stick. There are |
| by putting those standards to paper will help | | | | severe penalties awaiting an individual that |
| aspiring hockey players learn the game | | | | participates in hooking, tripping, holding, |
| correctly. When children are learning to play | | | | or causing any type of interference between |
| hockey, it helps to be able to have a ready | | | | themselves and another player during a hockey |
| reference point to turn to so that they can | | | | game. Any use of the stick is restricted to |
| remember the new standards and ensure that | | | | contact with the puck and other forms of |
| they are playing fairly no matter what time | | | | contact with this piece of equipment will be |
| of the year the hockey game is being played. | | | | penalized. |
| The standards for USA Hockey teams serve as a | | | | |
| guide for youth hockey teams all across the | | | | With so many areas under scrutiny, parents |
| United States. | | | | are comforted by the fact that the new |
| | | | standards have been put in to writing. |
| USA Hockey teams train extensively throughout | | | | Children cannot be expected to remember so |
| the year in hopes of winning a spot at the | | | | many especially when the action on the ice |
| USA Hockey National Championships. Five sites | | | | gets intense. While they are trying to |
| have been selected to hold championship games | | | | remember to avoid contact with another hockey |
| for all USA Hockey youth, includes | | | | players head, and remembering not to check |
| championships for Girls' and Women teams. If | | | | from behind or cross checking, it will be a |
| all of these groups follow the new standards | | | | marvelous achievement if every youth hockey |
| then there is a good possibility that they | | | | player will actually be able to leave the |
| will enjoy playing hockey competitively at a | | | | game without scoring any penalties. The |
| playing level that is meant to offer them the | | | | hockey game will be a safe game with these |
| best protection. | | | | new standards. |
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