Luc Nadeau

Assessment of ice hockey performance in real-game conditions

Abstract The aim of this study was to adapt a performance measurement tool, the Team Sport Assessment Procedure (TSAP), to ice hockey during match-play. In addition to the six categories included in the original observational procedure, the ice hockey TSAP contained four new categories. Twelve Pee-Wee ice hockey matches were video-recorded during a regional championship tournament. The game play of 103 of the 11- to 12-year-old players was then analysed on video by three trained observers, based on all 10 ice hockey TSAP categories. The observational data were thereafter used to compute, for each player, a “volume of play per minute” and an efficiency index. Finally, volume of play per minute and the efficiency index were combined to obtain a composite score, the TSAP performance score. Additional measurements for each player were playing time during the observed matches, coaches’ assessments (dominant, good, less decisive), and player tournament statistics (number of points, based on assists and goals). The mean TSAP performance score was substantially higher for players rated by their coaches as dominant and for players who accumulated more than one tournament point, findings that provide evidence of the validity of the TSAP measure. In inter-observer reliability analyses of TSAP observational data provided by the trained observersfrom video recordings, the level of agreement between each pair of observers was 80–82%. Reliability correlations over a series of three matches (r=0.26, 0.59, and 0.16 respectively) showed that the TSAP performance score was relatively unstable. Ice hockey coaches may use this adapted Team Sport Assessment Procedure to better understand the offensive implication of each player in a given match, since the 10 observational variables provide more extensive information on performance than traditional statistical measures. Due to low performance stability of the TSAP performance score, coaches ought to use the observational assessment data for the formative rather than the summative assessment of their players unless they cumulate information over a series of several matches. Formative assessment can be conducted either during training camps or even during the regular season.

The Effectiveness of A School-Based Nutrition Intervention on Children's Fruit, Vegetables, and Dairy Product Intake.

BACKGROUND Most Canadian children do not meet daily recommendations for consumption of vegetables and fruits (V/F) and dairy products (DP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Team Nutriathlon on V/F and DP consumption of children. METHODS Participants were 404 children from grades 5 and 6 (intervention group [IG] N = 242, control group [CG] N = 162). Teams of children were guided to increase their consumption and variety of V/F and DP over an 8-week period. Daily servings of V/F and DP were compared between groups at 4 time points: baseline (week 0), during (week 6), immediately after (week 9 or 10), and a follow-up 10 weeks after (week 20) the intervention. RESULTS During and after the program and at follow-up, children in the IG consumed more servings of V/F and DP compared to the CG (group × time, p < .0001). Sex, baseline consumption levels, and school socioeconomic status did not influence the results (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS Team Nutriathlon is an innovative school-based nutrition program that can help to increase the V/F and DP consumption of children.

The Incidence and Types of Physical Contact Associated with Body Checking Regulation Experience in 13–14 Year Old Ice Hockey Players

Background: Ice hockey has one of the highest sport participation and injury rates in youth in Canada. Body checking (BC) is the predominant mechanism of injury in leagues in which it is permitted. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the incidence and types of physical contact differ for Bantam players (aged 13–14 years) who were exposed to BC at Pee Wee level (aged 11–12 years) in Calgary, Alberta versus Bantam players who were not exposed to BC at Pee Wee level in Québec City, Québec. All teams were exposed to BC at bantam level; Methods: A cohort study was conducted in Québec City and Calgary. Sixteen games for Calgary and 15 for Québec City were randomly selected and analysed with a validated observation system to quantify five intensities of physical contact and to observe different types of physical contact such as slashing and holding; Results: A total of 5610 incidences of physical contact with the trunk and 3429 other types of physical contact were observed. Very light intensity trunk contact was more frequent in Calgary (adjusted incidence RR (ARR): 1.71; 95% CI: 1.28–2.29). Holding (ARR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.07) and slashing (ARR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.07–1.77) were more frequent in Calgary; Conclusion: Results suggest that players’ physical contacts differ between Bantam leagues in which BC was permitted at Pee Wee level and leagues in which it was not permitted until Bantam level.

746 The incidence of behaviours associated with body checking experience among youth ice hockey players

Background Participation and injury rates in youth ice hockey are high. Results of recent studies show that for 11 and 12 years old players the risk of injury is significantly higher in leagues where body checking (BC) is permitted compared to leagues where it is not. The objective of this research was to determine whether the incidence and types of body contact differ for 13 and 14 years old players in leagues where BC commenced at age 11 (Calgary) versus 13 and 14 years old players in leagues where BC was delayed until age 13 (Québec City). Methods A cohort study was conducted in Québec City and Calgary. Sixteen games for Calgary and fifteen for Québec City were randomly selected and retrospectively analysed. Games were videotaped and analysed with a validated observation system allowing quantification of the intensity of physical contacts (PC). Five levels of intensity were coded. Level 1 represents the lowest intensity, and level 5 the highest. Different types of PC such as slashing and hooking were also observed. Multivariate Poisson’s regression analyses were performed to compare games between the two cohorts. The results provided a body contact incidence rate per team game. Rates were adjusted for the game period, rink zone, and score difference. Results A total of 5,610 incidences of body contact with the trunk and 3,429 other types of body contact were observed. Very light intensity (Level 1) trunk contact was more frequent in Québec City (adjusted incidence RR [ARR]: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.28–2.29). Hooking (ARR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.42–3.32) and slashing (ARR: 3.35; 95% CI: 1.31–8.58) were more frequent in Calgary. Body contacts were made more often by defensive players (ARR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03–1.58) and on puck carriers (ARR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.02–2.12) in Calgary. Conclusions Results suggest that players’ behaviours differ between players in leagues in which BC was permitted at age 11 compared to leagues in which BC was delayed until age 13.

750 The effect of body checking policy change on contact mechanisms in 11–12 year old ice hockey players

Background Hockey Canada’s evidence-based body checking (BC) policy change (2013) was informed by evidence that policy allowing BC in Pee Wee (11–12 year old) ice hockey players resulted in a >3-fold increased risk of injury and concussion compared with leagues where BC was not allowed. Objective To compare the frequency of type and intensity of physical contacts (PC) and head contact in elite (upper 30%) Pee Wee ice hockey games in leagues not allowing BC (2013–2014) compared with leagues allowing BC (2007–2008) using video analysis. Methods Ten elite games pre-policy change (2007–2008) and 11 elite games post-policy change (2013–2014) were video recorded and analysed using a validated methodology to compare the frequency of type (trunk and other types of PC with limb/head/stick) and intensity (trunk contacts – level 1–5 intensity) of PC and head contact. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated using Poisson regression controlling for clustering by game) to compare PC before and after the BC policy change. Results A total of 4409 trunk PCs and 2623 other PCs were observed. The total number of trunk PCs (IRR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.83–1.14) and other contacts (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.59–1.29) did not change post-policy change. High intensity contacts (levels 4 and 5) were less frequent post-policy change (IRR4 = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.19 and IRR5 = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.07–0.26) and low intensity contacts (level 2) increased (IRR2 = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21–1.79). Limb PCs decreased in 2013–14 (IRR = 0.48, 95% CI; 0.33–0.71) and there was no difference for head contacts (IRR = 0.81, 95% CI; 0.51–1.30). Conclusions There were no significant differences in total number of PC by study year. However, the incidence of high intensity (level 4–5) PCs decreased post -policy change. There was no significant difference in direct head contact or total number of other contacts. This will inform the development and evaluation of injury prevention and skill training strategies in youth ice hockey.

744 The incidence of physical contacts in youth ice hockey associated with body checking experience

Background Hockey Canada’s 2013 body checking (BC) policy change was informed by evidence that BC leads to a >3-fold increased risk of injury compared with non-BC leagues. Video analyses found a reduction in high intensity physical contacts (PC) following this policy change. The association between BC experience and incidence of PCs has not been examined. As such, the incidence of intensity and types of PC were examined following the policy change in Pee Wee (PW) leagues (ages 11–12) with (Calgary) and without (Québec) BC experience. Methods PW games were videotaped in Calgary (N = 21, with BC experience) and Québec City (N = 20, without BC experience), both non-BC leagues. Games were analysed using Dartfish with a validated observation system to quantify incidence of PC. Five levels of intensity (trunk contacts coded Level 1–5 intensity) and other types of PC (limb/head/stick). PC incidence rates per team-game and incidence rate ratios (IRR) (95% CI) were estimated to compare games between two cohorts. Results In total 4433 trunk contacts in Calgary and 2667 in Québec were recorded. Of the trunk contacts, 97.5% (Calgary) and 95.7% (Québec) were classified as low level PC. The incidence of total trunk contacts (number of contacts per team-game) was higher in Calgary than Québec (IRR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.40–1.79). There was no difference in high intensity contacts (Level 4 [IRR = 0.72 95% CI: 0.48–1.07], Level 5 [IRR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.57–2.56]). The incidence of other PCs was lower in Calgary than Québec (IRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53–0.96). Conclusion Following a policy change disallowing BC, PW players with experience BC had a greater incidence of total trunk contacts but not greater high intensity contacts than players without BC experience. Players with no experience had a higher incidence of other PCs. These results inform a greater understanding of mechanisms of contact in youth ice hockey that will in turn inform injury prevention and player development.