It is no secret that the sport of ice hockey is known for its physical nature. Whether or not you enjoy the aspect of aggression, or the strategy behind hitting to create a good hockey play, it is an intrusive game. Does the act of aggression supplement the sport of hockey or lead to violence and potential injury in minor level hockey players? The ability to hit another player is very controversial. There are so many different ways to strategize a game and create game winning plays by using your body and physical force. Along with that physical force there are many health related concerns associated. The most innocent and unintentional hit can result in a major injury that has the ability to end careers. What drives the aggression/physical nature of hockey players? Where would hockey be without the physical influence? Is contact something that should be eliminated from the sport of hockey? Given the evidence I will discuss throughout this persuasive essay, I strongly believe that contact/aggression is something that needs to be, to an extent, in the sport of hockey. Eliminating contact would be detrimental to the game for a number of reasons. Hockey offers a safer outlet for personal, social, behavioural influences; the aggression can be regulated through rules and penalties by coaches and referees; and contact adds competition, strategy and a healthy physically demanding aspect to the game. I strongly feel that the proper influences, mentors, and education can prevent injury and make hockey a wholesome sport again.
Personal, social and behavioural influences are directly related to “parents, coaches, teammates and the media” (Cusimano, et al. 2016). Contact becomes evident and often feels necessary when the environment is stimulating. When you have people watching and cheering along with the possibility of media attention, it becomes important for a player to “demonstrate loyalty to teammates” (Cusimano, et al. 2016). These aspects can prove to be stressful and I believe that the best way to outlet this stress is in a controlled environment. When the feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated are at play, it is the safest option to be in a setting where there are consequences for inappropriate actions and misconduct. Educating the players about what will happen if their aggression is out of hand is proven to be the best way to supplement emotional distress. If this environment is eliminated for hockey players, it could lead to future issues with violence and injury because of the inappropriate channeling of forceful behaviour.
Competition and strategy play a big role in transitioning of plays and setting up goals to win games. It proves very effective having a small hit up against the boards to then result in taking the puck and having in return up the ice in your teams favour. Without contact, this would turn hockey into a seemingly uninteresting and slow game to watch, as well as play. Unhealthy and violent aggression contradicts the strategic part of the game and “little is known about what can be done to reduce this behaviour to create a safer environment for the sport.” (Cusimano, Nastis, & Zuccaro 2013). This is where smart hockey comes into play. Making proper hits to enhance the level of play is what is needed in hockey and this can very easily be achieved when there is proper instruction and education, “interventions must appeal to young players’ sense of competitiveness, while simultaneously developing their respect for and awareness of injury.” (Cusimano, et al. 2016).
In conclusion, eliminating the act of contact and aggression in the sport of ice hockey is not the best call to make it a safer sport. Providing the proper education, mentors, and resources can prevent injury, major or minor. Although contact can prove to be misused, it is still effective in creating the game of hockey and all that it is. There are multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors that relate to the behaviour behind violence and aggression, whether that be “parents, coaches, teammates and the media” (Cusimano, et al. 2016). Creating an environment where players can fuel their competitive natures and channel the aggression in the best way possible is vital for the overall safety of the players, because there is this environment there are also consequences such as minor or major penalties that affect the overly aggressive player. These penalties also help prevent possible injury, which is more prevalent than ever in the sport of hockey. Although there are pros and cons to the argument of contact in levels such as minor hockey, I firmly stand by my statement that taking contact out of hockey is not the way to go.