Does disallowing body checking impact offensive performance in non-elite under-15 and under-18 youth ice hockey leagues? A video-analysis study

Policy that disallows body checking (BC) lowers the injury and concussion rate for youth ice hockey players. However, little is known about how disallowing BC influences in-game metrics of performance. This prospective cohort video-analysis study examined offensive performance in Under-15 (ages 13-14) and Under-18 (ages 15-17) youth ice hockey players in leagues allowing and disallowing BC. Fifty-two games were filmed (n = 13 BC, n = 13 non-BC) for Under-15 and Under-18 non-elite (lowest 60% and 45% divisions, respectively) divisions in Calgary, Canada. Footage was analyzed for offensive performance metrics on the puck-carrier using the validated ice hockey adapted team sport assessment procedure. Puck metrics included how the player acquired puck possession (e.g. conquered puck from an opponent, received pass from a teammate) and the outcome (e.g. shot on goal, lost puck to opponent). The puck metrics were used to compute a performance composite score for each player that accounted for the quantity (rate of puck possessions per shift time) and quality (a ratio of positive performance metrics to all metrics) of play. Mean difference's (MD) in performance composite scores were compared using multivariable linear regression (adjusted for player position and cluster by team-game) between leagues allowing and disallowing BC for both age groups. Analyses revealed no significant MD in the performance composite scores between players in BC and non-BC leagues for both age groups (Under-15: MD = 0.02, 95%CI: -0.08, 0.12; Under-18: MD = -0.06, 95%CI: -0.16, 0.03). These findings suggest no differences in offensive performance when BC is disallowed in Under-15 and Under-18 non-elite leagues.