Just wondering what you all thought about coaches wearing helmets. MN hockey is mandating it so we are supposed to wear them next season. I will wear mine, I do not have problem with that. What about face masks?? I took a stick to the chin last night at practice. I was bleeding like a stuck pig so I had to leave the ice. Only five mins. left in practice. Just an accident, one of those hockey things. Not the first time I should have gotten stitches. It kinda turned a light on in the head, I will probably keep my half shield on, better to have both eyes. Any thoughts about coaches wearing helmets and or facemasks????

Our HS coach a couple of years ago was hit in the head with a HS slapshot and as I understand it was hospitalized in critical condition. Personally I believe that at some level when the shot become hard enough to injure (peewee or bantam probably) all coaches should wear helmets as safety issue.

We had a coach here fall backwards on the ice and give himself a concussion a couple of years back while standing around during a practice.

Personally, I think it sets a good example for the kids.

Not wearing one is like a parent who smokes and tells their kid that they shouldn't smoke, but they too can light up on their 18th birthday.

Good to see you considering the half-shield too. I know it is required for refs in Canada.

I noticed in Ottawa that the coaches that were heading onto the ice were wearing helmets.

I've been bowled over a couple of times while I was talking to other kids not involved in the drills. Should never lose track of what's going on during practice.

If they mandated it, I would comply. I'm sure there are lots of folks who would feel otherwise.

Well, I wore the old lid last night for the first time this year. Of course, the pad was falling out and the half shield is all scratched up from being moved from corner to corner in the garage, but I wore it. Most of the boys thought it was funny looking. it is a CCM about twelve years old, not much different from the new ones. Maybe they meant I looked funny wearing it. That is o.k. too. One of the younger players was impressed though, he said it looked like the one the NHL players wear. Either way, I am wearing it every time I coach.

Our home rink requires it for insurance reasons. I"m on the ice with mites and atoms so I get only one or two sticks to the face each year, ususally on the bench when I'm not wearing a helmet though. I have a lighter,more comfortable and although less protective helmet for coaching than my adult league games. I don't know about the setting an example part. I've heard parents comment that they like the coaches wearing helmets but Kids have NO choice. They have to wear a helmet with cage. Now, if we could just get them to wear the mouthguards in all the time....

Helemts for coaches, nice ... what's next, cages & mouthguards, full gear? Gimme a break. If a coach is stupid enough to stand where an upper level player is firing at the net, then perhaps he has no business out there coaching to begin with. It's all about liability & money, folks. Helmets for coaches are over-the-top. For those who want to wear them, I say great. For those who know the game, have common sense and can skate, it's ridiculous.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Cleets:
Helemts for coaches, nice ... what's next, cages & mouthguards, full gear? Gimme a break. If a coach is stupid enough to stand where an upper level player is firing at the net, then perhaps he has no business out there coaching to begin with. It's all about liability & money, folks. Helmets for coaches are over-the-top. For those who want to wear them, I say great. For those who know the game, have common sense and can skate, it's ridiculous.

that's fine, as long the coach signs a liability waiver so that he doesn't come back and sue my association later on.

FWIW, I saw a very experienced coach get hit & almost lost an eye in an innocent enough thing...players were knocking pucks back into the corner to start the next drill, player puts stick out to direct a puck into the corner, it ends up hitting the stick oddly and smack into the coach's face....so it's more than "being stupid enough to stand where an upper level player..." type things...