Penalty length for youth hockey games

[O-townClown]

Rule 402(a) states that minor penalties are 2 minutes in length. Minnesota Hockey had a pilot project to test penalties of shorter length when periods are 15 minutes or less.

I have seen penalties of just 1 minute used for a summer game.

How long do you think penalties should be for these ages?

+++

One of the things that often comes up in the PW/Checking discussion is that there "should be a study" to look at injuries, dropout, player development, and other matters. Worth noting that there is a recommendation from someone within Minnesota Hockey to use 1:30 for the penalty length. I think it will be voted on this summer.

There is no study that shows whether the pilot worked or not. Is the shortened penalty enough of a deterrent? Do kids have more enjoyment, does it vary depending upon whether these kids are the ones going to the box or sitting their shift because someone else did? What about injuries?

The USA Hockey Executive Board will be voting without the benefit of such a study. Just a simple, "we tried this and think it is a good idea."

It takes a lot of work to conduct a study, and more importantly a lot of time.

[InigoMontoya]

I guess I'm missing your point.

Are you saying that USAH listens to every crackpot idea and puts it up for a vote without doing any kind of research at all because it would take too much time and effort?

Or are you saying that the checking rule change has been brought to USAH without any time or effort, just like the 1:30 penalty idea?

[JSR]

We've been using 1:30 penalties with 12 minute periods for Squirts and Mites in Wisconsin for quite a long time now (PW and Bantams use 2 minute penalties with 15 minute periods). I see no ill effects on the game, I see no ill effects on development, actually Wisconsin has never been better at the game and the numbers of kids getting D1 schollies and the numbers in the pros are at an all time high. Not saying it's because we use 1:30 penalties, just saying there is no evidence of ill effects and as a youth hockey parent it is really not a big deal, quite the contrary I think I'd be pissed if my kid had to sit 2 full minutes when their periods are only 12 minutes long to begin with. Seems very apprropriate to me.

[seek & destroy]

We've been using 1:30 penalties with 12 minute periods for Squirts and Mites in Wisconsin for quite a long time now (PW and Bantams use 2 minute penalties with 15 minute periods).

I favor using a graduated system of penalty length based on the level. At Mites there should be no set penalty minutes...the offending player is just told by the ref to go to the team bench and another player immediately comes out to play without stopping the game…let the kids play.

At Squirts I would use a 1 minute penalty and have them go to the box. This level is more about learning the basics of play then worrying about PP and a 1 minute penalty teaches them about that facet of the game without taking players away too long.

At Peewees and Bantams I would use a 1:30 penalty. That allows enough time to develop and work on teaching how to do PP and SH lines and still keeps players involved in more of the game. It has been used this year and I don't think it has been detrimental to the game and in some ways had made it better. I would also eliminate the 10 minute mouth guard penalty completely at all levels. Also, at the 'C' level they should use the 1:00 penalty for all levels of play.

At H.S. and above you use the regular 2:00 penalty.

[muckandgrind]

We've been using 1:30 penalties with 12 minute periods for Squirts and Mites in Wisconsin for quite a long time now (PW and Bantams use 2 minute penalties with 15 minute periods).

I favor using a graduated system of penalty length based on the level. At Mites there should be no set penalty minutes...the offending player is just told by the ref to go to the team bench and another player immediately comes out to play without stopping the game…let the kids play.

At Squirts I would use a 1 minute penalty and have them go to the box. This level is more about learning the basics of play then worrying about PP and a 1 minute penalty teaches them about that facet of the game without taking players away too long.

At Peewees and Bantams I would use a 1:30 penalty. That allows enough time to develop and work on teaching how to do PP and SH lines and still keeps players involved in more of the game. It has been used this year and I don't think it has been detrimental to the game and in some ways had made it better. I would also eliminate the 10 minute mouth guard penalty completely at all levels. Also, at the 'C' level they should use the 1:00 penalty for all levels of play.

At H.S. and above you use the regular 2:00 penalty.

I would agree, except that I think there should be 2:00 minute penalties for A Bantams games with 17:00 minute periods (as I think it is, currently).

[Concerned Hockey Coach]

I guess I'm missing your point.

Are you saying that USAH listens to every crackpot idea and puts it up for a vote without doing any kind of research at all because it would take too much time and effort?

Or are you saying that the checking rule change has been brought to USAH without any time or effort, just like the 1:30 penalty idea?

Brilliant! O-Town - any response? I totally missed your point as well, although I hope you're not equating a change in the penalty time to be on par with the elimination of checking from PeeWee's... that would just be bizarre and irrational.

[DMom]

In the last week I've watched a kid go to the penalty box for a 1:30 for a vicious check from behind and another go for 10:00 for saying 'bullcrap' therefore I don't think penalties teach children anything. Throw them all out

[elliott70]

We've been using 1:30 penalties with 12 minute periods for Squirts and Mites in Wisconsin for quite a long time now (PW and Bantams use 2 minute penalties with 15 minute periods).

I favor using a graduated system of penalty length based on the level. At Mites there should be no set penalty minutes...the offending player is just told by the ref to go to the team bench and another player immediately comes out to play without stopping the game…let the kids play.

At Squirts I would use a 1 minute penalty and have them go to the box. This level is more about learning the basics of play then worrying about PP and a 1 minute penalty teaches them about that facet of the game without taking players away too long.

At Peewees and Bantams I would use a 1:30 penalty. That allows enough time to develop and work on teaching how to do PP and SH lines and still keeps players involved in more of the game. It has been used this year and I don't think it has been detrimental to the game and in some ways had made it better. I would also eliminate the 10 minute mouth guard penalty completely at all levels. Also, at the 'C' level they should use the 1:00 penalty for all levels of play.

At H.S. and above you use the regular 2:00 penalty.

I would agree, except that I think there should be 2:00 minute penalties for A Bantams games with 17:00 minute periods (as I think it is, currently).

In District 16 the games are 17 minute stop with a resurface between one of the period breaks (sometimes both).
Penalties are 2 minutes.

For all pee-wees and bantams.

[Air Force 1]

In District 16 the games are 17 minute stop with a resurface between one of the period breaks (sometimes both).
Penalties are 2 minutes.

For all pee-wees and bantams.

I love District 16!

[O-townClown]

Inigo, Concerned:

Draw your own conclusions.

The Minnesota affiliate runs a pilot and makes a playing rule recommendation with no "study" to support it.

USA Hockey comes up with an idea and makes a playing rule recommendation.

Those that oppose say they need a "study" of some type. Which study would be easier to conduct?

I can assure you I don't need a study to have an opinion. Willing to try shorter penalties. Content to leave it as is.

If Minnesotans can ignore Rule 306(b) and 402(a), what difference does it make what rules wind up in the book? Mark's worry about unity is needless. The affiliate is strong enough to do whatever it wants.

[hocmom]

I think all minor penalties should be exactly the same. 10% of the length of the period.

[whockeyguy]

Here we go agian Elliot, now D-16 is not following Mn Hockey rules, 2 minute penalties .WHY when all us other poor saps have to follow, few years ago we found out that squirt teams in D-16 were playing over 35 games, maybe Edina does know something that nobody else know, throw out the rules when entering D-16,, and maybe MN Hockey can answer this also.

[greybeard58]

District 16 is following Mn Hockey and USA Hockey rules, the pilot project on 1:30 minute penalty time was for games with 15 minute periods or less. The period length in District 16 for PW and Ban is 17 minutes so they are not covered by the pilot project and use 2 minutes for minor penalties.

[Little King]

I'm actually ok with the 1:30 penalties. I was against it at first, but it makes sense. It really forces teams, and coaches to teach the kids to attack the net as much as possible, instead of looking for the unbelievable, thread the needle back door, one timer....

[frederick61]

The 1:30 penalty caused too many stoppages of play at the peewee A games while parents tried to figure out how to get the 1:30 penalty time on the scoreboard. It was annoying at some games and at some games, the refs gave up and didn't force the penalty time to be put up.

The problem is that a 2:00 minute penalty is used by other levels (bantam, high school) and the clocks have been simplified by entering "penalty" thus posting 2:00 minutes automatically on the scoreboard. The 1:30 causes parents to enter the time manually and there is often no set of directions on how to enter the time manually at the timekeeper's table.

[the_juiceman]

The 1:30 penalty caused too many stoppages of play at the peewee A games while parents tried to figure out how to get the 1:30 penalty time on the scoreboard. It was annoying at some games and at some games, the refs gave up and didn't force the penalty time to be put up.

The problem is that a 2:00 minute penalty is used by other levels (bantam, high school) and the clocks have been simplified by entering "penalty" thus posting 2:00 minutes automatically on the scoreboard. The 1:30 causes parents to enter the time manually and there is often no set of directions on how to enter the time manually at the timekeeper's table.

Is that your only gripe? So have someone teach them--it takes about 30 seconds for someone to show them how it's done. maybe even write it down and leave it by the clock!!. Once they have put 1 or 2 penalties in, then it should become very easy for them.