Changing the rules of hockey to reduce aggressive behaviour like bodychecking is the best way to keep kids safer on the ice, according to a group of Canadian researchers.
In hockey, body checking is when one player charges into another player.
The researchers looked at the different ways people have tried to reduce injuries among young hockey players.
They found that the most effective method is to introduce a “no bodychecking” rule, or at least raise the age when players can begin to bodycheck.
The number of young hockey players suffering brain and spinal cord injuries has increased in the past 15 years.
On some teams, as many as one-quarter of the players will suffer a concussion during a season.
These injuries are often caused by bodychecking.