---
title: Articles | 4Check Hockey
description: Checking | Discover weekly tips, insightful articles, and essential tools to enhance your skills as a hockey player, coach, or parent. Learn how to effectively use our custom hockey dummies for training, checking, contact, injury prevention, and concussion prevention.
---
[](https://4checkhockey.com/)
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[Programs](https://4checkhockey.com/pricing) [About](https://4checkhockey.com/about) [Resources](https://4checkhockey.com/resources) [Articles](https://4checkhockey.com/articles) [Members](https://4checkhockey.com/members) [Contact](https://4checkhockey.com/contact)
4Check Hockey
# Articles
Weekly tips and insight on player development, confidence, team culture, and safe contact, for players, coaches, and parents.
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-i-built-4check-hockey)
4Check Hockey
## [Why I Built 4Check Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-i-built-4check-hockey)
How coaching, concussions, and my own kids changed how I saw the game
Jon Francisco · September 14, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/afraid-of-contact-youre-not-alone)
4Check Hockey
## [Afraid of Contact? You're Not Alone](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/afraid-of-contact-youre-not-alone)
Every hockey family has experienced it at some point. A player enters a new age level where contact becomes more ...
Jon Francisco · August 24, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/is-body-checking-making-a-comeback-in-youth-hockey)
4Check Hockey
## [Is Body Checking Making a Comeback in Youth Hockey?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/is-body-checking-making-a-comeback-in-youth-hockey)
For years, body checking has been one of the most debated topics in youth hockey. Some believe reducing or delaying ...
Jon Francisco · August 12, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/teaching-contact-the-right-way-without-fear)
4Check Hockey
## [Teaching Contact the Right Way Without Fear](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/teaching-contact-the-right-way-without-fear)
Contact has always been part of hockey, and at every meaningful level of the game, it continues to play an important ...
Jon Francisco · June 08, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-physical-play)
4Check Hockey
## [How To Talk To Your Child About Physical Play](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-physical-play)
For many parents, physical play is the most misunderstood part of hockey. You want your child to be confident and ...
Jon Francisco · May 18, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/fear-gets-you-hurt)
4Check Hockey
## [Why Fear Can Hurt You](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/fear-gets-you-hurt)
Hockey is physical by design. Contact is not an accident, it is part of the game. Yet one of the biggest injury risks ...
Jon Francisco · April 06, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-teaching-angling-matters)
4Check Hockey
## [Why Teaching Angling Matters](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-teaching-angling-matters)
For years, physical play in hockey has been taught backwards. Players are told to finish checks, separate the man from ...
Jon Francisco · March 30, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-rise-of-blindside-contact)
4Check Hockey
## [The Rise of Blindside Contact](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-rise-of-blindside-contact)
AND Why “Head Up” Is No Longer Enough Blindside contact has evolved with today’s faster pace, tighter gaps, and east to ...
Jon Francisco · March 23, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-serious-knee-on-knee-hits-really-are)
4Check Hockey
## [⚠️ How Serious Knee on Knee Hits Really Are](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-serious-knee-on-knee-hits-really-are)
Knee on knee contact is one of the most dangerous and career threatening actions in hockey. Unlike high speed body ...
Jon Francisco · March 16, 2026
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/dont-wait-one-bad-hit-can-change-everything)
4Check Hockey
## [Don't Wait, One Bad Hit Can Change Everything](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/dont-wait-one-bad-hit-can-change-everything)
Hockey is one of the fastest and most physical sports in the world. For parents, watching your child step into contact ...
Jon Francisco · December 11, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/youth-hockey-injuries-surge-how-4check-hockey-is-leading-safer-training-solutions)
4Check Hockey
## [Youth Hockey Injuries Surge: How 4Check Hockey Is Leading Safer Training Solutions](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/youth-hockey-injuries-surge-how-4check-hockey-is-leading-safer-training-solutions)
There’s a troubling trend beneath the surface of youth hockey: injuries are on the rise—and they’re more severe than ...
Jon Francisco · November 12, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/3-most-common-mistakes-coaches-make-teaching-contact-how-to-fix-them)
4Check Hockey
## [3 Most Common Mistakes Coaches Make Teaching Contact & How to Fix Them](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/3-most-common-mistakes-coaches-make-teaching-contact-how-to-fix-them)
Teaching contact in youth hockey is one of the most critical, and misunderstood, aspects of player development. When ...
Jon Francisco · October 29, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/safer-hockey-starts-with-4checks-dummy)
4Check Hockey
## [Safer Hockey Starts with 4Check’s Dummy](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/safer-hockey-starts-with-4checks-dummy)
Making the game SAFER, one DUMMY at a time.
Jon Francisco · October 15, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/dont-wait-for-the-wake-up-call)
4Check Hockey
## [Don’t Wait for the Wake-Up Call](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/dont-wait-for-the-wake-up-call)
Is Your Child’s Hockey Program Protecting Their Brain? When your child hits the ice, you’re not just watching a ...
Jon Francisco · September 24, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/utilizing-4check-hockey-dummies-for-more-than-just-checking)
4Check Hockey
## [Utilizing 4Check Hockey Dummies for More Than Just Checking](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/utilizing-4check-hockey-dummies-for-more-than-just-checking)
At 4Check Hockey, we pride ourselves on providing innovative training tools that enhance player development. Our ...
Jon Francisco · May 14, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-crucial-role-of-awareness-preventing-concussions-injuries)
4Check Hockey
## [The Crucial Role of Awareness: Preventing Concussions & Injuries](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-crucial-role-of-awareness-preventing-concussions-injuries)
Hockey is an exhilarating sport, celebrated for its speed, skill, and physicality. However, with the excitement comes ...
Jon Francisco · April 18, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/angling-your-secret-weapon)
4Check Hockey
## [Angling: Your Secret Weapon](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/angling-your-secret-weapon)
Ice hockey is a physical sport where players must combine skill, strategy, and physicality to succeed. One of the most ...
Jon Francisco · March 05, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-helmets-cant-prevent-concussions)
4Check Hockey
## [Why Helmets Can't Prevent Concussions](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-helmets-cant-prevent-concussions)
When it comes to hockey, safety is a top priority. Helmets are a crucial piece of equipment designed to protect players ...
Jon Francisco · February 12, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/has-hockey-gotten-soft)
4Check Hockey
## [Has Hockey Gotten "Soft"?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/has-hockey-gotten-soft)
Hockey, a sport known for its intense physicality and fast-paced action, has undergone significant changes over the ...
Jon Francisco · January 29, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/will-hockey-ever-get-away-from-contact-and-checking)
4Check Hockey
## [Will hockey ever get away from contact and checking?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/will-hockey-ever-get-away-from-contact-and-checking)
Ice hockey is known for its physicality, and checking is a fundamental part of the game in both men's and women's ...
Jon Francisco · January 22, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/overcoming-the-fear-of-body-contact-in-youth-hockey)
4Check Hockey
## [Overcoming the Fear of Body Contact in Youth Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/overcoming-the-fear-of-body-contact-in-youth-hockey)
Body contact is an integral part of hockey, and for many young players, it can be a source of anxiety. However, with ...
Jon Francisco · January 16, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-crucial-role-of-parents-in-preventing-youth-hockey-concussions)
4Check Hockey
## [The Crucial Role of Parents in Managing Youth Hockey Concussions](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-crucial-role-of-parents-in-preventing-youth-hockey-concussions)
Youth hockey is an exhilarating sport that teaches teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. However, it also comes with ...
Jon Francisco · January 16, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/understanding-traumatic-brain-injuries-tbi-in-ice-hockey)
4Check Hockey
## [Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) in Ice Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/understanding-traumatic-brain-injuries-tbi-in-ice-hockey)
Ice hockey is a thrilling and intense sport, but it also carries a significant risk of injury, particularly traumatic ...
Jon Francisco · January 08, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/winning-puck-battles-the-key-to-hockey-success)
4Check Hockey
## [Winning Puck Battles: The Key to Hockey Success](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/winning-puck-battles-the-key-to-hockey-success)
The Importance of Winning Puck Battles in Hockey In the fast-paced world of hockey, winning puck battles is a crucial ...
Jon Francisco · December 18, 2024
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-coaches-must-master-safe-checking-and-concussion-prevention-in-youth-hockey)
4Check Hockey
## [The Essential Role of Coaches in Teaching Safe Checking and Concussion Prevention in Youth Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-coaches-must-master-safe-checking-and-concussion-prevention-in-youth-hockey)
Why Coaches Need to Learn Proper Contact, Checking, and Concussion Prevention in Hockey
Jon Francisco · December 11, 2024
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/prevent-injuries-and-concussions-with-4check-hockeys-training-program)
4Check Hockey
## [Prevent Injuries and Concussions with 4Check Hockey’s Training Program](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/prevent-injuries-and-concussions-with-4check-hockeys-training-program)
Should We Ban Checking Completely? While the obvious thought may be, "Let’s just ban checking and contact in all of ...
Jon Francisco · November 11, 2024
Training coaches, players, and organizations in safe, effective checking and concussion prevention.
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