---
title: Articles | 4Check Hockey
description: Injury Prevention | 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/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/why-avoiding-contact-training-can-actually-increase-injury-risk)
4Check Hockey
## [Why Avoiding Contact Training Can Actually Increase Injury Risk](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-avoiding-contact-training-can-actually-increase-injury-risk)
It seems logical at first. If contact in hockey can lead to injuries, then avoiding contact in practice should make ...
Jon Francisco · May 25, 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/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/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/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/why-skipping-summer-tournaments-might-be-the-best-move)
4Check Hockey
## [Why Skipping Summer Tournaments Might Be the Best Move](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-skipping-summer-tournaments-might-be-the-best-move)
As summer rolls in, many families in the youth hockey world feel the pressure to keep their kids on the ice through a ...
Jon Francisco · June 18, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/more-isnt-better-the-hockey-trap-too-many-parents-fall-into)
4Check Hockey
## [More Isn’t Better: The Hockey Trap Too Many Parents Fall Into](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/more-isnt-better-the-hockey-trap-too-many-parents-fall-into)
Think about this scenario: You ask your child if they like candy, and they reply, “Yes, I want candy every day!” Would ...
Jon Francisco · May 27, 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/summer-training-balancing-focus-fun-for-both-parents-kids)
4Check Hockey
## [Summer Training: Balancing Focus & Fun for Both Parents & Kids](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/summer-training-balancing-focus-fun-for-both-parents-kids)
Summer is an excellent time for young hockey players to focus on improving their skills and conditioning. However, it's ...
Jon Francisco · May 01, 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/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/from-rams-to-rinks-natures-secrets-vs-hockeys-challenges)
4Check Hockey
## [From Rams to Rinks: Nature's Secrets vs. Hockey's Challenges](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/from-rams-to-rinks-natures-secrets-vs-hockeys-challenges)
Comparing Animal Brain Protection Mechanisms to Hockey Brain Injuries The animal kingdom is full of fascinating ...
Jon Francisco · February 05, 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/safer-training-with-concussion-preventing-dummies)
4Check Hockey
## [4Check Hockey: Safer Training with Concussion-Preventing Dummies](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/safer-training-with-concussion-preventing-dummies)
In the fast-paced, high-contact sport of hockey, player safety is paramount. At 4Check Hockey, we are dedicated to ...
Jon Francisco · November 27, 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
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