---
title: Articles | 4Check Hockey
description: Safe Hockey Practices | 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.
---
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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/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/great-my-kid-got-a-concussion.-now-what)
4Check Hockey
## [Great, My Kid Got a Concussion. Now What?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/great-my-kid-got-a-concussion.-now-what)
Keeping Your Child Occupied After a Suspected Concussion
Jon Francisco · December 05, 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/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/what-kids-really-struggle-with-in-youth-sports)
4Check Hockey
## [What Kids REALLY Struggle With in Youth Sports](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/what-kids-really-struggle-with-in-youth-sports)
...and How to Help Them Thrive
Jon Francisco · July 30, 2025
[](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-a-great-coach-matters-more-than-a-perfect-record)
4Check Hockey
## [Why a Great Coach Matters More Than a Perfect Record](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-a-great-coach-matters-more-than-a-perfect-record)
In the world of youth hockey, it’s easy to get caught up in the scoreboard. Parents cheer for wins, players chase ...
Jon Francisco · June 25, 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/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/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
Training coaches, players, and organizations in safe, effective checking and concussion prevention.
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