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 before. A recent Mount Sinai study analyzing 10 years of emergency department data revealed a significant increase in head and shoulder injuries among youth players since 2020, with girls seeing the sharpest spike. Hospitalization rates have climbed to 5.6%, the highest in recent years. What’s driving this surge, and how can we protect our players?

Why Are Injuries Increasing?

• Aggressive Play Styles: Coaches and players often push harder to “make up for lost time,” increasing intensity and risk.
• Equipment Fit Issues: Rapid growth during adolescence means gear often doesn’t fit properly, reducing protection.
• Poor Training and Education on Contact, Checking, and Concussion Prevention: Many programs still lack structured teaching on safe body contact and concussion awareness, leaving players unprepared for physical play.

4Check Hockey is leading the charge in changing this narrative—by providing comprehensive education on safe checking techniques, concussion prevention, and proper body positioning. Their mission is clear: "Making the game SAFER, one DUMMY at a time."

Who’s Most at Risk?

• Midget (15–17): Highest injury rates due to body checking and size disparities.
• Bantam (13–14): Spike occurs when checking is introduced.
• Girls’ Hockey: Participation is booming, but injury prevention hasn’t kept pace.

What Can We Do?

1. Strengthen Concussion Protocols
Educate coaches and parents on signs of head trauma and enforce strict return-to-play guidelines.

2. Implement Wearable Technology
The NFL has "spotters" that watch all of the players and will pull a player that is suspected of a head injury. While this would be great to have at the youth levels, it just isn't possible to have at every practice or game. There are wearable technologies out there that can provide better feedback and awareness like Bearmind. Giving, players, coaches, parents, and administrators an unbiased opinion.

3. Prioritize Equipment Fit
Parents should check helmet and shoulder pad sizing every season—growth spurts happen fast.

4. Bridge the Education Gap with 4Check Hockey
This is where 4Check Hockey steps in as the missing link. Our custom lifelike training dummies and progressive contact programs teach players proper body positioning, angling, and safe checking techniques—skills that dramatically reduce injury risk.

• Hands-On Learning: Players practice real contact scenarios without risking injury against teammates.
• Progressive Curriculum: From Mites to Midget, drills scale with age and skill level.
• Safety First: Every drill emphasizes concussion prevention, body protection, and respect for opponents.

5. Make Education Mandatory
Before introducing body contact, leagues should require certified training programs like ours to ensure players understand mechanics and safety principles.

The Bottom Line

Youth hockey should be about fun, development, and safety—not hospital visits. By addressing these trends head-on and integrating proper education tools like 4Check Hockey’s system, we can keep the game safer for every player.

Want to learn more about our injury-prevention programs and custom dummies? Visit 4CheckHockey.com and request a camp or subscribe for updates on safer training solutions.

Further Reading

• Mount Sinai Study: National Data Shows Post-Pandemic Rise in Head and Shoulder Injuries for Youth Hockey Players