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        • The Corner Lay In
        • Corners – Working the Right Hip on the Lay In
        • Bringing Right Hip Forward in Corner
        • Chest In to Corner
        • Moving Hips in the Corner
        • Moving Hips In to Push
        • Off Ice Training with Straps – Part 1 of a 2 Part Series
        • On Ice Training with Straps – Part 2 of a 2 Part Series
        • Bucket Drills
        • Partner Pull / Chair Push
        • The Corner Arm Swing
      • ⛸ POSITION >
        • Starting the Season Off Right
        • Taking Care of the Small Things
        • The 3 Keys Checklist – Find the Key in the Basics First!
        • Skating with Your Core
        • The Basic Position – The Arch
        • A Time to Get High, A Time to Get Low
        • Upper Body / Chest Position
        • Check Your Butt!
        • Butt Power
        • The Butt Tuck
        • Hip Dip
        • Bend the Ankle
      • ⛸ STARTS >
        • The Tip Over Toe Start
        • Start Technique
        • Start Position
      • ⛸ STRAIGHTAWAYS >
        • Press In to Push
        • Presscoopinchpushpinish
        • Gather the Power
        • Transferring Power from Ball of Foot to Ice – The Ankle Snap​
        • Transferring Power from Hip to Ball of Foot
        • Transferring Power Hip to Hip
        • Accelerating Your Weight In to Your Push
        • Japanese Four Eyes Technique
        • Delaying the Push – Straightaways
        • The Straightaway Shuffle
      • ⛸ TRACKS >
        • Tracks
        • Entry and Exit Width
        • Entry and Exit Trajectory
        • The Extra Crossover
        • Punching Through Centrifugal Force – Position and Alignments
        • Converting from 4 to 2 Strides on Straight
      • ⛸ ASSORTED TECHNICAL >
        • Relay Racing – Part 1 – Skater Roles and Laps
        • Relay Racing – Part 2 – The Exchange, Training Ideas
        • Skating with Your Core
        • Why Are The Koreans So Good?
        • Technical Opinions Can Be Confusing
        • The Outside Edge – Is It Overrated?
        • Diagonal Hill Steps
    • 🏃 TRAINING >
      • 🏃 PLANNING >
        • Off Season Rest and Recovery
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      • 🏃 SPECIFIC >
        • Specificity in Training
        • Specific Skating Training – Is Your Plan Specific Enough?
        • Warm Ups and Warm Downs
        • Off Ice Balance, Agility, and Co-ordination Training
        • Dynamic Flexibility Training
        • Flexibility Training a Must for Speed Skaters
        • Maximize Your Results with TECHNI-CORDS
        • Improving Your Power with Jumps
        • ​Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 1 – Straightaway
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 2 – Straightaway Jumps
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 3 – Corners
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 4 – Starts
        • Training for Starts
        • Relay Racing – Part 1 – Skater Roles and Laps
        • Relay Racing – Part 2 – The Exchange, Training Ideas
        • Bucket Drills
        • Partner Pull / Chair Push
        • Core Strength for Speed Skating
        • General Core Strength, by Brandon Aldan
      • 🏃 YOUTH >
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        • Training Young Athletes Under 12
        • Youth Strength Training
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      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 1 – Overview
      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 2 – Controlling the Pace and Track
      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 3 – The Moves and Counter Moves
      • Start Strategy
      • Time Trialing
      • The Slingshot Pass
      • The Outside Pass
      • The Inside Pass
      • Punching Through Centrifugal Force – Position and Alignments
      • Using Strategy and Tactics Under the New Rules
    • 🧠 PSYCHOLOGY >
      • How 5'5" Brandon Todd Learned to Dunk a Basketball
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      • What Do You Have to Brag About?
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      • IT – The Success Factor
      • To Try Is to Fail
      • It's All About Winning
      • How to Parent an Athlete: Lessons from a Swim Meet
      • Children in Athletics
      • Early Star vs Late Bloomer
      • Time Trialing
      • The Competition Plan
      • Start Technique
      • Post Season Evaluation
    • 🚑 SAFETY >
      • Concussions in Speed Skating
      • Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected? – Part 1
      • Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected? – Part 2
      • Dyneema Undersuits
    • 🚦 RULES >
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2014-2015
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2012
      • Using Strategy and Tactics under the New Rules
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2010
    • 🧰 OTHER >
      • Ankle Pronation: Effects in Skating
      • Fair Play in Sports
      • Celebrating 100 Skating Tips of the Month!!
      • Sharpening Tips and Tricks
      • Cashing in on Olympimania to Promote Your Club
      • 75 Great Reasons to Train
      • Summer Games
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      • Setting Up Blade Offset
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Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected? – Part 2

By Susan Ellis, February 2010
Every society, all government, and every kind of civil compact therefore, is or ought to be, calculated for the general good and safety of the community.
~ George Mason

Download printer-friendly format (pdf)
Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected?? – Part 1 – February 2010 generated a lot of discussion and interest in improving safety in our sport. Many people wrote to tell me it had an impact on how they thought about safety and the changes they would be making in protecting their own skaters and how club policies will change because they are more aware now. The very graphic photos shown during the Olympic Games of JR Celski sitting on the ice in a pool of blood has further heightened the need for better safety.

Many suppliers of cut resistant suits wrote to say they recognize the inadequacy of some of the materials and coverage used now and are working on new materials that are lighter and more comfortable.

One clarification I need to make as I was unaware of the rule change, is that the ISU changed their original rule on the cut resistance level in 2004 from Level 3 to Level 2 based on “the availability of worldwide resources and practical experience.” Although level 3 cut resistant materials have existed for a long time, they were deemed ‘uncomfortable’ by the athletes and some said they would not wear them. In my opinion this is not an excuse to downgrade a safety measure. If you look at the history of safety equipment in hockey, from the helmet, to the visor, to the face mask for goalies, the trend has been that if it is introduced early in an athlete’s career they WILL wear it and get used to it. You will never see a hockey player in the NHL without a helmet now, a goalie without a face mask, and players with visors are becoming the norm, even though the players all said no at first.

Part of the problem that has perhaps hampered development of better suits is that the market in skating is so small and there is no big money to be made by manufacturers. Even though the market might be small, making a minimum of level 3 cut resistance in a full body suit mandatory for all ISU competitions helps to expand the market somewhat. Further, if national associations where to carry this rule starting at a certain age or speed, it creates more opportunity for expansion, while making our athletes safer. Just what level of skater needs to be in cut level 3 or above needs some research as little kids do not impact each other at the same speed in a fall as more advanced, bigger skaters. Perhaps there needs to be different levels of cut resistance made mandatory for different levels of skaters. In my opinion though, any skater who competes who has a risk of falling hard enough to have the speed to impact themselves or another skater should have FULL body coverage, and not partial. I DO think it’s pretty safe to say though that skaters who compete at World Cup, Junior World, ISU Junior A, B, and C, US and Canadian Junior Team trials, and likely even juvenile level should be in full body cut resistance level at least 3 or better. And although the market in speed skating may be small there is a much larger market in industrial safety using cut resistant clothing that perhaps could be made suitable for skating.

The Canadian Team at the Olympic Games was wearing a new suit that has full body protection made from Dyneema that has overall body protection built in – it requires no undersuit. (Read article (pdf)) Perhaps had Olivier Jean been wearing this suit rather than the Kevlar he was wearing he may not have been cut. Although the suit is expensive and likely out of range for the average athlete right now, undersuits do exist in more affordable pricing. I have heard comments that even these are too expensive, and oh well, at least there is still the Kevlar option. When it comes to protecting your child, there should be no option. We are still one of the cheaper ice sports there is. Even in hockey, gear alone can run $2500-$3000 for the fancy stuff and $750-$1200 for the youngest players.

One of the more frustrating aspects of the feedback is that despite all the injuries, many do not expect the ISU or national governing bodies to change their rules any time soon. My take is simply this: If you MAKE a junior hockey player wear a helmet because it is a rule he WILL wear it because it’s the rule! That’s why there are so many NHL players wearing them now! It simply became the norm. In Canada, skaters are required to wear a neck guard even if they have a built-in one. This rule is there because many of the built-ins are not adequate either in terms of level of cut resistance to prevent a cut to the carotid artery, or in terms of the bib coverage SSC requires. The only time a neck guard may not be necessary is with a full coverage, high level cut resistant suit, but referees don’t have the time to check every skater before a race to see if they have full coverage or to check the cut resistance level. If the full suit became the norm they would not have to check.

The Olympic Games were a prime example of what borders on negligence on the part of the international bodies (IGB) to consider the safety of the athletes above all else. The athletes themselves had expressed concern for their safety on the Vancouver luge track, yet it took a fatal accident to cause them to change the track. It took several crashes in the women’s super combined ski event for officials to finally shave down a jump to make it safer. Most athletes don’t get into sport expecting to have to risk their lives to be successful and the IGBs should have the responsibility of ensuring this does not happen.

This comment came from a physician: “I noticed that the cut resistance standards are based on a moving surgical blade with an applied force equivalent to a very small amount of weight – quite different than what happens from a skate, which is probably closer to chopping as opposed to slicing.” This raises the question of what type of protocol should be used in testing for cut resistance for speed skating.

Another parent wrote to ask me to advise people of the dangers of allowing a skater to come back too soon after a concussion. As someone who has had multiple concussions, I can vouch for this first hand as I am still suffering post-concussion effects after many years. Concussions have been a hot topic in football and other sports including Time magazine. (Read article)

A very high level long tracker skater who suffered a life threatening skull fracture two seasons ago wrote of his frustration in getting approval to wear a helmet in long track competitions. The injury was a typical long track accident where a skater falls and takes the feet out from under another skater. I find it absurd that a skater who is seeking to protect himself would be denied wearing a helmet. I believe all skaters of all levels should have to wear helmets in long track. Ya, I can hear the groans from all the long trackers right now, but this particular long tracker can name six people in the US alone who have suffered concussions this year. Again, if this is a rule at the younger levels, skaters will grow into the rule, and pretty soon we will forget we never wore a helmet in long track, just like the short trackers have forgotten it.

A maker of suits wrote to say that the medical kit should have scissors that can cut through cut resistant materials. If a skater needs to have the suit cut off because of injury you’ll want to make sure you can get through the material.

The bottom line here is that change must happen, and not just at the ISU level, but all levels of skating. I just hope it happens soon, before another athlete is seriously injured because we didn’t do all we could to protect them.
  • Home
  • Skating Tips
    • ⛸ TECHNICAL >
      • ⛸ CORNERS >
        • The Corner Lay In
        • Corners – Working the Right Hip on the Lay In
        • Bringing Right Hip Forward in Corner
        • Chest In to Corner
        • Moving Hips in the Corner
        • Moving Hips In to Push
        • Off Ice Training with Straps – Part 1 of a 2 Part Series
        • On Ice Training with Straps – Part 2 of a 2 Part Series
        • Bucket Drills
        • Partner Pull / Chair Push
        • The Corner Arm Swing
      • ⛸ POSITION >
        • Starting the Season Off Right
        • Taking Care of the Small Things
        • The 3 Keys Checklist – Find the Key in the Basics First!
        • Skating with Your Core
        • The Basic Position – The Arch
        • A Time to Get High, A Time to Get Low
        • Upper Body / Chest Position
        • Check Your Butt!
        • Butt Power
        • The Butt Tuck
        • Hip Dip
        • Bend the Ankle
      • ⛸ STARTS >
        • The Tip Over Toe Start
        • Start Technique
        • Start Position
      • ⛸ STRAIGHTAWAYS >
        • Press In to Push
        • Presscoopinchpushpinish
        • Gather the Power
        • Transferring Power from Ball of Foot to Ice – The Ankle Snap​
        • Transferring Power from Hip to Ball of Foot
        • Transferring Power Hip to Hip
        • Accelerating Your Weight In to Your Push
        • Japanese Four Eyes Technique
        • Delaying the Push – Straightaways
        • The Straightaway Shuffle
      • ⛸ TRACKS >
        • Tracks
        • Entry and Exit Width
        • Entry and Exit Trajectory
        • The Extra Crossover
        • Punching Through Centrifugal Force – Position and Alignments
        • Converting from 4 to 2 Strides on Straight
      • ⛸ ASSORTED TECHNICAL >
        • Relay Racing – Part 1 – Skater Roles and Laps
        • Relay Racing – Part 2 – The Exchange, Training Ideas
        • Skating with Your Core
        • Why Are The Koreans So Good?
        • Technical Opinions Can Be Confusing
        • The Outside Edge – Is It Overrated?
        • Diagonal Hill Steps
    • 🏃 TRAINING >
      • 🏃 PLANNING >
        • Off Season Rest and Recovery
        • Building Endurance
        • Summer Training
        • Train Fast to Skate Fast
        • Tapering
        • Time Trialing
      • 🏃 SPECIFIC >
        • Specificity in Training
        • Specific Skating Training – Is Your Plan Specific Enough?
        • Warm Ups and Warm Downs
        • Off Ice Balance, Agility, and Co-ordination Training
        • Dynamic Flexibility Training
        • Flexibility Training a Must for Speed Skaters
        • Maximize Your Results with TECHNI-CORDS
        • Improving Your Power with Jumps
        • ​Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 1 – Straightaway
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 2 – Straightaway Jumps
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 3 – Corners
        • Specific Strength, Power, Endurance – Part 4 – Starts
        • Training for Starts
        • Relay Racing – Part 1 – Skater Roles and Laps
        • Relay Racing – Part 2 – The Exchange, Training Ideas
        • Bucket Drills
        • Partner Pull / Chair Push
        • Core Strength for Speed Skating
        • General Core Strength, by Brandon Aldan
      • 🏃 YOUTH >
        • Training Young Athletes 16 and Up
        • Training Young Athletes 12-15 Year Olds
        • Training Young Athletes Under 12
        • Youth Strength Training
    • 🏆 STRATEGY AND TACTICS >
      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 1 – Overview
      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 2 – Controlling the Pace and Track
      • Strategy and Tactics – Part 3 – The Moves and Counter Moves
      • Start Strategy
      • Time Trialing
      • The Slingshot Pass
      • The Outside Pass
      • The Inside Pass
      • Punching Through Centrifugal Force – Position and Alignments
      • Using Strategy and Tactics Under the New Rules
    • 🧠 PSYCHOLOGY >
      • How 5'5" Brandon Todd Learned to Dunk a Basketball
      • Strategy for Success
      • John Wooden on Success
      • What Do You Have to Brag About?
      • FOCUS!
      • IT – The Success Factor
      • To Try Is to Fail
      • It's All About Winning
      • How to Parent an Athlete: Lessons from a Swim Meet
      • Children in Athletics
      • Early Star vs Late Bloomer
      • Time Trialing
      • The Competition Plan
      • Start Technique
      • Post Season Evaluation
    • 🚑 SAFETY >
      • Concussions in Speed Skating
      • Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected? – Part 1
      • Safety! Is Your Child Truly Protected? – Part 2
      • Dyneema Undersuits
    • 🚦 RULES >
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2014-2015
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2012
      • Using Strategy and Tactics under the New Rules
      • Important Short Track Rule Changes for 2010
    • 🧰 OTHER >
      • Ankle Pronation: Effects in Skating
      • Fair Play in Sports
      • Celebrating 100 Skating Tips of the Month!!
      • Sharpening Tips and Tricks
      • Cashing in on Olympimania to Promote Your Club
      • 75 Great Reasons to Train
      • Summer Games
      • Games
      • Masters Skating
      • Setting Up Blade Offset
  • Sue Ellis Bio
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Camps
Copyright © 2002 – Ellis Edge
Feel free to share or reprint this article but please give credit to the author.