Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

In Vivo Protocol of Controlled Subconcussive Head Impacts for the Validation of Field Study Data

In Vivo Protocol of Controlled Subconcussive Head Impacts for the Validation of Field Study Data

Published on: April 18, 2019

Analyzing the Relationship Between Aggression, Rule Violations, and Head Contact Events in Canadian Competitive Minor

Connor S McFaul¹, Benjamin P Krbavac^1,2, Jarett Cutler¹

¹School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

|February 18, 2026

Abstract

Background:

Hockey is an immensely popular sport in Canada, especially among youth participants. Despite evidence on the rates and risk of head injuries, especially in bodychecking contexts, little research has explored how and why injury occurs in gameplay through video observational methods.

Objective:

To understand whether head contact (HC) events occur in youth bodychecking hockey as a result of play execution according to the rules, or result from violent and/or aggressive play.

Study Design:

Descriptive observational video analysis.

Methods:

Verified head impact data from bodychecking minor hockey in Eastern Ontario at AA/AAA levels were used. In total, 249 verified head impacts were available for analysis across 48 under-15 (U15) and under-18 (U18) games. A comprehensive video analysis of head impacts was conducted to identify whether play was: (1) penalty vs no penalty; and (2) aggressive vs nonaggressive. Penalties were evaluated based on rule definition through video analysis, rather than the referee's call on the ice. Similarly, 4 contextual definitions for aggressive/nonaggressive gameplay behaviors were established for analysis.

Results:

Amongst the highest levels in U15 and U18 bodychecking hockey, our results demonstrate that most HC events (~68%) were the outcome of nonaggressive play and within the rules of the sport (~67%).

Conclusion:

Key findings from this study identify that HC events are mainly a result of legal and nonaggressive hockey gameplay. While the rules do penalize aggressive play, these same rules do not prevent HC from occurring in bodychecking hockey.

Relevance:

This study adds to existing knowledge by identifying contextual factors related to potential injury events (HC) through video analysis in youth bodychecking hockey. This explains why injuries may happen, and assists in shifting research efforts towards injury prevention rather than simply documenting rates.

Keywords:

aggression concussion ice hockey injury youth

More Related Videos

A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion

A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion

Published on: September 25, 2014

An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System

An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System

Published on: January 12, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Aggression

Aggression

Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for...

Bullying

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...

Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation

Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation

Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...

Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...

Impulse-Momentum Theorem

Impulse-Momentum Theorem

The total change in the motion of an object is proportional to the total force vector acting on it and the time over which it acts. This product is called impulse, a vector quantity with the same direction as the total force acting on the object.
By writing Newton's second law of motion in terms of the momentum of an object and the external force acting on it, and simultaneously using the definition of the impulse vector, it can be shown that the total impulse on an object is equal to its...

Robbers Cave

Robbers Cave

During the 1950s, the landmark Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that when groups must compete with one another, intergroup conflict, hostility, and even violence may result. At the Oklahoman summer camp, two troops of boys—termed the Rattlers and the Eagles—took part in a week-long tournament. During this time, their negativity culminated in derogatory name-calling, fistfights, and even vandalism and destruction of property. However, this work also revealed that such tension...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

On-the-ground realities of health program delivery in addressing community needs: a community-based participatory research approach in the moose Cree First Nation.

Journal of health, population, and nutrition·2025

Evaluation of rule changes affecting head contact in North American professional ice hockey using video review of head impact frequency and magnitude between 2003-04 and 2016-17 seasons.

Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering·2025

A comparison of head impact characteristics during elite men's Rugby Union fifteens and sevens match play.

Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering·2024

Comparing frequency and maximum principal strain of head impacts for U15 ice hockey leagues with standard and modified body contact rules.

Journal of biomechanics·2024

Head trauma analysis of laboratory reconstructed headers using 1966 Slazenger Challenge and 2018 Telstar 18 soccer balls.

Scientific reports·2023

A video analysis examination of the frequency and type of head impacts for player positions in youth ice hockey and FE estimation of their impact severity.

Sports biomechanics·2023

See all related articles