CSRO/ ASRO FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS
PLAY IT COOL

What is Play it Cool^TM ?

Play it Cool^TM is the innovative new program from the CSRO and ASRO to help generate awareness and prevention of spinal cord injuries in hockey. The vision of the CSRO and the ASRO is to equip minor hockey players who play recreational or organized hockey in Canada or the U.S. with the knowledge and skills that may prevent a hockey-related spinal cord injury. The CSRO and the ASRO plan to work collaboratively with the hockey community to instill the belief in players, coaches, trainers, families and fans that skill enhancement is the key to injury prevention.

The teaching format of Play it Cool^TM is interactive, using direct e-mail, Internet, video, and in-person interaction with Minor Hockey coaches and NHL teams and players. Through minor hockey association partnerships, and a partnership with Mitron Sports Enterprises Inc., Atom/Squirt-level Minor Hockey coaches will receive and distribute program materials to their teams and incorporate the Play it Cool skills and accompanying drills into their practices. Coaches will also encourage their players to sign up for the direct e-mail campaign.


What is the need for Play it Cool^TM ?

Almost every week during the regular hockey season a player (amateur or professional) suffers a serious spinal injury. From 1982 - 1996, Canada reported 252 hockey related major spinal cord injuries, followed by Sweden with 54 and the United States with 36. Most of those injuries were sustained by players 16 to 20 years of age who were playing in supervised games, reinforcing the necessity of targeting the minor hockey community with the message of skilled and respectful play.

Play it Cool^TM targets youth hockey players in general, and minor hockey players at the Atom/Squirt age level in particular. The recent CHA decision to lower the age of body checking to the Atom-level has brought on a recent outpouring of body checking clinics in Canada. Proper skills are essential for players to avoid serious injuries, including spinal cord and neck injuries. The Play it Cool^TM program provides these skills in a format that Atom-level players can easily follow.


The CSRO and ASRO have identified seven key skills that will help minor hockey players avoid spinal cord injuries and become better hockey players. Please click on any of the links below to see Brad May of the Phoenix Coyotes demonstrate the seven Play it Cool^TM skills.

Avoid hitting another player from behind

Be aware of the checking perimeter

Be aware of the checking perimeter

Keep your arms up when going into the boards

Always approach the boards at an angle

Keep your head up while handling the puck

Be the best skater you can be

Please check out some other videos explaining the severity of
spinal cord injuries in hockey:

Dr. Charles Tator talks about 'hit from behind' injuries.

Dr. Charles Tator talks about spinal injuries in hockey.

Kurt Gengenbach talks about his hockey injury.