As of Dec. 1, coaches sanctioned by B.C. Hockey will be required to wear helmets while on the ice during practice, a move taken after a recent death in Alberta.
The sanction for a violation is stiff: If coaches are caught not wearing a helmet, B.C. Hockey will pull its sanction of the practice, meaning practices would not be covered by the association's insurance policy.
The decision was made during meetings this past weekend (Oct. 25-26) with members of B.C. Hockey's executive committee, and means associations in B.C. and Yukon will be required to abide by the new regulations.
"The decision is viewed as a necessary step in the evolution of safety requirements for hockey participants, and has been in development over the past couple of years," B.C. Hockey risk manager Randy Henderson said in a statement.
"We had put our plans on hold in anticipation of a national directive on the subject, but when we received word last week from the Hockey Canada safety and risk management committee that the release of a national policy was not imminent our board decided it was time to take action."
The issue of helmets for coaches has become a more serious issue of late after two coaches suffered serious head injuries in Alberta, a week apart, earlier this month.
Last week (Oct. 21) Alberta coach Ron Ebbesen died from his injuries as a result of falling during a practice with his midget AAA team.
Mike Peters was on the ice with his midget team in Medicine Hat when he fell and suffered a serious head injury.
Despite the recent accidents, Todd Harkins, hockey director at B.C.'s North Shore Winter Club, feels coaches should have an option.
"We have a tough time finding former players to come out and help teach our young players and I think if you start putting mandatory helmets as part of the coaching regimen I think you're going to start losing some of the higher-end coaches.
"I think if they're going to go with mandatory helmets - I think they should have a waiver that people should be able to sign to allow them to be without a helmet. Then it takes away the liability issue."
The sanction for a violation is stiff: If coaches are caught not wearing a helmet, B.C. Hockey will pull its sanction of the practice, meaning practices would not be covered by the association's insurance policy.
The decision was made during meetings this past weekend (Oct. 25-26) with members of B.C. Hockey's executive committee, and means associations in B.C. and Yukon will be required to abide by the new regulations.
"The decision is viewed as a necessary step in the evolution of safety requirements for hockey participants, and has been in development over the past couple of years," B.C. Hockey risk manager Randy Henderson said in a statement.
"We had put our plans on hold in anticipation of a national directive on the subject, but when we received word last week from the Hockey Canada safety and risk management committee that the release of a national policy was not imminent our board decided it was time to take action."
The issue of helmets for coaches has become a more serious issue of late after two coaches suffered serious head injuries in Alberta, a week apart, earlier this month.
Last week (Oct. 21) Alberta coach Ron Ebbesen died from his injuries as a result of falling during a practice with his midget AAA team.
Mike Peters was on the ice with his midget team in Medicine Hat when he fell and suffered a serious head injury.
Despite the recent accidents, Todd Harkins, hockey director at B.C.'s North Shore Winter Club, feels coaches should have an option.
"We have a tough time finding former players to come out and help teach our young players and I think if you start putting mandatory helmets as part of the coaching regimen I think you're going to start losing some of the higher-end coaches.
"I think if they're going to go with mandatory helmets - I think they should have a waiver that people should be able to sign to allow them to be without a helmet. Then it takes away the liability issue."
