Situation: On November 24, 2007 Hockey Canada decided to cancel a test program allowing hockey players to start body contact (checking) at the age of nine. Under the ruling, the age of body contact will be increased to eleven years of age. Problem: For those children who are currently playing hockey at the Minor Atom level (born in 1998) body contact has become an integral part of the game. Under this ruling, those children born in 1998 will have to readjust to a non-contact game only to have to go back to body contact a year later. Children this age have some difficulty transitioning between fundamental changes. Having them transition between fundamental changes three times in two years will serve to confuse, frustrate and generally disengage children in the sport. From a coaching perspective, valuable time that would normally be spent with this age group working on effective drills must now be spent reinstructing non-contact only to turn around the following year and teach them body contact once more. Petition: For Hockey Canada to GRANDFATHER the ruling and allow those children born in 1998, who have played competitive hockey with body contact, to continue to play competitive hockey with body contact for the 2008/2009 season.

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