If I'm Sliding Into The Boards I Should?

[hkyplayer03]

If I'm sliding into the boards with no way of stopping at a fast speed I should?

Slide in head first?
Put my legs in front?
Put hands in front?
Lift my legs and let my ass hit the boards?
Turn sideways and let shoulder hit boards?
Other_________________

Would make this a poll but don't know how.

 

[Gunnar Stahl 30]

there should not be a poll because the only answer is NEVER HEAD FIRST. whatever you do, try at all costs to not go head first.

would you rather break you ankles or your neck? even putting your hands in front of your head might not be enough. what ever you do, DO NOT GO HEAD FIRST

if you can, slide on your side, less pressure on one area

 

[hkyplayer03]

Of course never put head first. Was interested if someone would actually do it. I usually try to slide in sideways.

 

[Hockeyfan68]

I think it depends on how you are sliding into the boards. headfirst? Feet first? Knees first? Buttfirst?

The obvious answer has already been stated though, protect your head and neck area. I am not sure there is really a good way to crash into the boards while sliding out of control.

You can hurt any part of your body sliding into the boards out of control so protect your head and neck and hope for the best.

 

[Dr Acula]

Obviously don't slide in head first. If I could help it though, I try to avoid sliding in feet first and ruining my edge.

 

[DevilsFan38]

Obviously not head first. Feet first is probably the second worst option - how many guys do you see in the NHL get injured doing that?

I can't say I have any experience doing this, but I have lots of experience horseback riding and getting dumped there and I'd imagine some of the principles are the same. Tuck in your arms, tuck your legs, tuck your chin. Try and hit with your shoulder/butt/hip - less joints to injure and they've got more muscle and fat to pad the impact. That said, if you're going in really hard I'm not sure how much time and control you'll have over what you hit.

 

[BadHammy*]

Obviously not head first. Feet first is probably the second worst option - how many guys do you see in the NHL get injured doing that?

I can't say I have any experience doing this, but I have lots of experience horseback riding and getting dumped there and I'd imagine some of the principles are the same. Tuck in your arms, tuck your legs, tuck your chin. Try and hit with your shoulder/butt/hip - less joints to injure and they've got more muscle and fat to pad the impact. That said, if you're going in really hard I'm not sure how much time and control you'll have over what you hit.

Exactly, butt and hips.

 

[nullterm]

From taking falls in judo, karate, wrestling, it's always a bad bad idea to lead into the floor/wall with your head (especially) or limb. Risk of making something bend at and angle it shouldn't, or bend at a place it shouldn't.

Use your side or side-back of your body, shoulders to hip, to spread the impact over a wider area. Try tucking your chin down and head away from the wall to avoid ringing your bell, helmet or not.

You have the advantage of wearing pads on both shoulders and hips, so use all that equipment you spent hundreds of dollars on. Trust your equipment.

You have elbow pads, but if you come in too fast and try to put all the impact in your elbow, you will risk hurting your shoulder. Better to keep your elbows tucked into your body.

 

[Chartrand]

Junk first.

 

[raganblink]

Besides obvious head, don't go feet first in the sense that if you were laying flat on your back, dont go in that way. I always try to get my feet into feetle position so shin guards and gloves hit first (i put my arms out a bit). Never broke anything yet.

 

[noobman]

I say slide in feet (blade) first with your knees slightly bent. Instead of keeping your legs stiff, try to use them to absorb the impact.

If you have enough time to think about how to rotate yourself, you should have enough time to stop. Just do your best to dig one of your blade edges into the ice.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I try to relax before impact. Head first is not an option, I always try to rotate like a dropped cat as I'm sliding towards the boards.

 

[EmptyNetter]

I say slide in feet (blade) first with your knees slightly bent. Instead of keeping your legs stiff, try to use them to absorb the impact.

This. Leg muscles and bending your knees should allow you to absorb some impact before the final stop. Just make sure to come in straight to limit the possibility of a sprained ankle, knee or even wrist. Also, coming in feet first offers the most protection for your head.

I mean, if you fall off a ladder would you rather hit the ground feet first or on your side?

If you have enough time to think about how to rotate yourself, you should have enough time to stop. Just do your best to dig one of your blade edges into the ice.

I wouldn't advise this. You'll have a hard time digging deep enough into the ice to slow you down from a lying down position (poor angle and no benefit of body weight). Plus, you put yourself in a bad position when you actually hit the wall. JMHO

 

[EmptyNetter]

Besides obvious head, don't go feet first in the sense that if you were laying flat on your back, dont go in that way. I always try to get my feet into fetal position so shin guards and gloves hit first (i put my arms out a bit). Never broke anything yet.

My knees hurt just thinking about hitting the boards that way.

 

[Paranoid Android]

If you are forced to slide into the boards head first, I've read (though I could be wrong) that you should kind of tilt your head up, so that your neck is aligned with your spine to reduce the impact on your neck. As opposed to tucking your chin in, which could cause a pressure point in your neck. Anyone else heard this?

 

[Redden Hogalot*]

Usually when I go into the boards butt first I become even sorer. If I'm going feet first I try to bounce off the boards like a cushion.

 

[Grave77digger]

If you are forced to slide into the boards head first, I've read (though I could be wrong) that you should kind of tilt your head up, so that your neck is aligned with your spine to reduce the impact on your neck. As opposed to tucking your chin in, which could cause a pressure point in your neck. Anyone else heard this?

From personal experience here. I was sliding into the boards at a VERY high speed after losing an edge. I wasnt quite sure what to do so I rolled onto my side facing away from the boards and tucked my chin so I wouldnt hit my head. I slammed the boards full force back/shoulder blades into the wall. The impact jerked my head back and smacked the back of my head off the wall anyway inspite of tucking my chin. I wasnt hurt to bad until the next day when i realized I had some wicked whip lash and and couldnt lift my head for a week. If I wasnt wearing a helmet I would have been KOd for sure. I think if I went feet or butt first I would have mangled a knee or ankle or broken my pelvic bone. My back absorbed it and I walked away mostly ok.

 

[Whiplash27]

If you can control it, I think sideways is the best way.

 

[Silver91]

The best way would be to hit the boards side-ways, with your arms/legs not being the first to hit the boards - that way no major injuries can occur.

Still, it's usually pretty hard to spin yourself if you're going full speed into the boards, so it's kind of hard to say the best way, other than NEVER GO HEAD FIRST! If it's a situation where you're sliding headfirst into the boards and can't turn your body, brace yourself by putting your arms out first, because a broken arm is better than a broken neck in a worst case scenario.

Otherwise, if you're going feet first, lift your legs off the ice and away from the boards so you don't break your ankles.

Basically, it's best to tuck yourself into a position where nothing vital is making a major impact against the boards.

 

[hkyplayer03]

The best way would be to hit the boards side-ways, with your arms/legs not being the first to hit the boards - that way no major injuries can occur.

Still, it's usually pretty hard to spin yourself if you're going full speed into the boards, so it's kind of hard to say the best way, other than NEVER GO HEAD FIRST! If it's a situation where you're sliding headfirst into the boards and can't turn your body, brace yourself by putting your arms out first, because a broken arm is better than a broken neck in a worst case scenario.

Otherwise, if you're going feet first, lift your legs off the ice and away from the boards so you don't break your ankles.

Basically, it's best to tuck yourself into a position where nothing vital is making a major impact against the boards.

In most cases would you drop your stick or hold onto it while sliding in the boards? I've been in a situation where I held onto the stick and speared myself. Since then I either let go of the stick or try to make stick parallel to boards when sliding in, forgetting about reaching for the puck.

 

[frito]

Heads Up - Don't Duck

first and foremost - NEVER, EVER duck your head (tuck your chin). This is the quickest and easiest way to break your neck. Now that being said, how do I want to go into the boards?

1. If at all possible, I want to go in with anything except my head frist. Try to twist so you go in with your legs, butt etc. first.

2. Recognizing that things happen so quickly on the ice there will be times that a player won't be able to rotate and will be going in head first. When this does happen, extend your arms to lessen the impact. Secondly, KEEP YOUR HEAP up. I know this sounds counter-intuitive but you need to keep your head up. The way the spine and neck are formed, going into the boards with your head down is one of the quickest ways to break your neck.

Here is a link to USA Hockey's Heads Up Program. There are some informational PDF documents on this site you can read that talks about the risks as well as ways to minimize them. This is the autoritative guidance. I as a coach go over this with my players every season. After all, it's our job as coaches to ensure the safety of all the participants.

 

[densetsu]

Best answer: Sideways. Let the force of the impact be distributed across your shoulders, torso, hips, and legs. Keep your arms in.

Never go head first, and always try not to go limb-first. That is, don't stick your arm out and try and stop yourself, you'll just end up dislocating or breaking it. Your legs are your strongest limbs, so if you have to go limb-first, go leg-first. If you are going leg-first, bend your knees so your knees take the impact. Your skates give your ankle a lot of support, but may not be enough to prevent a sprained or broken ankle in the event that you slam into the boards feet-first.

 

[SJGoalie32]

I say slide in feet (blade) first with your knees slightly bent. Instead of keeping your legs stiff, try to use them to absorb the impact.

Don't do that. Broke my ankle sliding into the boards feet first.

If you can manage it, either hit the board with your side (will distribute the impact throughout your body creating less damage, or try to get your legs up high in the air so that your butt/hip hits the boards.

But no matter what, NEVER go in head first. Better to break your ankle, wrist, or hip than it is to break your neck or skull.

 

[FLYLine27*]

Ive slid into the end boards dangerously fast in the past 2 years...both times I couldnt think quick enough and went in skates first. Thankfully i didnt break my ankle or anything...but I did break my right skate the 2nd time.

 

[Hockeyfan68]

Best answer: Sideways. Let the force of the impact be distributed across your shoulders, torso, hips, and legs. Keep your arms in.

Never go head first, and always try not to go limb-first. That is, don't stick your arm out and try and stop yourself, you'll just end up dislocating or breaking it. Your legs are your strongest limbs, so if you have to go limb-first, go leg-first. If you are going leg-first, bend your knees so your knees take the impact. Your skates give your ankle a lot of support, but may not be enough to prevent a sprained or broken ankle in the event that you slam into the boards feet-first.

Yep ... if going slow enough to go in sideways. Absolutely that is the best way.