GOODMAN, D. AND WEISS, M. Simon Fraser University, University of Minnesota KIPP, L., University of Minnesota SRG 2006
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Attitudes and behaviours legitimizing illegal or unsportsmanlike aggression in ice hockey are well documented (see Weiss, Smith, & Stuntz, 2008). Youth learn that aggressive, potentially injurious actions, such as cross-checking and high-sticking, may be justifiable strategies if they increase a team’s chances of winning. Such attitudes and actions are typically learned through modeling of and approval by significant adults and peers. Our study purposes were to assess youth hockey players’: (a) legitimacy of and intention to engage in illegal or unsportsmanlike aggressive actions, (b) perceived approval of significant peers and adults toward such aggressive acts, and (c) legitimacy of acting in unsportsmanlike aggressive ways in specific hockey situations. A sample of 278 (192 male, 86 female) youth hockey players representing atom (M = 10.9 yrs), peewee (M = 12.6 yrs), and bantam/midget (M = 14.8 yrs) leagues read three stories in which the protagonist had to decide whether to act in an aggressive, potentially injurious action to prevent a scoring opportunity. Analyses of variance showed that legitimacy of and intention to engage in illegal aggressive acts increased with competitive level, as did perceptions of approval by best friend, teammates, coach, and parents. Male players scored higher than female players on legitimacy, intention, and friend, teammate, and coach approval. Regression analyses revealed strong relationships between perceived social approval and unsportsmanlike aggressive attitudes, with best friend, teammate, and father approval the strongest predictors. Of the specific hockey situations, players indicated that helping the team win the championship game was the most tempting to engage in unsportsmanlike aggressive behaviour, followed by whether one’s opponent did it first. A substantial percentage (30-52% across stories) responded they would be at least a little likely to engage in such aggressive behaviour for their most tempting situation. These results extend previous research on competitive level and gender trends in unsportsmanlike aggressive attitudes as well as perceived approval by significant peers and adults. Because 47% of the players indicated they had missed at least one game due to injury, while a further 13% indicated they had a concussion causing them to miss at least one game, our results suggest that unsportsmanlike aggression in hockey remains a concern for the physical and psychological well-being of young athletes.
Attitudes and behaviours legitimizing aggression and violence in ice hockey are well
documented, in both the scientific literature as well as the popular press. Youth learn that
injurious actions, such as cross-checking, high-sticking, and boarding, may be justifiable
strategies if they increase a team’s chances of winning. These attitudes and actions are
primarily internalized through observational learning of, and perceived approval by, significant
others (e.g., professional players, coaches, teammates, parents). In addition, players’
aggressive behaviours may be unintentionally reinforced when such actions go unnoticed or are
minimally penalized by referees. Unfortunately, violent actions on the ice are likely to lead to
concussions and many other forms of injury. While the outcome of acts of aggression is usually
transient, in some cases the outcome is catastrophic. Also of concern is that actual or
perceived aggression in ice hockey is one of the mitigating factors in determining whether or not
youth continue to participate in the sport.
In an effort to reduce the occurrence of aggressive or violent acts in youth hockey, education is
essential in order to change attitudes and behaviours about the legitimacy of violence in hockey.
Thus, reducing incidence of aggression must be approached by (a) educating youth about
violence and making healthy decisions, (b) educating youth about the impact of violent plays on
incidence of injury, and (c) educating coaches and parents about how their actions strongly
influence players’ attitudes and behaviours. Thus, the major objective of this project is to build
upon our earlier research on concussion incidence rates by developing means to: (a) assess
players’ current attitudes and behaviours regarding aggressive and violent on-ice play, and (b)
develop innovative educational interventions, primarily using video games, and (c) determine
the effectiveness of these video games in changing players’ attitudes about the use of
aggressive actions in hockey. Ultimately, it is their actual engagement in these aggressive
behaviours while playing hockey that we wish to change.
To carry out the objectives of the proposed research, we plan to:
- Develop and implement instruments to assess players’ attitudes and behaviours
concerning legitimacy of violence in hockey, as well as (a) sources of influence (e.g.,
professionals, coaches), (b) association between attitudes and behaviours (i.e., does
greater legitimacy of violent acts translate to more frequent assaultive behaviours?), and
(c) relationship of attitudes and behaviours with incidence of concussion.
- Assess specific situations in hockey that are more likely to be seen as acceptable for
displaying violent attitudes and behaviours. Does legitimacy of and aggressive behaviour
in these situations depend upon (a) perception of team norms, (b) coach’s proaggressive
orientations, (c) players’ own goal orientations, and (d) age/competitive level
and gender?
- Assess whether a video game that is designed to penalize aggressive acts can alter
attitudes and behaviours about the legitimacy of aggression? Do changes in attitude and
behaviour relate to change in occurrence of injuries and concussions?
SCRI 2007 Presentation Slides
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