Measuring Athlete Exposure and Body Contact Using Time-on-Task Technology in Ice Hockey

It is common for athlete exposure (AE) and body contact (BC) to be incorrectly estimated in epidemiologic research due to the technical challenges associated with field-based research in ice hockey. Time-on-task technology has shown promise in accurately quantifying AE and BC using computer technology through direct measurement during real time games. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to adopt time-on-task technology to monitor AE and BC in Atom hockey players who were permitted body checking versus those not allowed to body check. We evaluated 579 boys (age 9-10 year olds) from 42 representative Atom hockey teams over 107 games during the 2003-2004 regular season from five hockey associations using a time-on-task computing program running on a tablet computer. Body checking was allowed in four associations [Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA), Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, Ontario Minor Hockey Association, Greater Toronto Hockey League], while one association was non-body checking (HNO). Body contact was 4.5 times greater in the body checking associations versus the non-body checking association per game. No significant difference in mean AE per game was found between body checking and non-body checking associations. However, greater AE was reported in NOHA games compared to the remaining four associations. Conversely, BC in the NOHA was significantly less compared to the remaining body checking associations, but not the HNO. Time-on-task technology was valuable in monitoring AE and BC, accounting for variability in individual players. Expected AE and BC was observed between checking and non-body checking associations. Unexpectedly larger AE in NOHA is attributed to smaller team roster size and longer duration games. Furthermore, decreased BC in NOHA players may be due to smaller roster size intrinsic factors contributing to the inverse relationship between AE and BC. Time-on-task technology is valuable in monitoring AE and BC in Atom ice hockey. This is a practical method of monitoring important aspects of the game.