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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think hockey is too dangerous for primary?

30 replies

trice · 21/03/2015 21:03

I picked up dd from a school last night. She had been hit in the face by a hockey ball leaving her with a lump on her forehead and a black eye. The teacher encouraged her to go back on the pitch saying "the team needs you - you are our best player". She went back on and was tackled - injuring her hand.

Teacher suggested an ice pack. Her hand swelled up overnight and turns out two bones are broken.

Can't they play with lighter balls and sticks? They are only little. I am glad they won't be playing again until next autumn.

OP posts:
vestandknickers · 21/03/2015 21:07

She' been unlucky that's all.

You can't eliminate risk. Maybe you should focus on the fact her teacher thinks she's their best player - that is something to be proud of.

molyholy · 21/03/2015 21:10

Yanbu!! Hockey, with proper hockey sticks and balls!! They are too small in primary imo. I was fuming when my daughter came home from after school club upset because she had been hit in the head by a year 4 when they played dodgeball!!! She was 5 at the time.

molyholy · 21/03/2015 21:13

&Vestandknickers*, so if you primary aged dc came home with a black eye and broken bones you would be happy to focus on the fact the teacher said they were good at said sport Confused

molyholy · 21/03/2015 21:14

bold fail Blush

vestandknickers · 21/03/2015 21:16

Primary means up to Year 6. Does anyone really believe that is too young to be playing hockey?
Its not like they're using crossbows!!

Tokelau · 21/03/2015 21:16

I agree with you OP. I played hockey in primary school, and we used wooden hockey sticks and proper hockey balls. There is a rule, I believe, that hockey sticks are not to be raised above waist height. One girl, who was quite strong and well built, was told to hit the ball as hard as she could. She forgot that rule, swung the stick like a golf club and whacked me in the head.

There was also the problem of girls getting too carried away with wanting to win, and hitting others in the ankles and shins to get them out of the way. Many of us we skinny, with tiny little legs, that didn't respond well to being hit with a heavy wooden hockey stick.

I think my DC used lightweight plastic sticks and some sort of foam ball, which sounds much more sensible to me.

gaslamp · 21/03/2015 21:18

How old are they? It sounds like they may not have had enough training before playing matches. Balls should not be flying through the air at face height. DDs aged 6 and 10 both play - proper sticks & balls - no injuries of that sort, DD1 been playing 4 yrs, but the club are v focused on technique. If teacher is not a licensed hockey coach then yes shd be using the plastic sticks etc.

wheresthelight · 21/03/2015 21:18

I played hockey in primary school from about age 8 and loved it. accidents happen in all sports - my sister got a black eye playing netball and a friend fell during country dancing and broke her arm

Pantsfullofsmarties · 21/03/2015 21:19

Same as toke in local primary, plastic sticks. My dc said they were rubbish!
Yabu I think, you can't eliminate risk, sorry about your dd though,

manicinsomniac · 21/03/2015 21:24

YABU. Your daughter had an accident - could have happened to anyone of any age any time doing anything.

At our school we play proper hockey with proper sticks and balls from age 7. As long as they are properly trained and supervised there's no problem. Certainly no parent has ever complained, afaik, about them playing the game. The complaints all centre around them not being in the A team! Grin

Original poster
trice · 21/03/2015 21:25

She is 10. I do think the teacher is not qualified to teach them technique, it is a bit of a free for all.

I was cross that she was sent back on after being hit in the head after all the publicity about brain injury in children.

She seems fine now. She is really pleased that she won't be able to write anything next week as its her right hand.

OP posts:
fluffygreenmonsterhoody · 21/03/2015 21:27

YABU to suggest it shouldn't be played at primary. You're far more likely to be hit ib the face by a football or a rugby ball but nobody would suggest banning them.

You can get lighter weight balls which we use for the younger ones. However I'd be more worried about the attitude of a coach who tries to guilt a youngster into going back on when they're not ready.

As for telling one player they're the best player in the team? That's really poor practice.

Also if she enjoys hockey and sticks with it you'd better get used to the bruises, they're like a badge of honour to us hockey players!

VikingVolva · 21/03/2015 21:32

My DD is currently off all PE as she's wrecked her ankle following a bad landing at her gynmastics club. It was an accident, but the sport is inherently risky. More so than hockey.

One difference is that I'm completely happy with the coach. Sports carry risk. But if the teacher is not qualified to coach that sport, you have a string of accidents waiting to happen.

wheresthelight · 21/03/2015 21:35

have you actually spoken to the teacher or are you relying on the word of a 10 year old? they are programmed to exaggerate especially when hurt and looking for sympathy (dss is a prize master)

VelvetRuby · 21/03/2015 21:36

I'm amazed that anyone thinks yabu! Sending her back on after a blow to the head is astonishingly irresponsible and dangerous. I'd be very, very angry if I were you. I hope your Dd has a speedy recovery.

glittertits · 21/03/2015 21:39

YABU. All sports have risks.

It's not as if it is sword fighting!

feckitall · 21/03/2015 21:43

When DD was at primary they played hockey...plastic sticks and IMAGINARY balls...yep...they had to pretend they had a ball..going through cones without a ball..just twisting the stick..Grin Although at the time I was Shock and Hmm
DD played hockey properly for the first time in year 7

Original poster
trice · 21/03/2015 21:44

It's a good thing she won't have this particular teacher for hockey ever again. Accidents do happen, but they happen more often and more severely if people take stupid risks.

Winding a bunch of ten year olds into a frenzy and then setting them loose with heavy sticks and hard balls with no reasonable precautions in place is just daft.

OP posts:
wheresthelight · 21/03/2015 21:52

I will ask again - did you actually speak yo the teacher

Original poster
trice · 21/03/2015 21:52

Wheresthelight - the teacher spoke to me to suggest dd needed an ice pack. Dd had a lump on her head a black eye, and a bruised and broken hand. I don't think she was making things up. She won "player of the match" which she was quite pleased about.

I am going to speak to the teacher about second impact syndrome. Her hand injury I will accept as a reasonable accident but head injuries should be taken a lot more seriously.

OP posts:
wheresthelight · 21/03/2015 21:56

so you actually only have the word of a 10 year old about being forced back onto the pitch?

I think you are over reacting albeit understandably because your daughter has been hurt.

Original poster
trice · 21/03/2015 22:09

I would say "encouraged" rather than forced.

The teacher is a nice person. She is kind and enthusiastic. She is not a hockey coach and she knows shit all about first aid.

OP posts:
cathpip · 21/03/2015 22:23

Your dd should not have been encouraged to go back on the pitch after a head injury, but to say that hockey is too dangerous for primary is a bit ott. Every sport carries an element of risk, between myself and my sisters the sport related injury was one broken ankle playing netball, we have been playing hockey for 30 years. What is needed by the sound of it though is proper hockey training.

Topseyt · 21/03/2015 22:56

I thought from the title that you were going to say she was about 5, and then I might have agreed with you.

At 10 I'd have thought it OK. There is risk in all sports. It was probably just bad luck. Lets hope all the bruising and swelling heals quickly.

I have a sporty yet slightly accident prone youngest daughter. She's 12 now, but when she was at primary school she did get into a few scrapes. Nothing too serious usually, but it always seemed to happen to her for some reason.

She is a hockey player fir a proper club now, and I keep fingers crossed every week. So far so good.

ChillySundays · 21/03/2015 23:10

At 10 my son was playing hockey competitively after learning at school and really enjoying it. Would never had considered it had it not been for school.