Health and Safety

Short Track Protective Equipment

More About Protection

Safety Web Page—Links and Resources

1.   Toronto Speed Skating Club – Protective Equipment Section

TSSC takes safety very seriously for our skaters and therefore we require the following protective equipment for each skating level.

Helmet (bike or hockey helmet permitted) Helmet ASTM F 1849 certified Cut proof gloves Knee protection (knee pad or built into skin suit) Shin protection (shin guards or built into skin suit) Bib style neck guard Ankle guards* Shatter-resistant eyeglasses with strap Dynema or Kevlar cut resistant suit Skate Blades (heel & toe tips rounded to radius of 1 cm)
Learn to Speed Skate X X X X X
Group 1: Advanced Skaters X X X X X X X X
Group 2: Intermediate Skaters X X X X X X X X
Group 3: Development Skaters X X X X X X X
Group 4: Advanced Adults X X X X X X X
Group 5: Novice Skaters X X X X X X
Group 6: Development Adults X X X X X X X
Regional competitions X X X X X X X X
Provincial competitions X X X X X X X X X

 

Note:

*Yellow cut resistant ankle guards are available to purchase from the club at a cost of $20.00

 

TSSC recommends that all skaters inform themselves on protective equipment guidelines and resources provided by Speed Skating Canada (SSC) – the links are provided below.

 

2.   Speed Skating Canada – Protective Equipment Section:

 

For Protective Equipment Requirements of Speed Skating Canada, please see this excerpt from D3-100 of the Red Book: http://www.speedskating.ca/events/rules.

 

Short Track Protective Equipment: http://www.speedskating.ca/resources/safety/protective-equipment/short-track-protective-equipment

 

Equipment can be purchased from: Shoei Creations: http://www.shoeicreations.com/ or

Devault: http://www.devaultspeedskating.com/

 

3.   TSSC Head Injury Awareness Section:
A.   Sports Medicine Clinic Information

The following clinic has a full range of services designed to provide care in the event of a sports-related injury and/or suspected concussion.  Please visit their website for further information on hours, sports medicine physicians and therapists:

LiveActive Sport Medicine Health and Performance

Address:              Mastercard Centre

400 Kipling Avenue, Toronto, ON, M8V 3L1

Telephone:          416-201-9777

Email:                   info@liveactivesportmed.com

Website:               http://www.liveactivesportmed.com/

B.   TSSC Concussion Policy

CONCUSSION POLICY FOR TORONTO SPEED SKATING CLUB

Approved by a Board President on January 15, 2018.

PURPOSE

  1. The Toronto Speed Skating Club (TSSC) is committed to maintaining the health of its athletes and believes that an athlete’s health is more important than participating in the sport of speed skating. TSSC recognizes the increased awareness of concussions and their long-term effects and TSSC therefore enacts this Policy as a tool to help manage concussed and possibly-concussed athletes and preserve the health of its members.

SCOPE

  1. This Policy applies to all athletes, coaches, officials, members and decision-makers of the TSSC.

ADHERENCE

  1. TSSC adopts and adheres to Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Play Procedure which includes both the Return to Speed Skating Protocol and concussion guidelines.

PROCEDURE

  1. During all speed skating events, competitions, and practices sanctioned by TSSC, participants (which include coaches, athletes, officials, and other members) will use their best efforts to:
  2. a) Be aware of incidents that may cause a concussion, such as:
  3. Falls
  4. Accidents

iii.      Collisions

  1. Head trauma

 

  1. b) Understand the symptoms that may result from a concussion, such as:
  2. Nausea
  3. Poor concentration

iii.      Amnesia

  1. Fatigue
  2. Sensitivity to light or noise
  3. Irritability

vii.    Poor appetite

viii.   Decreased memory

 

  1. c) Identify athletes or other individuals who have been involved in any of the above incidents and/or exhibit any of the above symptoms

 

  1. Athletes or other individuals who have been involved in an incident that may cause a concussion and who may exhibit symptoms of a concussion shall be identified and removed from the speed skating activity.

 

  1. Following the athlete being removed from the speed skating activity, the athlete’s coach or other individual in charge of the athlete (if the athlete is a minor) or someone familiar to the athlete should:
  2. a) Call an emergency number (if the situation appears serious)
  3. b) Notify the athlete’s parent (if the athlete is a minor) or someone close to the athlete (if the athlete is not a minor)
  4. c) Have a ride home for the athlete arranged
  5. d) Isolate the athlete into a dark room or area
  6. e) Reduce external stimulus (noise, other people, etc)
  7. f) Remain with the athlete until he or she can be taken home
  8. g) Encourage the consultation of a physician

 

  1. Once the athlete’s immediate needs have been met, the athlete’s family or the athlete should be directed to Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Play Procedure.

 

 

RETURN TO SPEED SKATING

  1. An athlete who has been concussed should only return to speed skating activity by following the steps outlined in Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol. An excerpt is provided below, the full reference is available at: http://www.speedskating.ca/concussions-brain-injuries

 

STEP 1: Complete cognitive and physical rest.  Limit school, work and tasks requiring concentration. Refrain from physical activity until symptoms are gone. Once all symptoms are gone, rest for at least another 24-48 hours and consult a physician, preferably one with experience managing concussion, for clearance to proceed to Step 2.
   
STEP 2: Light aerobic exercise to reintroduce physical activity:  10-15 minutes of low intensity cycling on a stationary bike.
   
STEP 3: 30 minutes of cycling on a stationary bike at 75% of Max Heart Rate.
   
STEP 4: 30 minutes of cycling on a stationary bike at 75% of Max Heart Rate with 30 second maximum effort intervals at minutes 10, 15, and 20.
   
STEP 5: Sport-specific aerobic activity and re-introduction of skating:  15 minutes of low intensity skating.  If the facility permits, short track athletes should start with long track skating.  The environment should be managed so as to ensure the athlete is not in excessive traffic and that there is minimum risk of falling or colliding with other athletes.  The athlete may also attempt basic balance drills, such as gliding in basic position on one leg.  If the athlete only has access to a short track facility, he or she should skate around the outside, close to the boards with no traffic on the inside.
   
STEP 6: 30 minutes of skating at 75% of Max Heart Rate with 30 second maximum effort intervals at minutes 10, 15, and 20.
   
STEP 7: Regular off-ice warm-up with high intensity off-ice agility/coordination activities and monitored high intensity off-ice and on-ice workout.  See Appendix 1.
   
STEP 8: Full on-ice practice, including skating in traffic, tactical drills, starts and race simulations once cleared by a physician.
   
STEP 9: Return to unrestricted training and competition

 

 

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

  1. Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol requires the athlete to consult with a physician at two stages: a) before returning to light aerobic exercise, and b) before resuming full on-ice practice.

 

  1. TSSC agrees with Speed Skating Canada’s Return to Speed Skating Protocol and will require the athlete to obtain medical clearance, ideally from a physician familiar with concussions, before permitting the athlete to resume speed skating activity with the club.
C.   Concussions in Speed Skating

TSSC endorses the Safety and Concussion section of the Speed Skating Canada site and recommends that all Coaches, Officials, Athletes, Parents or Caregivers consult that site on a regular basis.  In the event of a suspected concussion, your child should be assessed, provided follow-up care and cleared by a physician experienced in dealing with concussions before returning to skating.  Clearance must be provided in the form of a physician’s note before a skater can return to skating.

 

Useful links For Parents and Athletes:

  1. a) Speed Skating Canada—Concussions / Brain injuries: http://www.speedskating.ca/resources/safety/concussions-brain-injuries
  2. b) Parachute Canada—A Parent’s Guide to Dealing with Concussions / Concussion Guidelines for the Athlete:

Ø  http://www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/resources/ParentsGuide_consussions_May27.pdf

Ø  http://www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/resources/Athletes_ConcussionGuidelines.pdf

  1. c) Mike Evans:

Ø  Concussions 101, a Primer for Kids and Parents:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCCD52Pty4A

Ø  Concussion Management and Return to Learn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_55YmblG9YM

 

4.   Liability and Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer, Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

Toronto Speed Skating Club (hereafter “The Club”) makes no representations, warranties, guarantees or endorsements of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, content, views, opinions, recommendations, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information contained on this web page, or in any documents or links contained in it, for any purpose. Every precaution has been taken to provide accurate information and is for informational purposes only. This information is accepted on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. Any reliance you place on this web page is therefore strictly at your own risk and is your responsibility to perform due diligence before acting upon any of the information provided. The Club does not accept any liability for loss or damage, including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever, in connection with the use of the information and/or web page. No reader should act on the basis of anything contained in this web page, without considering the relevance and appropriateness of the information to the individual participants involved. All liabilities are expressly disclaimed for any loss or damage that may arise from any person acting on any statement or information contained in this web page or any links or documents therein.