In 1995, the previous time such statistics were summarized, there were 392 injuries in 14 leading men’s international tournaments which gave a 28 person injury rate while there were 269 injuries in 12 similar women’s events, a 22 person injury rate.

Yet in the 16 men’s tournaments held since, 149 injuries have been recorded, giving an injury rate of only 9.3 injuries per tournament. The figures for women’s tournaments were almost identical. In the 18 women’s tournaments monitored, there were 170 injuries, a 9.4 injury rate.

This shows a welcome trend, a decline in the rate of injury even though the game is faster and the players stronger. One notes that defenders still sustain a greater proportion of the injuries.

One concern is the number of facial lacerations. There is no correlation for this with a high ball.

No reports of back injuries while playing have been recorded. The Medical Committee, is, however, well aware that this aspect needs to be studied in mature or retired players.

Hockey’s safety record will continue to be compared with those of other sports, since the group of Summer Olympic team sports has agreed to monitor, document, and reduce the risk of injury in sport.

A meeting of all team sports that take part in the Olympic Games

was recently held in Zurich, in conjunction with the IOC and FIFA.

With participation in sport ever widening, it is recognised that governing bodies have a responsibility to make the environment as safe as possible for all participants. It is also felt that since sport takes place in the work environment now, injury or loss of participation is a work related injury. Naturally that can lead to a subsequent loss of income and livelihood.

The use of prohibited substances has tended to overshadow other medical considerations. It is now deemed necessary to widen the thinking, and re-focus on the medical care of the athlete, the main objective of the medical profession.

There was agreement at this meeting to work further towards this goal. A more unified collecting system with appreciation of the specific needs of each sport will be developed and refined over time. The desired objective - safety for all.

To obtain meaningful information there has to be cooperation of the team medical personnel and tournament medical officers. This group, in fact, is a team of its own that has to be co-ordinated to obtain maximum advantage and information.

Since further collaboration will continue, all team medical personnel must continue their good work. Their cooperation, by completing and returning Injury Statistics Forms within 24 hours of a match, will further assist in making hockey data meaningful.

Unfortunately some of the information submitted by team medical personnel in the past has been incomplete. At one tournament, a single team submitted injury forms! In many of the forms submitted, no mention was made if the occurrence took place during free play, penalty stroke or penalty corner. This made it difficult, in fact impossible, to determine if there was any change in frequency of injury with the change in the use of the high flicked ball. Some forms did not reveal which part of the body was damaged.

Very few players had to be withdrawn from a tournament which is noted since there are those who seek to increase the number of players travelling with a team to cover for injuries.

Laceration: 52 hit by stick, 24 hit by ball.

Ligament: 11 hit by stick, 5 hit by ball.

Fracture: 6 hit by stick, 1 hit by ball.

Teeth: 2 hit by stick, 1 hit by ball.

Collision: with player - 5 laceration, 5 ligament; with object - 1 laceration, 1 ligament.

Twisting: 4 laceration, 5 ligament.

Unspecified: 13 hit by stick, 11 hit by ball, 10 collision player, 3 by object; 10 twisting.

Abdomen 1, Ankle 12, Arm 2, Chest 1, Clavicle 1, Elbow 4, Eye 2, Face 20, Finger 12, Feet 3, Forehead 1, Hand 3, Head 4, Knee 14, Leg 8, Lip 4, Neck 2, Thigh 4, Teeth 5, Wrist 3.

Note: Overuse 1. Cramps 2, Coughing blood 1, Deviated nasal septum 1.

Players injured: Goalkeeper 3 Defense 38; Midfield 29; Forwards 11.

Type of action (not reported consistently): Free play 11, Free hit 1.

Laceration: 58 hit by stick, 21 hit by ball, 20 Collision with player, 5 collision with object.

Twisting: 3 (laceration?).

Ligament: 6 hit by stick, 3 hit by ball, 2 collision with player, 1 collision with object; 9 twisting.

Fracture: 13 hit by stick, 4 hit by ball.

Teeth: 1 collision with player.

Unspecified: 2 collision with player, 1 twisting.

Ankle 12, Arm 5, Back 1, Chest 1, Eyebrow 6, Face 10, Finger 11, Groin 2, Head 3, Knee 9, Leg 2, Shoulder 3, Teeth 1, Thigh 3, Wrist 3.

Note: Opthalmological complaints 3, Upper respiratory infection 9, Gastroenteritis 5, Unconscious 2, Skin conditions 4.

Players injured: Goalkeeper 5, Defense 28; Midfield 21; Forwards 17.

Note: One player could not play for 24 hours.

Olympic Qualifier 2000 - 100%. Jnr. World Cup 1997 - 100%, (Note: 25 lacerations). Champions Trophy 1998 - 100% (Note: 1 significant injury). PAHF Jnr. 2000 - 100%. 1^{st Mediterranean Cup 1997 (TD supplied info). Asian Games 1999 - 17 lacerations. Champions Trophy 1997 - 100%.}

European Cup 1998 (Note: One Team reported, 2 players withdrawn). PanAm Jnr. 1996. World Cup Qualifier 1997. Champion Trophy 1996 (Note: Only 2 teams returned forms).

World Cup Qualifier 1997 - 50% (Note: no injuries). Commonwealth Games 1998 - 100%. Champions Trophy 1997 - 100% (Note: 4 injuries). Olympic Games 2000 - 100% collection. World Cup 1998. Four Nations Tournament 1998 - 100% (Note: no injuries, viral illness). Jnr. World Cup 1997 - 100 % collection (2 injuries). Champions Trophy 1997 - 100%. World Cup 1996 - 85 %. European Nations Jnr. 1996. Asian Cup 1999. Olympic Qualifier 2000. PAHF Jnr. 2000 - 100%.

PanAm Games 1999 - 100%. Americas Cup (prelim) 2000. PanAm Games 199?.

CAC Games 1998. Champions Trophy 1999 - 100%. PanAm Games 1991.