Hockey is officially an Olympic sport, having been added to the program for the 2020 games in Tokyo. It has long been a popular sport in Canada and the United States, and has recently become incredibly popular in Europe as well. It is a sport that has managed to captivate people of all ages, and has helped popularize sports gambling, particularly in Canada and the U.S. A floor check is a common occurrence in hockey, and sometimes can even occur during play. What is a floor check, and what does it mean for hockey? Let’s explore.
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What Is A Floor Check?
A floor check occurs when a player or team member drops to the ice in a kneeling position in order to block a shot. The name might make it sound like a dangerous maneuver, but it is actually quite common in hockey, and is done at least partly in jest. It is a way for players to show their aggressiveness and bravery, without risking injury. Players might floor check in order to block a shot or to intimidate their opponent, and sometimes it is even done just to get the penalty. The act of floor checking can help a player maintain their balance while on the ice, as well as give them a boost of confidence when doing so.
While the floor check has become a valuable part of the game over the years, hockey administrators have tried to reduce its occurrence. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has adopted a “cleaner” approach to hockey and has tried to eliminate as much contact as possible. In 2015, they introduced a rule stating that all skaters must keep their skates on during play unless they are performing a specific skill. This has led to a significant decrease in the occurrence of floor checks, as players now have more incentive to keep their skates on during play, as it prevents injuries and keeps the game relatively pure. While it’s always nice to have options in life, it seems like the rule has actually worked out better for everyone involved, including the spectators. It also prevents injuries to people not involved in the sport, so it’s not a total loss for the overall good of society.
Because it is such an integral part of the game, floor checks have been around for a very long time. In fact, they have been around since the sport’s inception. Before the days of icing and blast-frosted faces, players had to get creative in order to prevent injuries. Some of the more creative methods included… floor checks. Let’s take a look at when and where they were used…
Floor Checks Before Icing
In its earliest days, the sport was played with just two pieces of equipment: a ball and a hockey stick. Naturally, the ball was used for kicking, bowling, and a variety of other games, while the hockey stick was used for blocking and hooking the ball. Naturally, these two items needed to be kept in close proximity to one another, leading to the invention of the knobbed stick. It was originally made of wood, with a metal shaft and a hand-painted ball. It wasn’t until the later part of the 1800s that artificial ice was used to play on. Even then, it wasn’t always easy to find, and families had to make multiple trips a day just to keep the ice in good condition. Floor checks were a common occurrence in those days, and were used not only to keep the ice smooth but also to keep players from getting too injured. The ice was also used to determine a winner, with the first intermission used for the purpose. It wasn’t until the 20th century that floor checks went away entirely. The introduction of artificial ice led to the invention of the net, which made blocking shots much easier, and the rise of rules regarding protective gear, which also led to the floor check going away.
It is important to note here that while floor checks have gone away from the game entirely, they have not been eliminated. In fact, they have been integrated into the game, and have even become a sort of tribute to those old-school hockey days. For example, players might floor check to show their aggressiveness or intimidation, or…you know, just to be fun. Some teams will even perform elaborate cheers and dances before and after each goal, which involves kneeling on the ice in order to block their opponents’ shots. It is likely that we will see more floor checks in the near future, as the new “hygiene-based” approach to hockey does not allow for as much contact as before. Even then, the floor check will never really go away, as it is an important part of the sport’s history.
Floor Checks During Play
Over the years, floor checks have become a significant part of hockey. It is considered impolite to not to floor check your opponent when you are engaged in a physical struggle. It is also considered bad form to hit your opponent with your stick, so it is kind of like a mutual agreement that a floor check will satisfy the aggression of both parties. Naturally, this does not mean that all floor checks are created equal. There are several types of floor checks: