Does your son or daughter want to play hockey? Are you worried about the big commitment of time and money? The violence on the ice? The long hours at the rink and the environment to which your child will be exposed? Or maybe you"re concerned because you don"t know an offside from icing, don"t know how sharp a skate should be, how a helmet fits or how to tell whether a coach is competent and fair. Whatever your concern, you will find it addressed in Kids" Hockey. It is written by a medical doctor who is a specialist in sports medicine. He"s also a hockey parent, a Peewee coach and a teacher at his own hockey school. It is this unique background - a life-long love of the game combined with medical experience - that gives Gary Abraham the edge on other writers. From finding a team to buying equipment to bandaging a bruise, from skill drills to skate guards, and from rules to referees, he covers everything you need to know to be a confident hockey parent. Kids" Hockey covers: The Origins of Hockey How the Leagues are Organized Today The Rules Basic Skills Playing Goal How to buy Equipment Equipment - pre-game preparation and maintenance Hockey Health and Safety Good Hockey Parenting Hockey Schools Backyard Rinks Teaching Hockey the Right Way Physical Contact and Violence Organizations and Resources for Amateur Hockey. As a coach, Dr. Abraham has a fine sense of what kids need to play well and play safely. He even gives some tips on how to talk with the coach if you"re worried about your child"s role on the team.