Is it proper for an injured player to sit on the player’s bench if he wears his helmet?
There are rules about wearing helmets when on the player’s bench but there are no general rules about injured players being on the bench. Common practice is that the player’s bench be filled with eligible players only and members of the coaching staff. There are methods of keeping an injured player an active part of the team during a game that are safer and of more value to the team. One example would be to assign the task of keeping stats related to shots on goal and goals against, both in reference to numbers as well as location of the shooter. This is vital information for a coach and team between periods. Assigning this task to an injured player and then involving him/her in the dressing room discussion is a perfect way to keep the player involved, physically and mentally. A player returning from injury has a doctor’s note to participate. The trainer and coaching staff observe actions and reactions from the player that creates concern for them about his/her ability to return to pla
