RED TAPE 

Red tape is a long term program that allows learning players to practice while sharing the same pool space as those players who are just playing. Playing tactics involve taking away the puck carriers time and space while Practice requires giving the puck carrier time and space. The red tape rule manages this conflict by giving players who want to practice 3 seconds of practice each time they have the puck.

The 3 seconds starts from when the red tape player gains possession. If you have the puck and they attack you, they do not have possession. If the puck is in a melee they do not have possession.

After 3 seconds the player can be engaged but it is important to only pick the puck cleanly off their stick. This ensures that the new players do not get introduced to the smash brothers and also means that they are able to articulate their wrist at any point they have the puck. Immobilizing their wrist at any point means they only have the option of pushing harder.

Red tape is not about fair competition it is about allowing new players a fair practice. The efforts of some players to laugh at-shame-guilt-embarrass rookies to take of the red tape off will not help player retention.

I am happy to discuss the rule and its reasons but we all need to recognise that unless we encourage and develop some new players Vancouver hockey will just have to hope for more imports to survive.