A significant rule change to widen a ban on bodychecking has been approved by Hockey Winnipeg for the 2016/17 season with the intention of keeping kids in the sport.

At its rules and regulations meeting last Wednesday, Hockey Winnipeg approved a motion to take bodychecking out of the A2 category for minor bantam and older divisions. Bodychecking will remain at the AAA, AA and A1 minor bantam and older levels.

The board showed “overwhelming support” for the change, Hockey Winnipeg president Chris Hall said Tuesday.

“Across the country there is a movement to reduce bodychecking at the lower categories — the A category — and make it a progression as they get into the AA and AAA categories,” Hall said.

It’s the second straight season Hockey Winnipeg has made a change regarding bodychecking.

Prior to the 2015/16 season, Hockey Winnipeg removed bodychecking in the A3 category for all minor bantam and older divisions — a move Hall said was well received.

“Obviously there are challenges with kids who played with bodychecking all their lives and now all of a sudden they’re going to a non-bodychecking league,” Hall said. “You’re going to have your traditionalists who don’t think it’s right.

“However, with the research that’s available these days, it seems to be what people are asking for, so we’re moving slowly and keeping on pace with the rest of the country as well.”

There was a motion at the meeting to remove bodychecking from all A divisions, but it was defeated. However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if such a motion came up again next year as the movement toward eliminating bodychecking at all but the AA and AAA levels gains wider approval.

“If that’s going to happen, there should be some work put into it throughout the season to make sure that if that is the way we’re going, to deal with it in a proper fashion,” suggested Hall, in his second season as Hockey Winnipeg president.

The decision to remove bodychecking at all A3 levels was designed to keep players in the sport and that reasoning is also behind the latest move, Hall said.

“Everybody ends up playing in a rec league at some point and in all rec leagues there’s no bodychecking,” he said.

The change received full support from Hockey Manitoba, said its executive director, Peter Woods.

“I think it’s a good move,” Woods said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that the game is always played in a safe and comfortable environment.

“If that changes the focus on the game for those that just want to participate, so there’s no intimidation from guys hitting them all the time, I think it’s positive.”

Woods also expects there will be plenty of discussion toward banning bodychecking at all A levels the following season, which would mean there would only be hitting at the AA and AAA bantam and midget category.

“There’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t expand the program if they feel it meets the needs of their membership,” he said.

Such bold moves have met with criticism in the past, Woods noted, but views often changed over time. Examples he cited included when Hockey Canada eliminated bodychecking at the peewee level in 2013 and when Hockey Manitoba made it mandatory for all coaches to wear helmets on the ice.

“I think a year from now people will reflect and think ‘my kid had a really enjoyable experience,’” he said. “If it keeps kids in the game longer, then it has to be positive.”