Cross-training

A common problem is players using their hands and arms as an extension of their body during a check - usually this is seen with the player bringing the hands together and impacting the chest of his target, and very often the hands will then travel up the chest and end up hitting the chin or facemask. While not intentional the result is a "Head Contact" penalty since it is "reckless contact with the head of an opponent".

I ran into an interesting thing tonight - a player who was pushing the line on illegal body checking, and after the game I spoke with the coach who pointed out that the player also was a football linebacker which influences how he hits. He is used to grabbing his opponent at the shoulders and pushing during a tackle at the line of scrimmage.

I'm wondering how much else is creeping into the sport?