We can all do much better

As ice hockey officials, coaches, players, parents, and fans, it is time for us to work together to address the unacceptable behavior that has been plaguing our sport. This is a complex issue, but by working together, we can make a significant impact.

It’s essential to recognize that unacceptable behavior by players, coaches, parents, and fans is detrimental to the sport of ice hockey. All stakeholders must take responsibility for their actions and set an example of appropriate behavior.

 

Flexible for Your Needs

This is a complex issue, but by working together, we can make a significant impact.

We invite all officials, coaches, players, parents, and fans who share our commitment to creating a positive and respectful environment to join us in this effort. Let’s work together to create a better ice hockey experience for everyone involved.

 

Officials are human

• Provide a first-hand, on-ice official’s perspective and experience of this abuse. Present clear examples of how it is negatively impacting players, fans, and the overall health and future of the sport of ice hockey.

• Review the actual role of an on-ice official, the requirements to become an official, the development path of officials, types of individuals that work as officials, and a very high-level summary of hockey organizations (USAH, NIHOA, NCAA, MIAA, etc), their objectives, as well as the rule sets and priorities that each have established.

• Use creative, effective methods (video, “war stories”, social media, news articles, etc…) to clearly demonstrate how foolish, incorrect, abusive, and completely unacceptable many of the behaviors that officials commonly experience truly are.

• Develop innovative and exciting ways (video, virtual reality, images) to put individuals (players, coaches, parents, fans) into an official’s skates to experience first-hand what the role entails.