Hockey parents don’t have the best reputation in Canada. But in the prairie province of Saskatchewan they’re now the cause of major problems for their kids.
Thousands of hockey games can’t be played and the Saskatoon Referees Association is sounding the alarm over a drop to just 160 referees this season. There were over 200 last year. Verbal abuse by parents and coaches is being blamed.
In an interview with CBC Sports, Jill Andrea, said she understands the decrease. She’s been officiating minor hockey for 22 years, but admits she has considered quitting on many occasions.
Her first encounter with a parent took place when she was just a teenager herself. The father told her to “go home and make babies because that’s all you’re good for’. Turns out I had kicked his son out about 20 minutes earlier.” Jill Andrea remembers the encounter vividly. “There were lots of parents standing around, there were lots of people older than me. No one stood up and said, ‘Hey, you’e talking to a 16 year-old girl, she could be someone’s daughter.'”
It is not part of soccer
Darryl Cameron, vice-president of the SRA has been officiating for 35 years. He says he doesn’t understand why people think it is permissable to verbally abuse referees, particularly teenage referees. He said, “I have a hard time sitting there and watching games because parents just start yelling and swearing for no reason.”
Jill Andrea says, “Unfortunately, as hockey officials we come in and we are taught that this is part of hockey. It shouldn’t be part of hockey. It is not part of soccer, it is not part of football, it is not part of baseball. But it is an acceptable part of hockey,” Andrea said.
In an effort to help the sport evolve, the Saskatoon Referees Association and the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association are reminding coaches, parents and players that formal complaints regarding the abuse of officials can lead to suspensions.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.