Respect (Nickel District Minor Hockey League)

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Hockey Canada Shared Respect

The Canadian Hockey Association’s “Shared Respect Initiative” is designed to make the game more fun for all participants. It specifically targets the problem of abuse of officials, but it applies to all participants.

Keeping players playing and officials officiating the game is an important step to improving the game. One of the major concerns of the CHA is the drop out rate of players, coaches and officials who leave the game as a result of “abuse”. Many good young players leave the game at an early age, many good coaches stop volunteering their time and every year, and 30% of active officials quit the game each year.

The loss of a player, official or coach, due to abuse hurts the entire game. The loss of 10,000 officials in each season, and difficulties in recruiting new ones, puts significant strain on the entire hockey program, because officials that leave the game are replaced by a new official with no experience, and it leaves significant shortages for qualified officials at higher levels of hockey. The main reason for officials leaving the game is the "abuse" factor.

Canada continues to produce some of the best officials in the world, but in order for Canada to retain it’s position as a developer of top officials, it is important that the number of officials who leave the game must be reduced significantly, and that recruitment of officials must be made easier. Reducing the level of abuse will go a long way in achieving these goals. Respect for the game, the participants and the officials is key!

The “SHARED RESPECT INITIATIVE” calls upon all parties to respect the other participants in the game.

WHEN RESPECT IS SHARED – WE ALL WIN!

How much do you RESPECT the game of hockey and all its participants? Take this simple test to see how you rate. Check off the statements that apply to you.

  • The safety of the participants in the game is more important than the final score.
  • I value the contribution of the coach in developing the players talents, even though I may not always agree with their methods.
  • I understand that officials do not make the hockey rules, they only apply them.
  • I understand that children learn from adults, and my behavior reflects what I want children to learn.
  • I understand that officials are responsible to ensure that the game is played in a safe and fair manner for all participants.
  • I understand that players, coaches and officials are learning the game, and mistakes will be made in the learning process.
  • I may not cheer for the opposition team, but I will also not cheer against them or verbally abuse them.
  • I understand that the biggest reason for players and officials quitting the game is abuse.