TORONTO – One of Ontario’s largest minor hockey associations is forcing parents to complete a “respect” course if they want their children to continue playing in the league.
At their annual general meeting last November, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) made it mandatory for parents to successfully finish an online course called “Respect in Sport.”
“The program is about being positive and to promote positive behaviour,” said Ian Taylor, director of development programs with the OMHA. “There are a lot great parents out there. They give a lot of time and energy to the sport bringing their kids to hockey, paying for the tournaments.”
Starting in the fall of 2014, registered players won’t be allowed to step on the ice if at least one parent or guardian hasn’t completed the course.
The OMHA says the program will encourage good behaviour between parents, coaches, players and league officials.
“We seem to be talking a lot about respect lately both in the game of hockey and society in general. It was a concept that just kept coming up again and again,” said Taylor.
Taylor also says the program will also help teach parents about concussions, return-to-play guidelines and long-term player development.
The program, effective Aug. 31, 2014, takes an hour to complete and costs $12 per family.
However, not everyone is happy with the program and some leagues have voted against implementing the parental education course.
Toronto’s largest minor hockey league, the Greater Toronto Hockey League, voted not to adopt the mandatory course.
President John Gardiner said the organization turned the parental education course because it unfairly punishes parents for a small, minority of misbehaving individuals.
“You have got to remember that 95 to 98 per cent of parents are pretty decent people. So you are really going after two to three per cent,” said Gardiner. “And my question is, can you ever change them? You can hope to change them but that is an awful lot people to inconvenience to go through the things you should be doing as a parent.”
Team officials, including coaches, trainers, managers, as well as on-ice volunteers and officials are also required to complete a certification program that is three hours long and costs $30.
TMS debates: Is making parents undergo a “respect program” the right way to tackle the problem of overly-aggressive hockey parents?
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