A new sign around rinks in Okotoks is bringing attention to the problem of referee abuse in minor hockey.

Placed by the Okotoks Minor Hockey Association, a sign asking fans and coaches alike to be respectful to referees has been placed in various areas of local rinks, including the Pason Centennial Arena, and the Okotoks Rec Centre.

"One of the most disappointing things for me, being in a position of leadership in Okotoks, is the amount of reverse-abuse we get at the Atom and Novice level," says Doug Brown, President of the Okotoks Referee Association. "That's our 13 and 14 year-old officials, and a lot of them it's their first games."

 

Brown says one of the toughest problems faced by the ORA is the loss of young officials.

"We lose 30 per cent of our officials every year. Of that 30 per cent, I'd say 90 per cent of them are between the ages of 13-15. They'd rather go work at a fast food place or something. They don't want to put up with the reverse abuse coming from coaches or fans."

Though the ORA does have a mentorship program, which matches senior officials with younger referees for their first few games, it doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

Brown believes a big problem is abuse coming from behind the bench.

"Unfortunately they have to put up with abuse from the coaches at times, and it's very disappointing," he said. "Even though coaches and parents still have to go through the Respect in Sports module prior to registering (for minor hockey), it just doesn't seem to be getting any better."

The signs encourages residents who dislike the referee's call to put on a pair of skates and take the referee course themselves.

Brown says it seems as though most fans and coaches don't appreciate that many of these referees are also learning the game.

"What you've got to understand is these officials, just like the players, are learning. Most of them have played the game, but they're going to make mistakes. They're not going to catch everything. You can't expect to sit in a one day referee clinic, which is what they are now, and expect to be an expert official in an eight hour class."

Though Brown hasn't necessarily seen results from the signs being posted, he does think they've helped prompt a positive dialogue. The hope is the signs help bring different parts of the hockey community together.

"Hockey's an emotional game. From an official's perspective, from a player perspsective, coaches, fans, we get into the game. We love the game. To just understand that the officials on the ice are human, and they're going to make mistakes. And hopefully we don't make the same mistake twice, and we learn from those experiences."

 

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