Vancouver Island minor hockey group aims to clamp down on unruly spectators

[aGENT]

http://www.cknw.com/2015/04/13/71681/

The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association is putting more requirements in place to ensure everyone on and off the ice at the leagues games is respected.

President Jim Humphreys says parents and guardians will need to take a Respect in Sport class.

Theyll also need to sign a code of conduct waiver.

Theyll have until October 31st to take the Respect in Sport. And then if they dont have it by October 31, unfortunately the child will come off the ice until such time as they take it.

Hes says hes seen an improvement since penning a letter in January, threatening a ban on spectators.

The biggest difference is the good parents Ill call them good parents because theyre all good parents but the non-offending parents are turning in the offending parents.

Humphreys says other places in the country like Torontos Minor Hockey League are looking at following the leagues model.

A bit sad that this is even required,. As usual, it's the few idiots ruining things for the many.

Otherwise, I think it's a great response to some overzealous morons acting like poorly disciplined children. I hope it comes to the mainland.

[TimberWolf]

A respect in sport class?

There is such a thing?

[TOMapleLaughs]

Not a big deal and the benefits are huge if this stops a few idiots from ruining games/childhoods.

[aGENT]

A respect in sport class?

There is such a thing?

Evidently there is now.

As I said, it's sad that this is even required. There's still a small, nuckle-dragging percentage of the population that evidently needs helps evolving with the rest of us.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Will some minor league coaches also be clamped down on? Because a lot of the time they are even bigger child-ruining idiots than the parents.

[Hunter_74]

I believe they banned a few parents a month or two ago. Personally, I think this is more to protect the refs than anything. In my minor hockey career, never once did a parent rattle me.

Actually one time a parent came down to our bench and told us very impolitely to clean up our act or there will be consequences... we just laughed at him and told him to GTFO. You don't respect us we don't respect you. I know I sound like a little PoS but what happened on the ice stayed on the ice and I'm a completely different person on ice than off ice.

[TimberWolf]

[Vrienzy]

One of my favourite parts of playing was making the other teams crowd angry(with clean plays of course)! I always got a kick out of it. I have reffed minor hockey as well and during that time I noticed it could occasionally get out of hand. There have been times in my hometown which would make something like this necessary (That I did not experience) so I can see why this has been created.

[riffraff]

Nothing's changed.

I grew up playing hockey and by 12 or 13 if I remember correctly I was refereeing as well - this is over 20 years ago, and i was called out in a parking lot by a parent.

Playing got crazy at times too. There were a couple rinks, one when we used to travel to Seattle and one in Vancouver where our team needed parental escort to and from the dressing room.

Our "fans" weren't squeaky clean either, by my late teens, and into juvenile our team had a following that used to cause trouble especiyif one of their players was ejected...yikes.

One of the idiots maced the other teams dressing room one time, hence our escort into Seattle. Lol.

[RUPERTKBD]

I've reffed hundreds of games in my lifetime and I've been called every name in the book. (I've even been physically threatened)

I developed a thick skin over the years, but I can only imagine how a kid would take being verbally abused or physically threatened by an adult. It's a wonder that they're able to find referees at all...

However, it isn't just directed at officials, unfortunately. I remember as a kid, taking a road trip to Fort St James and after hanging a pretty lopsided beating on them, dealing with extreme hostility leaving the ice and on the way back to the team bus. Needless to say, we didn't stick around, nor did we ever go back.

The unfortunate truth is that some people can't see that it's just a game.

[MovesLikeDatsyuk]

My Sister's Husbands father got banned from the hockey arena back in the day for threatening other parents n being a hardcore hillbilly. $&!# is for real.

[GLASSJAW]

not surprised at all. a few months ago i made a post about the 'white trash' audiences that attend these games at local arenas, and a few people too offense. object to the phrase 'white trash' all you want, but the unruly Langfordites and co. who swarm children's games is unbelievable and undeniable.

I used to work right beside an arena and I'd see it all first hand. Cops were routinely called, parents would be verbally abusive to children, to each other. Of course it was the minority, but it certainly wasn't uncommon. I'd see it myself at least once a week, and I avoided that monkey community as best I could. I cannot believe how emotionally retarded you would have to be to make a scene as some of these parents did every week.

[MovesLikeDatsyuk]

Still cant believe a grown adult threatening a Kid / Child.

[drummer4now]

What is the problem with these parents lol?

Do they think their kids remote chances of making the NHL is in ruins if they don't have their way?

Also this sort of idiocracy isn't just reserved for minor hockey.. I have seen it happen on many occasions in different sports like soccer, basketball, and baseball.

There always seems to be that one parent who pushes the envelope a little too far..

I once heard a parent threatening to break a kids legs.. at a soccer game.

not surprised at all. a few months ago i made a post about the 'white trash' audiences that attend these games at local arenas, and a few people too offense. object to the phrase 'white trash' all you want, but the unruly Langfordites and co. who swarm children's games is unbelievable and undeniable.

I used to work right beside an arena and I'd see it all first hand. Cops were routinely called, parents would be verbally abusive to children, to each other. Of course it was the minority, but it certainly wasn't uncommon. I'd see it myself at least once a week, and I avoided that monkey community as best I could. I cannot believe how emotionally retarded you would have to be to make a scene as some of these parents did every week.

Langford is pretty bad.. same with esquimalt two places I try to avoid..

I can imagine this sort of behavior being common in small towns or communities (on the cusp of civilization) where there's probably a rivalry or competition between the parents on whose kids are better.

[nucklehead]

I hope in this course they include the degree of likeliness that their little spawn will make it to the show. Some of these losers need a reality check in that department as they foist unrealistic pressure and expectations on their kids in attempt to atone for their own shortcomings.

[drummer4now]

I hope in this course they include the degree of likeliness that their little spawn will make it to the show. Some of these losers need a reality check in that department as they foist unrealistic pressure and expectations on their kids in attempt to atone for their own shortcomings.

This.. and then fantasizing about spending the kids money aka Jack Johnson's parents..

[McBackup]

I never saw too much trouble with the refs when I played.

Then again I was awful and only played rec hockey.

[Offensive Threat]

This.. and then fantasizing about spending the kids money aka Jack Johnson's parents..

Any professional athlete that has his parents as a agent or handling his finances is asking for trouble. Though Jack Johnsons parents are terrible people in every sense. I bet they were a handful at his minor games.