Windsor Curbing Crazy Hockey Parents

Before respect begins on the ice, it will begin in the stands with parents. That is the message Windsor Minor Hockey has decided to send parents as they are mandating all parents take a course in respect, in order to be able to enroll their kids in hockey.

Parents will be required to take an hour long online course by August, and if they don’t, their children won’t be on the ice next fall.

Already a requirement for coaches in Canada, the Respect in Sport course, a proactive measure to curb inappropriate parent behaviour, looks to improve the environment surrounding sports “by reinforcing a parent’s role in their child’s activities, encouraging positive sport behaviors, and providing insight into the various roles other individuals play, such as coaches and officials. he Respect in Sport Parent program empowers parents to ensure their child’s safety, encourages positive and effective communication, and creates a standard of respectful behavior for all parents of active kids.”

A first for Ontario, it is likely that more hockey organizations, including locally in Chatham-Kent, will soon adopt this course as a mandatory requirement for registration.