Players & Parents (Rink Behavior)

The Basics of the Rink Behaviour Program
Education
Resolving
Consequences to Participants

The intent of the "Rink Behavior Policy" is to ensure the environment in which minor hockey activities take place is as positive as possible for all participants. The 'Rink Behavior Policy' follows the CHA philosophy that "it is a privilege to play minor hockey, not a right". The CMHF 'Rink Behavior Policy' also adheres to the CHA mission statement:

"We dedicate ourselves to the advancement of amateur hockey for all individuals through progressive leadership by ensuring meaningful opportunities and enjoyable experiences in a safe sportsmanlike environment."

OBJECTIVES: The 'Rink Behavior Policy' adopted by CMHF is understood to apply to all CMHF members. The basic objectives of the program are:

1. To foster and enhance mutual respect, understanding and the principles of good sportsmanship and Fair Play amongst all participants during minor hockey events.
2. To promote safety and respect, ensure fun, enjoyment, and good competition at any minor hockey event.
3. The elimination of behaviors and actions which detract from a positive environment in which minor hockey games should take place.
4. Zero tolerance of any forms of abuse and/or harassment during minor hockey events from any participants.

Individual Associations are the best ones to determine 'specific' actions with their own participants. The Associations themselves are the best ones who know the participants involved and their history, if any.

A guide for rink behavior followed by all associations provides a process by which to deal with negative incidents involving other association participants. Having all associations follow a basic guide may ensure consistency when dealing with various situations in CMHF rinks. When all Associations follow the same basic procedures and program, the message of appropriate rink behavior impacts upon all participants in all the Associations that much faster.

It is considered unfair to expect Association volunteer executive members, or other volunteers who are at minor hockey events watching their children play to act as a 'police agency' during those events. It is unfair to expect volunteer executive members to step into certain 'heated' situations simply because they happen to be at that particular event. There are many other participants at any event. The responsibility of acting should not fall onto the volunteers alone. It is considered the responsibility of all participants to be accountable for any inappropriate situation(s) at any minor hockey event. It is everyone's responsibility if an inappropriate incident occurs at a rink. Everyone should use common sense, have a rationale evaluation of a situation, and act accordingly. It is considered everyone's responsibility, including non-executive participants to become involved in attaining the goals set out in a 'Rink Behavior Policy'. The burden of the 'Rink Behavior Policy' is put onto everyone's shoulders.

The 'Rink Behavior Policy' includes a process to educate all participants indicating that they are as accountable as everyone else in preventing incidents and resolving incidents should they occur. Participant groups must learn not to 'pass the buck'.

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1. The education component of the 'Rink Behavior Policy' ensures all participant groups fully understand the Policy.
2. The education component is consistent to all nine CMHF Associations.
3. A consistent set of guidelines and 'codes of conduct' at all CMHF Association rinks exist. All Associations have the same sets of expectations and criteria advertised to all their participants.
4. The education process advertises that all nine CMHF Associations are working together on the 'Rink Behavior Policy'. Thus, the same rules apply regardless at which CMHF event participants attend.

1. Advertise zero tolerance of inappropriate behavior at minor hockey events. This is done with arena posters, association newsletters, team information notices, meetings, and including such information in association registration forms.
2. Educate participants. At pre-season registrations all participants should be given information to educate them that inappropriate behaviors at minor hockey events by either home and/or away participants will not be tolerated. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure appropriate behavior at rinks.
3. Association registration forms. Each CMHF Association should include in their registration forms a brief outline of the expectations of every participant. Every participant signing the registration form indicates agreement to abide by the program.
4. All CMHF Associations have committed to working together with each other. When an incident occurs at any rink, the Associations involved will communicate with one another as quickly as possible to resolve the situation(s).
5. Individual Associations are the best qualified to deal with their own participants. Once an incident is resolved, all Associations involved should be made aware of any resolution(s). This is important in order to educate participants of the Association's resolution(s) and provide parameters by which other Associations may continue to develop their rules/guidelines. Communicating resolutions to others educates participants and will reinforce the 'Rink Behavior Policy'.

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All CMHF association members HAVE agreed to work together and be consistent with the education of their participants.

REQUIREMENTS: The basic set of participant expectations and advertised on posters in all CMHF rinks are and/or by various other means:

1. COACHES:
   • Respect all facilities and their staff.
   • Respect the officials and their decisions.
   • Respect opposing team players, coaches and other participants.
   • Take responsibility for the actions and behaviors of their teams on and off the ice.

    

2. OFFICIALS:
   • Respect all participants of the game.
   • Maintain open and positive communications with players and coaches.
   • Promote the rules of the game to all team participants.
   • Keep the integrity in all games.
   • Maintain professionalism on and off the ice.

    

3. SPECTATORS:
   • Remember that players are not participating in the game to entertain the parents.
   • Spectators should not judge players by professional standards.
   • Spectators should maintain their self-control at all times.
   • Spectators should demonstrate respect for all officials and their decisions.
   • Spectators should demonstrate respect for all participants of the game.
   • Spectators should encourage sportsmanship, effort and positive attitudes of all participants.

    

4. PLAYERS:
   • Players should respect all facilities and their staff.
   • Players should respect the officials and their decisions.
   • Players should respect the opposing team players, coaches, and other participants.
   • Players should take responsibility for their own actions and behaviors on and off the ice.
   • Players should respect their own team mates.

1. REGISTRATION FORMS: Registration forms of all CMHF associations should include some information to ensure participants are aware of their association's expectations regarding participant's rights, privileges, responsibilities, and their behavior.

    

2. PARENT CONTRACTS: The purpose of the Parent Contracts, now being widley used in many minor hockey associations across Canada, are to educate the parents of their rights, responsibilities and privileges when their son(s)/daughter(s) play on their association teams.

   The Parent Contracts should indicate the team rules as outlined by the coaching staff, and the coaching staff's expectations of the parents, players, their discipline procedures, and any other items the coaching staff consider important and would like to maintain during the season. The team parent group should be given an opportunity for input. However, parent input cannot detract from the main purpose of the Rink Behavior goals and objectives. Contracts educate the parents of the staff's and association's expectations of their team parent group.

   The Parent Contracts should indicate that all participants adhere to the CMHF Rink Behavior Policy. A parent/guardian for each individual player must sign the Parent Contract and return the signed portion to the coaching staff by the first CMHF Categorization game.

    

3. PLAYER CONTRACTS: The Player Contracts are handed out to the team players prior to the first Categorization game to be played, or as soon as the team roster has been selected. Players are to return their signed portion of the contract to the team coaching staff. Signing the contract indicates that the player has read all the content and agrees to abide by the contract.

   The purpose of the Player Contract is to educate and outline to the team players the coaching staff's and associations's expectations and the team rules as decided by the coaching staff, the association, and the parents.

   The Player Contracts should clarify any discipline procedures coaches may use during the season with players. All Player Contracts must include the 'Player Responsibilities' of the CMHF Rink Behavior Policy.

    

4. COACHES CONTRACTS: The purpose of the Coaches Contracts, signed by the coaching staff and handed out to the parents at the first parent team meeting, prior to the start of Categorization games, ensures all parents are aware of the coaching staff's philosophy and how they plan to run the team.

   The Coaches Contracts should outline the teams discipline procedures regarding players. The Coaches Contracts must include that the staff will adhere to the CMHF Rink Behavior Policy.

    

5. RINK POSTERS: Rink posters are similar in all rinks. The purpose of the posters are to remind all participants of their responsibilities as they enter any CMHF event at any CMHF rink. The posters display the four participant group's responsibilities.

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Issues throughout a season may involve inappropriate behaviors of coaches, players, spectators, or combinations of any of these participant groups. Officiating complaints must focus upon official's actions towards other participants, not how a game was called by the officials. Regardless at which CMHF event an incident occurs, all concerns must be forwarded in writing to the respective association(s) executive member(s). General procedures to be followed are:

1. Every reported incident MUST be in writing and given to an association executive(s).
2. Every reported incident MUST be followed up by the association(s) involved. Reports are welcomed from participants within their own association, or participants from another participating association.
3. An incident report, in writing, is forwarded to the President(s), or other executive member of the association(s) involved with a copy to the CMHF President. Included in the report should be the following:
   • description of the incident,
   • names of the people involved and/or other winesses,
   • the date, time, and other incident details and any other relevant information.
4. The severity of the incident may require:
   • conversation/communication between associations and/or
   • meeting with participants involved and/or
   • CMHF involvement and mediation
5. Actions and responses by associations:
   • investigate the incident
   • record and file the incident and send a copy to the President of CMHF
   • if participants of both associations are involved then a joint meeting should be held depending upon the severity of the incident, with all relevant parties.
   • depending upon the severity of the incident, a CMHF executive member should chair the meeting to resolve the situation.

President of CMHF for the 2000-2001 season: Mr. Kevin MacDonnell, 5531 Stanley Pl., Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K-2E8. Reports can also be faxed to: President of CMHF, 453-4981.

For the above, all parties must be kept informed of all actions, responses and consequences.

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For the participant(s) involved in any reported incident(s), the consequence will be one of the following:

1. letter of education to participant(s) (association action),
2. letter of warning to participant(s) (association action),
3. probation period and/or restitution (association and/or CMHF action)
4. suspension from CMHF events (CMHF action)
5. criminal charges (CMHF action)

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