Author Topic: USA Hockey Issues Update to Hate Language - Stronger Penalties  (Read 8258 times)

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An automatic Match Penalty will be issued, in lieu of the game misconduct penalty that currently exists. On ice officials reserve the right to assess a penalty based on what could be considered or understood as hate language directed at an official, player, or coaching staff.
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Dear USA Hockey member –

As the hockey season begins in full, we continue to receive reports of disturbing incidents involving racial and other derogatory slurs, behavior which is reprehensible and has absolutely no place in our game, especially around our children.

As you are all aware, USA Hockey has long had a Zero Tolerance Policy towards any type of abusive conduct, specifically under Rule 601 (e.3), which states that anyone who uses language that is offensive, hateful or discriminatory in nature anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game, shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty. For reasons which I cannot explain or understand, this penalty does not seem to be enough of a deterrent to stop this conduct.

I am issuing a directive effective immediately that anyone assessed a penalty under Rule 601 (e.3) will now receive an automatic Match Penalty, in lieu of the game misconduct penalty that currently exists, and shall be immediately suspended until a hearing is conducted by the governing USA Hockey Affiliate or junior league. The applicable Affiliate or junior league is required to conduct a hearing within 30 days of the incident and the individual may be subject to further discipline.

Further, our on-ice officials have protocols in place that address situations where a player is accused of saying something that violates Rule 601 (e. 3) but is not heard by the officials. While the officials cannot assess a penalty in that circumstance, they are instructed to notify the coach of the offending team and it is critical that the coach take immediate and appropriate action. Officials must also report the incident through the game reporting system, and Affiliates must review all incidents, whether penalized or unpenalized, to ensure proper application of the rules.

We also receive reports of racial harassment and discrimination among teammates; this behavior must be addressed through submitting appropriate reports through our SafeSport Program.

Parents and coaches, please take the time to address these issues with your kids. Helping educate them on these topics is an important part of our overall effort to eliminate any type of discriminatory language or behavior from our sport.

While the vast majority of our hockey games are conducted in the spirit for which they were intended, we must remove offensive, hateful or discriminatory language or behavior from our game. Please join me in stamping it out and ensuring we have an environment that is free from discrimination of any kind.

Thanks for doing your part and I hope this will be the best and brightest hockey season for you and your family.

Yours in hockey,

Jim Smith
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Reply #1:
 October 31, 2019, 08:46:41 AM
You can't have a Zero Tolerance policy without having accountability for the officials.  What is USA Hockey going to do about? Educating Officials. Reviewing their actions.
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Reply #2:
 October 31, 2019, 11:04:52 AM
You can't have a Zero Tolerance policy without having accountability for the officials.  What is USA Hockey going to do about? Educating Officials. Reviewing their actions.
What's your plan Stan? We have a mentoring program and and evaluation program in the Atlantic District. There are over 2,000 active officials. Evaluator's get $20 per game. The problem is the evaluator's are normally your senior officials. They are the refs you most likely would want on your games. They can not ref and evaluate at the same time.
For years our college organization gave the coaches the ability to evaluate the refs. About three did it consistently. Two of them did a decent job, the third not so much. Also tried it with our high school coaches with similar results. The problem with coach evaluations is that if you are spending that much time looking at the refs, who's coaching your team?

So it really is a logistical issue. The Atlantic District does a very good job with evaluations at tournaments which is the easiest time to do the. Outside of that it's just a time and money problem.
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Reply #3:
 October 31, 2019, 06:49:51 PM
USA Hockey needs to adopt at minimum a 3 official per game system.  Especially at the Bantam AA level and up.
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Reply #4:
 November 01, 2019, 01:01:02 PM
When someone has no answer, they challenge the challenger "whats your plan stan". Stan does not need to have a plan, he is not a paid anything in charge of anything.  Those responsible need a plan, or let them quit and someone more competent with a brain can put more sensible and effective policies into place.

Feedback is also a critical source of information.  So don't "whats your plan Stan" someone who is doing you a favor and providing what I would consider to be accurate feedback.

The fact is, refs are worse than ever, and now that the threat against spectators has increased.  just skate around, suck, and collect your cashola.  Now we are going to throw kids out even longer for saying stupid things that hurt feelings. 

cowards.


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Reply #5:
 November 01, 2019, 02:38:30 PM
USA Hockey needs to adopt at minimum a 3 official per game system.  Especially at the Bantam AA level and up.
Why do you think the 3 official system would be a better solution at this level?
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Reply #6:
 November 01, 2019, 02:50:41 PM
When someone has no answer...  Those responsible need a plan, or let them quit and someone more competent with a brain can put more sensible and effective policies into place.

Feedback is also a critical source of information....
The fact is, refs are worse than ever,

cowards.

It looks like the issues were pretty well spelled out above. It really is a logistical issue. Do you know at what level all games are supervised? Pro/ semi pro/ college / juniors?
There are not enough officials to do all the games (guess why) and there are not nearly enough officials to have all/more/even a few more games supervised.

As far as paid, the staffs of the district referee program are not. At the national level yes they are paid but again how do you think that trickles down to the local level.
Do you have experience with any other sports NGB and how they supervise their officials at the local level? US Soccer has a robust program but once again the vast majority of all evaluation is at large tournaments.

Your critical feedback is that "the refs are worse than ever."
And they are "cowards."

Appreciate that feedback.
Tonight as I leave my family for over six hours for two games I will keep your thoughts in mind.
That's six hours for $130 before taxes. So ballpark numbers that's $17 per hour. Not bad in the grand scheme of things. Of course until some lovely person calls you a coward.

"Peace and love, peace and love" Ringo Starr
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Reply #7:
 November 03, 2019, 10:09:54 PM
Unfortunately officiating in youth hockey is generally poor quality and that is unlikely to improve. Obnoxious coaches and parents do not help the situation nor do idiotic proclamations from USAH. Instead of meddlesome rule changes and politically correct posturing, maybe USAH can take some of the millions in fees it extorts from families and use it to craft actual solutions.
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