DISAGREE WITH THE CALL. RESPECT THE PERSON.™ A Hockey referee can make a call a Player dislikes. So can Players make bad passes, miss assignments, and waste chances. Therefore, Hockey Mom Yvonne™ teaches parents to let Players disagree without turning the official into the explanation for everything.
Hockey Referee: HOCKEY MOM YVONNE™ BY AGE
U5-U7 • U8-U10 • U11-U14 • U15-U18 • Junior
U5-U7 + U8-U10 — Hockey Referee: Move to the Next Play
Young Players should learn that the whistle is over once play restarts.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
What should happen after a call?
U11-U14 — Hockey Referee: Separate One Call From the Whole Game
A call may affect the game, but rarely explains every result. Ask what the Team could still control.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
What is the better question?
U15-U18 + Junior — Use the Proper Channel
Older Players and Coaches may respectfully ask for clarification through league procedures.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
What is the appropriate response to a disputed call?
Officials Will Make Mistakes
Hockey is fast and officiating is difficult. Acknowledging that does not mean pretending every call was correct.
Parents Set the Temperature
When adults scream at officials, Players learn that losing control is acceptable when they feel wronged.
Responsibility Is Powerful
A Team that can identify what it still controlled is better positioned to improve.
5 Smart Responses When Your Child Blames the Hockey Referee
A Hockey Referee can make a call a Player disagrees with. That does not mean the official should become the explanation for every loss, missed assignment, or wasted scoring chance.
1. Let the Player Disagree Without Attacking the Person
It is reasonable to believe a call was wrong. Teach the difference between criticizing a decision and disrespecting the official who made it.
2. Ask What the Team Could Control
Bring the conversation back to effort, turnovers, coverage, shot quality, penalties, and execution. Those are areas Players and Teams can actually improve.
3. Do Not Model Referee Blame From the Stands
If parents spend the game yelling at the Hockey Referee, Players learn that blaming officials is an acceptable response to frustration.
4. Separate One Call From the Whole Game
A close game may include several turning points. One penalty call rarely explains everything that happened before and after it.
5. Teach the Reset
Players still have to defend the next rush, take the next faceoff, and make the next decision. The best response to a call you dislike is usually to keep playing.
Hockey Mom Yvonne’s Takeaway
You can disagree with a call without teaching disrespect. DISAGREE WITH THE CALL. RESPECT THE PERSON.™
Hockey Referee: Respect the Person
A Hockey referee will make calls Players and parents dislike. However, responsibility still matters. Teach the Player to separate disagreement with a decision from disrespect toward the Hockey referee, while also reviewing the choices the Team could control.
For another parent decision, read how to judge private Hockey training. Hockey Canada also provides official resources for Hockey parents.
Part of Hockey Mom Yvonne™ and Hockey Parent Intelligence™. Presented by The Hockey Resource™.