B.C. Hockey is taking aim at bad behaviour in the bleachers with annual meetings for parents – and attendance will be mandatory.
As part of the new Sportsmanship Starts in the Stands program, minor hockey associations across the province will be required to host a meeting once a year to go over the Dos and Don’ts of spectating.
Every player’s parents will be expected to attend and sign a Code of Conduct contract.
“It’s just so that minor hockey associations have something to point back to in the situation where somebody does step out of line,” B.C. Hockey executive director Barry Petrachenko said.
Parents who refuse to attend the meetings could be banned.
The program, which is being debuted in the wake of several high-profile rink rage incidents in the province, was developed in partnership with the Vancouver Canucks.
Messages from team president Trevor Linden will appear in both the Code of Conduct and a video the associations will play at meetings.
“Hockey should be fun for kids and the atmosphere parents create in the rink has a huge impact on everyone’s experience and happiness,” Linden said in a statement.
The first meetings will be held this year, and must take place before Oct. 15, according to B.C. Hockey.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s St. John Alexander
