Green arms bands will now be worn by young on-ice officials in Nova Scotia
Canada has more than 30,000 referees, linesman and other game officials working in hockey. Each year more than 10,000 quit, largely because of verbal abuse.
A new program launched by Hockey Nova Scotia features a green armband to signal to fans and coaches that some of the on-ice officials are only children.
Cole Harbour Minor Hockey Referee in Chief, Jason Clark said last night his organization launched the green armband program for referees and linesmen.
"It was very quiet in here, and that’s what I like to see," said Clark, who added the green arm band is designed to offer an added level of protection and support for younger on-ice officials.
"Anyone who is 17-years or younger, ref or linesman, it doesn’t matter," said Clark.
It signals to coaches and fans, they yell at a referee or linesman, they may be verbally abusing a youth.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan McMullen has been a referee for four years. Each game usually features both good and bad moments.
"When a coach tells you did a good job or you had a good game," said McMullen. "A negative is when they’re yelling at you about a call that you made or didn’t make."
Wearing the green arm band is a short term measure.
"On their 18th birthday they will take that off because they are considered an adult," said Clark,
From now on, coaches and parents who are suspended for abuse of an on-ice official will also face a stiffer punishment if it involves someone wearing the green armband.
"There will be another game at added to anybody who receives a suspension due to abuse of a referee," said Clark.
All referees and linesman under the age of 18 and working in Hockey Nova Scotia-sanctioned games will now wear the green arm bands.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.