hearing scheduled: inviting 10 year old to testify

[FB_]

Uttering a death threat or any threat is a criminal matter and not one to be addressed at a tribunal for at a minor hockey league.

http://www.hockeynl.ca/wp-content/up...s_bylaws_e.pdf

It is basic training required by all people volunteering with Minor Hockey in Canada and covered under the "Respect in Sports" program.

Good Luck!
Tayken

You are correct and I have taken the "RIS" training as a parent, coach and referee. Each are different programs btw.

My question is why are the police not involved. My guess is the police couldn't/wouldn't press charges and the league was asked to deal with this behavior. I'd be very curious to find out what league this is but I fear I may already know and may be personally linked as my employer so I better leave this one alone.

[smileandwalkaway]

A person uttering a death threat to another person is always inappropriate in my opinion. It just gets worse when a child is involved.

I believe it is wrong to involve a child into a situation like this. It is for the authorities to handle. You just need to trust that these authorities handle things well.

I know when my children were exposed to such threats the proper authorities were notified. These authorities did not feel it was appropriate or healthy to bring the children into it any more than they were already. It was not in their best interests. The only thing that mattered was that they were no longer in any physical danger... That they were safe. CAS was satisfied talking to the adults.... The individual accused of uttering threats and the person who reported it.

[FWB]

Yelling, swearing, and taking it all way too seriously.

What...you mean like they do with Hockey? Must be a Canadian thing, didn't witness any of that where I came from. Oh, and don't think any of that doesn't happen in curling or cheer-leading

What kind of father yells "what are you, a f---ing pansy?!" at his seven-year-old son when he misses a kick?

The same kind of parent that freaks out when their kid is body checked in Hockey, Lacrosse or basketball?

I have tremendous respect for the coaches who solider on despite the adults jerks they have to deal with

I have heard it all on the pitch and as a coach...the only difference is, I know the game inside out, and some of these <lovely people>, haven't got a faintest what a foul or a free-kick is

but I'm happy with D8 just being involved in swimming and gymnastics,

where the adults are much more civilized.

(Of course, I live in sports-crazy Alberta,

Yes...and Wainright is the best place to live on this planet. You've got jokes

[Pursuinghappiness]

D8 used to play community-league soccer - and I was quite relived when she said this year she didn't want to continue. It wasn't the violence of the game or the fights between parents and coaches that got me, it was the way parents behaved towards the kids, their own and other people's. Yelling, swearing, and taking it all way too seriously.

When my girls were smaller...we tried them out in a variety of sports to figure out what they liked. I'm very relieved to say eventually chose things I could handle. My oldest picked karate...she's got her black belt in her teens. It was fun to watch, the parents are quiet and its useful for her life. My youngest chose ballet...which I also enjoyed watching although last year she switched to yoga (beautiful to watch) and concentrates on piano.

I have to admit that I spent a few summers on softball or soccer fields and I HATED it. Hated the loud parents, hated the drama and my kids didn't enjoy it either. I used to make them finish the summer season since I signed them up and they needed to be committed to their team but about halfway through, it became a chore for all of us. But ultimately you have to let the kids try a lot of things and take figure out what they have a passion for. As a parent, I would have tolerated whatever they loved. I really dislike parents that push their kids into sports because its what the parent wants, not what the kid wants.

EDIT: Not all parents want their kids to be superstars. I have both my kids in Rec hockey and do not have any plans on moving them up to play competitive hockey. All I hope is that they have fun, make some friends and get some great exercise.

Agreed FB. The point is for the kid to have fun and get exercise.
Educational pursuits like language studies, piano, community service always were more important than sports for my kids.

I've always thought many soccer supporters suffer from "short man syndrome" - angry, short men, who feel it necessary to act out in an attempt to gain respect and recognition.

lmao McDreamy. When I started dating, one of the things on my "hell nah" list was raving sports fans. Although my partner used to play football, he doesn't watch it. I understand why people play sports but I cannot understand why someone plants themselves in front of a TV all day to watch it and freak out when they lose. Its so meaningless and brain numbing.

[stripes]

D8 used to play community-league soccer - and I was quite relived when she said this year she didn't want to continue. It wasn't the violence of the game or the fights between parents and coaches that got me, it was the way parents behaved towards the kids, their own and other people's. Yelling, swearing, and taking it all way too seriously. What kind of father yells "what are you, a f---ing pansy?!" at his seven-year-old son when he misses a kick? Or cheers loudly when a kid on the other team falls down? Not what I want my kid to witness. I have tremendous respect for the coaches who solider on despite the adults jerks they have to deal with, but I'm happy with D8 just being involved in swimming and gymnastics, where the adults are much more civilized. (Of course, I live in sports-crazy Alberta, where attitudes towards competition and winning at all costs are pretty extreme).

[Tayken]

The hearing is basically to determine what disciplinary action should be taken on the person who uttered the death threat.

Uttering a death threat or any threat is a criminal matter and not one to be addressed at a tribunal for at a minor hockey league.

http://www.hockeynl.ca/wp-content/up...s_bylaws_e.pdf

It is basic training required by all people volunteering with Minor Hockey in Canada and covered under the "Respect in Sports" program.

Good Luck!
Tayken

[mcdreamy]

My very first part-time job (age 15 I believe) was to work at concession at golf course in summer and hockey arena in winter. I recall a scene at the hockey arena that has stayed with me my entire life.

Two mothers came into the concession area and got into an argument. The argument ended up with these two 30-something women in a knock-down cat fight with hair pulling and face punching. They were fighting over their kids (one kid had checked the other kid or something).

I will never forget that.

Soccer is known for crowd/fan violence and brawling, police regularly have to use tear gas and batons to break up not only rival fans - but also groups of the same fan factions.

I've always thought many soccer supporters suffer from "short man syndrome" - angry, short men, who feel it necessary to act out in an attempt to gain respect and recognition.

OP, I hope you've read the thoughts of the other posts here, and recognize it would be inappropriate to involve a child in a disciplinary hearing between fiance/father.

[FWB]

Yeah....hockey is less classy than football (soccer) which as you know is very very international game with well known stars around the world from every continent.

It's akin to Nascar and F1 racing...I know which camp am in

[arabian]

My very first part-time job (age 15 I believe) was to work at concession at golf course in summer and hockey arena in winter. I recall a scene at the hockey arena that has stayed with me my entire life.

Two mothers came into the concession area and got into an argument. The argument ended up with these two 30-something women in a knock-down cat fight with hair pulling and face punching. They were fighting over their kids (one kid had checked the other kid or something).

I will never forget that.

[FWB]

or do similar things happen at other "team" sports such as soccer, basketball, and the like?

Errrrr...no. I played football (soccer) right up to university (am damn good at it, still am), and coach it indoors and outdoors to kids now. Where I come from, we do keep scores, and yes kids do learn the rules, unlike the nonsense I see here

In soccer, there is absolutely no fighting allowed, and when it happens..you are sent off (red card), fined, banned for a few games both in local leagues, and at the international level if applicable

Yes Hockey is a fast game on ice, but having to play a 90mins minimum soccer game with no going to sit down and coming back willy nilly, is damn good cardio.

Do parents get all worked up at soccer, you betcha...but it's just banter

[arabian]

Thanks again for clarification and information about amateur hockey. Sounds like you and your kids are having fun with the sport.

[FB_]

Good to hear clarification on this subject from someone who is knowledgeable and experienced with refereeing.

While hockey is a national past time for many Canadians and many parents want their kids to be superstars, I don't understand why someone would want their children exposed to violence on a regular basis? Is it just the nature of the sport or do similar things happen at other "team" sports such as soccer, basketball, and the like?

I guess I was fortunate to raise a nerd-child who was into bowling! When the topic of hockey came up when he was young, I recall being quite relieved when he told me he hated skating. Through the years I've heard not one positive thing from parents who had their kids in hockey. For children coming from dysfunctional divorcing families it seems a strange activity to get your kids involved with. Just my personal opinion though... each to their own for sure.

I also play hockey, coach my son's hockey team and my daughter has also started hockey this year and we all love it.

The physical fitness aspect of hockey is phenomenal. The team building, problem solving skills, conflict resolution, fine and gross motor skills development are all great experiences for kids. know it is true that same could be said for soccer.

There are around 2,000,000 Canadians playing hockey (624,000 kids) every year. You hear about select incidents every year in the news but if you consider the amount of hockey played these are a very small percentage of games. I referee between 60 and 70 hockey games (A, AA, and AAA) every year and I can tell you fighting is not an issue in amateur hockey. Yes it does happen but there are some years I don't see any fights and when they do fight they are severely punished starting with a 3 game suspension for a first offence. Considering they only play between 30 and 40 games a year losing 10% of your season is not something most want to do.

EDIT: Not all parents want their kids to be superstars. I have both my kids in Rec hockey and do not have any plans on moving them up to play competitive hockey. All I hope is that they have fun, make some friends and get some great exercise.

[arabian]

Good to hear clarification on this subject from someone who is knowledgeable and experienced with refereeing.

While hockey is a national past time for many Canadians and many parents want their kids to be superstars, I don't understand why someone would want their children exposed to violence on a regular basis? Is it just the nature of the sport or do similar things happen at other "team" sports such as soccer, basketball, and the like?

I guess I was fortunate to raise a nerd-child who was into bowling! When the topic of hockey came up when he was young, I recall being quite relieved when he told me he hated skating. Through the years I've heard not one positive thing from parents who had their kids in hockey. For children coming from dysfunctional divorcing families it seems a strange activity to get your kids involved with. Just my personal opinion though... each to their own for sure.

[FB_]

I referee hockey and I can tell you that hockey leagues take this stuff very seriously and there is zero tolerance.

I can totally see them having a hearing over it. However having a child present to discuss what they heard is simply not acceptable. I would never let them question my children over death threats. The hearing is basically to determine what disciplinary action should be taken on the person who uttered the death threat. The leagues do not in fact own the facilities but while they are "renting" them and they have the rights to allow or disallow anyone they choose into the arena. This even applies to publicly owned facilities. It's all in the rental agreements. I on two occasions had to call the police to deal with unruly parents. The facilities do not condone this behavior and will support you in removing someone from a facility even to the point of no trespass orders.

Hockey leagues hold hearings all the time over behavior. Mainly it's when the kids get suspended for something like fighting or other stupid acts of violence. I have been required to attend these hearings before as the referee. They basically question the kid as to why he did it. Will he do it again etc etc. The referee is their so simply provide a report of the incident and answer any questions that one might have.

[Qrious]

errrrr.....because you can't go round making threats to people, and perhaps it happened in the hockey arena?

They (the minor hockey league folks) are trying to show that the place has zero tolerance to that sort of thing

errr.... do you think a hockey league cares if one adult threatens another? If so, I'm calling my local hockey league and filing a complaint too. The league doesn't own the arena or enforce the law.

They would have rules around parent, coach, and referee conduct while participating in hockey, though, and this must be what's going on.

I can only assume there's a discipline committee meeting for the league because there was an altercation involving hockey parents and/or a coach/referee, of which someone was the dad and someone was the fiancee. The league wouldn't ask a child to "testify" - ludicrous. No way. Please, no way.

OP said the FIANCEE wants the kid to give testimony. Fiancee should get a kick in the pants for this idea. Work it out, grownups.