COACHES GREEN ARM BAND
🟢 RESPECT THE GAME. SUPPORT THE OFFICIALS. 💚🏒
In youth sport, the energy is electric. Wheels hum. Benches buzz. Competition sparks.
At the center of it all stands the official.
Inspired by the leadership of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, the South Central Alberta Inline Hockey League proudly supports the Green Armband Initiative. OMHA, the largest hockey association in the world with nearly 90,000 participants, introduced green armbands for officials under 18 as a visible reminder that many referees are minors.
A simple band of green carries a powerful message: Protect. Respect. Support.
The numbers across sport are clear. Officials stay because they love the game. They leave because of abuse. In one season alone, OMHA assessed 1,911 penalties for disrespectful behaviour toward officials. Rather than wait for the problem to grow, they acted.
We are doing the same.
💚 Why This Matters in South Central Alberta
Inline hockey does not exist without officials. Full stop.
Many of our referees are teenagers and young adults. They are learning leadership, communication, composure, and decision making under pressure. For some, officiating is their first job in sport. For others, it is their first job, period.
When we support officials, we invest in:
- Youth leadership development
- Referee recruitment and retention
- A healthier competitive environment
- A culture rooted in accountability and respect
When a young referee blows the whistle, the game pauses. Respect does not.
💚 What the Green Armband Represents
The green armband identifies young officials and serves as a visible reminder to everyone in the rink.
It stands for:
💚 Encouragement over intimidation 💚 Calm, controlled communication 💚 Leadership under pressure 💚 Coaches setting the emotional tone
It tells players, coaches, and spectators that intensity is welcome. Disrespect is not.
🏒 Our Commitment
The South Central Alberta Inline Hockey League is committed to building a safe, respectful, development focused environment for every official.
This means:
🟢 Clear expectations for players, coaches, and spectators 🟢 Strong administrative backing for officials 🟢 Mentorship and development pathways 🟢 Immediate action when standards are not met
We are not chasing quieter benches at all. We are building confidence.
Confidence in a 14 year old making their first call. Confidence in a veteran managing a playoff battle. Confidence from families that this league protects the integrity of the game.
🧑🏫 Coach Commitment
By registering, coaches agree to:
- Educate players about supporting young officials
- Model composed, respectful bench behaviour
- Address negative conduct immediately
- Reinforce that competitive does not mean confrontational
Coaches set the temperature. When you are steady, your team follows.
When officials feel supported, they stay. When they stay, they improve. When they improve, the game improves.
Inline hockey should be fast, spirited, and intense. It should also be safe, positive, and respectful.
Because without officials, there is no game.