Respect in Sport program improving hockey parent behaviour: organizers

CALGARY – The organizers of an online course that preaches better behaviour to hockey parents say feedback shows the program appears to be working.

The hour-long Respect in Sport class is mandatory in many parts of the country, including all of Alberta.

Kevin Kobelka (Coh-bell-caw), the executive director of Hockey Calgary, estimates that the number of disciplinary hearings involving parents has dropped by 10 to 15 per cent since it was implemented three years ago.

And organizers say a survey of the nearly 15,000 people that took the course over the last three years shows that nearly one in three thought to program was effective and wanted to see it made mandatory every year.

Only eight per cent of those who filled out the survey opposed the program.

Kobelka says the program will be expanded to ensure that players go through similar training.