Montreal’s ‘green armband’ project for young officials garners attention in Sask.

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) is keeping an eye on a Quebec pilot project aimed at how young officials are presented to fans, coaches and players.

On Jan. 13, Hockey Montreal rolled out the project, through which officials under the age of 18 have to wear a green armband on their left arm signifying their status as a new official.

Hockey Montreal rolled out a new pilot project for young officials on Jan. 13, 2020. (Hockey Montreal)

In a release by the organization, the chief referee of Hockey Quebec’s Montreal region, Vincent Blanchard, outlined the goals of the project.

“This armband project was launched to educate leaders, coaches, parents and players to respect our officials, because they too, who are in learning mode, must have fun,” the release stated.

In Saskatchewan, there aren’t any initiatives in place currently. SHA general manager Kelly McClintock said the project is something the association is going to watch as the season wraps up.

“The key part in any of these things is the measurement of it afterwards,” he said. “Does it actually lead to less verbal abuse? You need to talk to the officials, (and ask) do they feel that there was less confrontational communication with them (or) less verbal abuse of them? How did it make them feel?”

McClintock said anyone who says these issues don’t exist in the game “would be lying,” but the SHA has made strides to deter coaches from the abuse of young officials.

“I would be lying if I said there was zero (abuse). There’s certainly cases and instances. But I would say that overall there’s a lot less in terms of coaching,” he said.

“(Currently as a coach), if you get thrown out of a game for verbal abuse now, that’s a two-game suspension. If it happens in the last 10 minutes, it’s three (games).”

Hockey Montreal said more than 100 posters were produced to advertise the initiative. The posters have been displayed in rinks across the Montreal region.