Violence in Canadian Amateur Hockey: The Experience of Referees in Ontario

Objective: To determine the perceptions and roles of referees about violence and injury in hockey games. Design: Questionnaire. Setting: Web-based survey. Participants: We contacted referees across Canada from various leagues and all levels of play, with the majority of respondents from Ontario (92%). Main Outcome Measures: We gathered demographic information anonymously and posed questions on aggression and experience in hockey games. Results: The majority of referees (n = 632) indicated that violence is a serious concern to both players and referees at all levels of hockey. More than 90% of referees responded that they were the recipients of aggression and anger (92.1%, 95% confidence interval, 90.0-94.2), 55% had been involved in hockey games where aggressive behavior resulted in the referee losing control of the game, and 71% said that this increased aggression leads to injury. Referees' opinions are that the coach is the most responsible for managing on-ice safety (63%). To improve hockey safety, referees suggest education and more rigorous enforcement of discipline for all participants. Conclusions: Referees are important for hockey safety and need to be appropriately supported. Referees believe that increased aggression can lead to injury and that rules need to be enforced more diligently. Referees recommend that increased education about safety is needed to guide parents, coaches, and players to make hockey safer.