The purpose of introducing Fair Play into a minor hockey association's program is to encourage, foster and enhance the aspects of SAFETY and RESPECT, on and off the ice by all participants involved.

Fair Play encourages all players to be as competitive as possible, but within the rules of the game.

Fair Play does NOT take away from winning. It has been shown that Fair Play can enhance winning rather then detract from it.

This Handbook was made possible by a grant from the Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund of Toronto.

Compiled by William Schipilow (bschipilow@auracom.com) of the Dartmouth Whalers Minor Hockey Association, P.O.Box 23010, DARTSCRPO, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B3A-4S9.

WHAT IS FAIR PLAY? Fair Play is a program introduced into minor hockey to enhance and promote SAFETY and RESPECT with all participants involved.

The five basic principles of Fair Play:

1. RESPECT THE RULES.
2. RESPECT THE OPPONENTS.
3. RESPECT THE OFFICIALS AND THEIR DECISIONS.
4. HAVE EVERYONE PARTICIPATE.
5. MAINTAIN YOUR SELF CONTROL AT ALL TIMES.

Fair Play is introduced to promote SAFETY and RESPECT, and a positive environment in minor hockey for participants involved. The four main participant groups are; the players, the coaches, the officials, and the parents (spectators). How these four groups interact at any game determines how positive, or how negative the event becomes.

There are an increasing number of concerns becoming more evident in minor hockey today. These concerns go against the principles of Fair Play, what minor hockey represents, and the objectives of recreational minor hockey organizations.

Some concerns in minor hockey are; the lack of respect for opponents, verbal abuse of officials, inappropriate spectator behavior in the stands, violence on the ice, the win-at-all-costs attitude, the increased pressure on young players to win, and the lack of FUN for many.

RATIONALE

b- A Fair Play program makes all individuals aware that playing minor hockey is a PRIVILEGE, not a right.

c- A Fair Play program can provide an association with a visible commitment that promotes the concepts of SAFETY and RESPECT.

d- A Fair Play program can outline a clear set of expectations and guidelines that all participants involved in a minor hockey association can follow.

e- A Fair Play program can be used to define a positive set of expectations that all minor hockey associations attempt to provide, as recreational organizations, to all their participants.

f- A Fair Play program ensures that all participants are aware of the minor hockey association's philosophies and objectives.

g- Fair Play can promote and develop a positive set of values to coaches, players, parents, and officials in the association. These values can further enhance the many positive aspects of the minor hockey program.

h- A Fair Play program can develop a comprehensive guide by which the association executive body run its programs, in addition to existing rules, regulations and objectives.

Fair Play is a win-win program for any minor hockey association.

INTERVENTIONS

The number and types of interventions adopted, developed and tailored to meet the needs of an association will be determined by the associations' budget, logistics, and volunteer resources.

The set of interventions introduced into any association constitute a Fair Play program. Interventions can encompass all divisions of an association, or start at the Beginner-Novice level. The interventions if started at the Novice level can expand into other divisions as those players grow into them.

Development of a Fair Play program is a long term project. Initiating interventions at the Beginner-Novice level allows the association to refine their program as it gradually expands with the same group of players into other divisions over a period of years.

Most Fair Play interventions can begin at the lower age levels. Interventions can begin at the lower age levels. Interventions at the Novice level should remain for at least two years. In the third year, the interventions can be introduced into the Atom division. Two years later, the interventions are introduced into the Pee Wee level. This process allows the program to follow a group of players through the association.

Interventions can be modified to meet the players needs as they grow older.

The following is a list of interventions that may be used. Associations should develop their own set of specific interventions to accommodate their resources and number of teams. Some interventions may be used for all levels, some for specific groups.

• Banners and Posters.
• Coach Selection.
• Contracts/Guidelines.
• Team Selection.
• Coaches/Managers Meeting.
• First Team Meetings.
• Pre-Game Announcement.
• Team Assessment Sheets.
• Fair Play Team Awards.
• Fair Play Newsletter.
• Fair Play Support Team.
• Referee Assessment Sheets.
• Junior Officiating.

BANNERS and POSTERS.
Banners and Posters are used to visually promote and remind participants of the Fair Play program.

Small posters with the five Fair Play principles can be put into dressing rooms and at other rink locations for the players, coaches and other participants.

Business, or organizations can be approached to help sponsor the Fair Play program. The banners and posters can be used to provide advertising space. This may create a new source of revenue for the association.

Starting a Fair Play program in a minor hockey association can generate new sponsors willing to associate themselves with such a positive program.

COACH SELECTION
A minor hockey association should have a formalized coaching selection process. The criteria for coach selection should include experience, and attitude towards the principles of Fair Play.

Selection of coaches begins prior to the end of any current season. At this time distribution of coaching applications should be made available to all possible volunteers. applicants who have little or no coaching experience, but who maintain positive attitudes towards the principles of Fair Play should be considered. Certification, if required, could be accommodated latter.

Experience alone should not be the criteria for coach selection. Fair Play can not accommodate 'win-at-all-cost' coaches. Attitude and experience are the two criteria to be considered.

• Maintain confidentiality during any coach selection procedures.
• A small group is formed to act as a 'Coach Selection Committee' for the association.
• A formalized process outlining the association's selection procedures should be developed and followed.
• Emphasize as one criteria for coach selection the Fair Play principles.
• Distribution of coach applications to all participants is made prior to the end of a season.
• Interview applicants using a set of standard questions to provide pertinent information for selection.
• Provide prospective coaches with an accurate description of responsibilities and expectations related to Fair Play.
• Applicants are notified as soon as possible once selections are made.

Contracts/Guidelines reflect the Fair Play principles and the association's expectations of all participants.

The basic Contract/Guidelines are established prior to each season in conjunction with selected coaches and association executive. These are distributed to participants before team selection.

• Each Contract/Guideline provides a consistent rule base focused upon the goals and principles of Fair Play.
• Newly selected coaches input into the development of this intervention to ensure the requirements of their teams are accommodated. Teams at different levels may have varying, specific needs. A beginner hockey team's specific Contract/Guideline requirements may vary from those of a Pee Wee team's.
• All coaches should be made aware that the Contract/Guidelines may be refered to throughout the season to assist in resolving some team problems.
• Players, coaches and parents have their own specific Contract/Guidelines.

The association provides the Fair Play principles and philosophy. The coaches provide specific team requirements.

TEAM SELECTION
Procedures for selection of competitive and recreational teams vary with associations. In player selection, 'ability' and 'attitude' should be criteria. All participants have to be made aware of these two criteria prior to selections.

Players exhibiting poor sportsmanship, lack of honesty, and lack of safety and respect for others, should be made aware that attitudes such as these are not tolerated in Fair Play. Selection criteria for any team should not soley be based upon skill level. Attitude is important.

Coaches should be allowed to select some players on a probationary basis giving these players an opportunity to improve their attitudes.

COACHES/MANAGERS MEETING
This is an early season meeting with all coaches and team managers. The purpose is to explain the Fair Play program to everyone. Information is distributed outlining the program, the interventions and their purposes, and the roles and responsibilities team staff have in the Fair Play program.

The coaches/managers meeting is run by association executive. This meeting allows coaches and managers to ask questions, get clarification regarding any of their concerns, and allows input from team staff.

All team staff should attend to clarify their roles in the Fair Play program.

TEAM MEETINGS
Once a team is formed, a meeting is held with all parents and team staff. Another meeting with coaching staff and players is also held.

The objective of these two meetings is to clarify the Contracts/Guidelines with the parents, players, and coaches.

The coach gives his/her Fair Play Contract/Guidelines to the parents and to the players. The parents and players Contracts/Guidelines are signed. The signed portions are returned to the team manager. The rules portion is kept by the player and parent.

The first team meetings also allows for parent and player input into the team Contract/Guidelines.

There are three Contracts/Guidelines:

• the coaching staff commitments
• the parent commitments
• the player commitments

The parent Contract/Guidelines are signed by the parents and the signature portion handed back to the manager.

The player Contract/Guidelines are signed by the players and the signature portion returned to the manager.

Signing the Contracts/Guidelines indicates participants will abide by the Fair Play principles and team rules.

PRE-GAME ANNOUNCEMENT
Prior to Fair Play home team games an announcement can be read. Pre-game announcements state to all participants at the rink that the game is for the young players to enjoy.

Fair Play pre-game announcements provide a positive tone to games. Announcements can be created by the association, or players themselves.

Items in the announcement can include; respect for the rules, respect for the opponents, respect for the officials and their decisions, maintaining self-control at all times, and names of the team, coaches and officials for the game.

TEAM ASSESSMENT SHEETS
Team Assessment Sheets are completed by a different parent at each team home game. The purpose of these sheets is to provide for parent involvement and input into the Fair Play process.

The Team Assessment Sheets have simple, basic questions regarding coach, player, and parent behavior at games. Parents put check marks beside the appropriate responses. It takes only a minute to fill out these sheets. The sheets are distributed by the team manager prior to a game. After the game, sheets are returned.

The Assessment Sheets provide a way by which parents, during a season, can write their own personal comments about games, or any other situations.

FAIR PLAY TEAM AWARDS
Rewarding teams that exhibit Fair Play principles encourages others to also maintain the Fair Play principles. Selecting and rewarding teams advertises the Fair Play program and constantly reinforces the principles of Fair Play to other participants.

Criteria used for selecting any team follows the five Fair Play principles. The players, the coaches, and the parents are included in the evaluation. All teams should know the criteria. Rewards can be certificates to the players, a pizza team party, recognition posted in the rink, or special mention made in the newsletter. This can be done on a regular basis.

FAIR PLAY NEWSLETTER
The purpose of an association Fair Play Newsletter is to educate participants about the Fair Play program. The newsletter clarifies goals and activities of the program. A Newsletter can be distributed three to four times a season. The Newsletter can be very basic, or the Newsletter can sell advertising space to generate program funds.

A Fair Play Newsletter may include the following sections: knowing hockey rules, team activities, coach comments, questions and answers section, player tips, official's comments, Fair Play recognition section, and a Fair Play education section, to name a few.

FAIR PLAY SUPPORT TEAM
A Fair Play Support Team is an important intervention in a Fair Play program. The Support Team provides assistance to any participant in Fair Play related matters, when asked to do so.

The Support Team can be comprised of three to four volunteers. The Team works under, and in conjunction with association executive members who participate to clarify rules and if required, sanction the Support Team's rulings regarding Fair Play issues.

All Fair Play participants should be provided with an avenue of support for their concerns. The support Team is not a policing group monitoring the various Fair Play participants.

When requested to act on any Fair Play issue by Fair Play participants, the Team acts quickly to resolve the issue.

Some issues the Support Team may be asked to resolve are:

• inappropriate spectator behavior
• player behavior on and off the ice
• supporting a coach dealing with players and/or parents
• inappropriate coach behavior towards players on and off the ice
• Fair Play participant behavior at other rinks during games
• a coach constantly shortening his/her bench during games
• team manager requests for support in handling difficult parents
• abuse of officials by Fair Play participants

Support Team Process.

The Support Team's purpose is to reinforce the principles of Fair Play in a minor hockey association with those participants who have gone beyond the principles of the program. Participants involved in a Fair Play program should be aware of the Team's purpose, how members can be contacted, and how the Support Team process operates.

The Support Team's communication process and operating procedures ought to be clearly defined by the association executive.

If the Support Team is contacted, a meeting should take place with the participants involved to clarify the issue. Executive members may take part, depending upon the seriousness of the issue.

Support Team meetings are held with participants to resolve situations. The resolutions at meetings may take the form of an apology by a parent to a coach, a coach explains his/her actions, or Contract/Guidelines are restated to a player or parent.

Some issues may be more serious. A parent who continues to verbally abuse and threaten a coach or an official may result in that individual being banned from some team events. In cases of severe verbal and/or physical abuse and negative behavior by a participant, the Support Team may work in conjunction with the association executive to take more drastic actions.

Actions by the Support Team focus upon educating participants about their rights, responsibilities, and privileges they have as members of the minor hockey association they are involved in.

REFEREE ASSESSMENT SHEETS
The Referee Assessment Sheets are completed by the officials after each home game. The Assessment Sheet has several questions about the game. The responses are checked off. The sheets also provide for a referee's personal comments about any game.

The Referee Assessment Sheets provide input from the officials about games played by Fair Play teams. Questions deal with coaches, players and spectator behaviors during a game. Referee Assessment Sheets can be developed by the association to include items relevant for the association. Referees input is important in a Fair Play program.

JUNIOR OFFICIATING PROGRAM
A Junior Officiating Program develops young officials involved in Fair Play.

An association can begin to take second year Pee Wee players and provide them with in-house training in officiating. This can be done by the association's referee-in-chief.

Practical experience can be gained by working with senior officials and then officiating at the younger Novice levels. Developing a solid core of young officials in any association is important. A Fair Play program can provide a positive environment in which this can occur.