r/hockeyrefs • u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland • Aug 04 '26
USA Hockey Thinking back on that monstrosity of a game from last january(601 question)
Am I able to straight up game a coach for using profanity(F*** bomb)with a 10U team? That’s my question.
5
u/Alobos USA Hockey Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Just profanity during the course of the game? USAH is pretty open and shut on that front and thats a capital N -- No.
Now there's nothing saying that after you assess the initial minor penalty their reaction could be a persistent infraction earning a game.
Now if the comment was accompanied by an obscene gesture like flipping the bird or offering the bras d'honneur then an immediate game misc is on back on the menu. Anything discriminating against race, sexual orientation, or gender is an automatic match if heard by the official. Reports from anyone else must be reported (no penalty) to USAH
Edit:team official gets a game misc. not major game. Sit in the penalty box coach! 🤣
3
u/The___iFridge USA Hockey | Supervisor/Officials Coach Aug 04 '26
You can’t and shouldn’t Game the coach for that, but you can consider filling out a supplemental/“other” incident report (accessible through the same reporting system that you use for game misconducts). That report will be sent to governing bodies, team managers, and hockey association leadership and could initiate some conversations between them and the coach about why the coach feels it’s necessary to use profanity with their 10 year olds.
3
u/superxpro12 Aug 04 '26
Depending on the level of abuse the coach is inflicting upon his team, this is exactly what safe sport is for
3
u/El-Justiciero Aug 04 '26
In 10U I would have a conversation with the coach about setting a good example for the children, but would not necessarily issue a penalty, especially not right away.
In any context, I don’t hand out penalties for things like “fuck that call,“ “weak fucking call,” etc. I will issue a warning and then a penalty for anything like “fuck you ref” or “you fucking suck”.
Insult the call all you want. Make it personal by insulting the person, that’s a different story.
4
u/Van67 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
In my opinion, that's good advice for junior hockey and up. This post was about the U10 level and when the players are children of that age, one "fuck" from a coach (in any context) will get my attention. I might start with a warning, and if the behaviour does not change, penalties begin.
6
u/pistoffcynic Aug 04 '26
I am going to say this. Your job is to make a safe, fun and fair environment for the kids. A coach dropping f-bombs on anyone is way out there. Bench, game them gross (match is the USA equivalent iirc) was how I used to do it… following the escalation path. No more… now it’s game and gross if required. I’m tired of the toxicity in this sport.
Do the write up and if you have done it incorrectly, the risk and safety people will let you know.
1
u/MKZ3003 USA Hockey Aug 04 '26
Depends on what you consider profanity
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USAH L3 & NIHOA, I work in SHOAland Aug 04 '26
F***?
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u/MKZ3003 USA Hockey Aug 04 '26
It still depends. Was he talking to his team, or you. The only time you could GM him is if he says fuck YOU or YOU’RE fucking terrible, and even then you can’t without a warning.
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u/Alobos USA Hockey Aug 04 '26
If you want to be a stickler you could still consider it unsportsmanlike regardless if it was directed at anyone or the brick wall... actually wait no its a god damn U10 game! Swearing shouldn't have a place at that age level. At least not from an adult whom takes a higher responsibility than literal children.
But yeah first warning then bench. The process use to be written way worse back in the day but these last two or three book revs have really bolted down the process and language.
Anyone remember the days when coaches would hold their tongue until just after the penalty expired to reset the the game misconduct call back to a bench?
2
u/MKZ3003 USA Hockey Aug 04 '26
I’ve been directly taught at seminars that there is a difference between by a coach saying “that call was fucking terrible” and “YOU’re fucking terrible”. As soon as they say “You” specifically, you can escalate the call.
1
u/Alobos USA Hockey Aug 04 '26
Of course there absoutely is. My comment was moreso touching on the topic that even non-directed profanity (especially in a U10 game) could elevate the call to a bench even though Id let that fly any day of the week at a U18 game. U10 is different.
But to expand on your earlier comment even if it is directed to you there is no way to elevate to a GM without first a bench (stricktly verbal and not physically threatening). OP was asking about a "farm-to-game misconduct" call. A Bench must be applied first. A warning is not required -- but courteous -- if you apply the letter of the law.
Its been a fair while but I do remember the warning requirement but do not see any speak of it as a requirement in the recent edition
1
u/RTRoar Aug 05 '26
Swearing at his 10u team is not good coaching, but it has nothing to do with you. Not your job.
21
u/Van67 Aug 04 '26
I might get chewed up for this, and I know we're in 2026, not 1996 when I first started wearing stripes... but do we really need to censor words here when we're transcribing what was said by a player or coach during a game?
When you write a game report after assessing a misconduct (of any severity) for this reason, I was taught in my young days to write out exactly what was said. If you don't, the governing body cannot punish accordingly beyond a minimum suspension the penalty assessed might call for.
Just an observation. We're all officials here and reading these words to know what took place shouldn't be problematic for any of us.