Most have witnessed ‘rink rage’ at minor hockey games: poll
Posted March 5, 2015 4:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
About half of Canadians surveyed have seen someone swearing at or berating a child playing minor hockey, according to a new poll released by the Angus Reid Institute.
That number goes up if you include “rink rage” directed at a referee at a kids’ game — in which case nine in 10 youth hockey fans say verbally abusive spectators are a “serious” problem for the sport.
Dr. Beth McCharles, a sports psychologist, told 680News that rink rage happens because sometimes parents aren’t educated on how to get the best out of their kids.
“They get caught up in the playoff games or a close match and tend to bring it out and that’s their release of their frustrations or their excitement, not understanding that they could actually be doing damage to their own son or daughter,” McCharles said.
Some key findings from the poll:
- 59 per cent have witnessed angry parents berating referees at least once in the past couple of years.
- 49 per cent have seen hockey-playing kids on the receiving end of this behaviour.
- 87 per cent say that adults using inappropriate language and berating kids or referees is “a serious issue.”
Below are the full poll results:
For the purpose of the Angus Reid Forum survey, “fans” polled include anyone who has attended at least one organized hockey game for children or youth aged five to 16 within the past two years.
Click below for the full interview with Dr. Beth McCharles:
