Referee using education to reduce abuse

A Sudbury hockey referee is teaching parents the rules to hockey to help curb the abuse officials endure on the ice.

Dan Draper, a referee-in-chief with Nickel City Hockey, said the amount of abuse refs are seeing from fans and players has increased over the years.

In a recent provincial study, about 90 per cent of referees said they have experienced some kind of abuse while working.

Draper said his league has decided to hold seminars for coaches, players and parents where the rules are explained.

"We explain some of the rules ... some of the situations that happen throughout the year and give them just a little bit of information on what refereeing is all about," Draper said.

Draper noted he is seeing an opposite trend with coaches in Sudbury. He said he believes they are becoming more respectful of the referees.