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 | Parents of school-age hockey players and other child athletes must uphold a code of behavior, especially when they attend games and practices. The Canadian Hockey Association says that setting a good example for kids — being a role model — is important, and it sets forth a series of "do's" that parents and guardians of youth participants should follow: |
- Make sure that your child gets to all sports activities on time.
- Provide and maintain required sports equipment.
- Help your child get ready for practices and games.
- Let coaches or other team leaders know if your child will be absent or you change your pickup arrangements.
- Maintain a positive attitude toward the sport and every athlete's participation in it.
- Make sure that the sports organization has effective harassment, sexual abuse, and screening policies for coaches and officials in place.
- Let the leaders of your sports organization know of any concerns you may have.
- Conduct yourself in a way that promotes fair play.
You're outta here! Undesirable behavior
 | Be prepared, the CHA says, for officials or organizers of your youth sports organization to ask you to leave a facility if you engage in any of the following inappropriate behavior: |
- Insulting athletes or officials (for example, name-calling and put-downs)
- Arguing or yelling at officials
- Suggesting or encouraging aggressive or "dirty" play
- Criticizing an athlete too harshly, causing the athlete unnecessary or unhealthy stress
- Using physical force or threatening force against another person
- Engaging in any type of harassment
Kids just wanna have fun
 | Finally, how can parents make hockey fun for their children? The CHA suggests the following relatively simple but important guidelines: |
- Be positive and supportive.
- Be available and show interest in what they are doing; remember, parents are the most important and influential people in kids' lives.
- Play hockey with them — on the pond, in the driveway.
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