Concerns

The Leaside Hockey Association (LHA) is committed to treating all of our members with respect and consideration. Despite our best efforts, we recognize that there may occasionally be circumstances where members feel that they or their child(ren) have been treated unfairly. In those circumstances we encourage members to:

• raise their concerns first with the head coach of their child’s team;
• elevate the concern to the Vice President of the relevant division (Hockey School/House League, Select, GTHL) if it is not resolved to the member’s satisfaction; and
• further elevate the concern to the President of the LHA if, after speaking with the relevant division VP, the concern remains unresolved.

It is important to address concerns quickly. However, like most youth sports, hockey is an emotional game. If the concern arises in the context of a game or practice situation, we encourage parents to follow the “24 hour rule”, and wait 24 hours before raising their concerns with the head coach of their child’s team. This cooling off period will allow emotions to subside, which will promote a constructive discussion.

Concerns relating to officials should be submitted in writing by email to the LHA Referee in Chief.

If you have any questions about this process please contact the President of the LHA.

Discipline

The LHA has a broad mandate to ensure the safety of its members, and to ensure that they are treated respectfully and in accordance with the rules of the game and the LHA Code of Conduct.

If a member (player, parent, coaching staff) acts in a manner inconsistent with the LHA Code of Conduct, the LHA Board may, at its sole discretion, convene an ad hoc disciplinary committee to investigate the incident, and to implement sanctions where appropriate. Where an investigation is commenced, the disciplinary committee will interview relevant participants including the member whose conduct is at issue, and will issue a written decision describing the nature of the complaint, the committee’s conclusions, and the sanctions to be imposed (if any).

The affected member may appeal the decision of the disciplinary committee to the LHA Board of Directors by sending an email to the President of the LHA requesting an appeal within five (5) business days of the date of the decision. The appeal will be heard at a time and place to be determined by the Board, usually the next Board meeting following receipt of the complaint unless circumstances warrant a more expedient appeal. After hearing from the affected member and any other participants the Board deems necessary, the Board may in its sole discretion uphold or vary the decision of the disciplinary committee in its sole discretion.

Appeals of the decision of the Board of Directors may be submitted in writing to the GTHL through its complaint resolution process which may be found at www.gthlcanada.com.

The LHA reserves the right to remove individuals from active involvement in association hockey where the safety and peace of mind of an LHA member may be at risk.

In furtherance of the Articles, Bylaws, Mission, Vision and Values of the Leaside Hockey Association (LHA), the following Code of Conduct has been adopted by the Association. This Code of Conduct applies to all LHA Members (including without limitation players, parents/guardians and coaches/team management, officials, volunteers, officers, directors and employees) participating in LHA activities.

The Members of the Association, as defined in the Bylaws include:

• Each player 18 years of age or older registered in the Association's Hockey School, House League, Seniors or GTHL hockey programme for the current hockey season;
• The parent or guardian having signed the registration application form for each player under the age of 18 registered in the Hockey School, House League, Seniors or GTHL hockey programme for the current hockey season;
• Officers, Directors of the Association and duly appointed convenors, coaches, managers and trainers registered in one of the above programmes for the current hockey season; and
• Such other persons as the Board of Directors may by resolution admit to membership.

Every member, by participating as a player, by enrolling her/his child or guardian in programs of the LHA, or by acting as a coach or member of any team management is required to act in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Code of Conduct. Any contravention may result in disciplinary action as determined by the Board, up to and including, suspension or revocation of membership and all associated rights and privileges.

Members and participants of the LHA shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the Mission, Vision and Values of the LHA, which include integrity, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, compassion, and fairness. During the course of all LHA activities and events, members and participants shall avoid behaviour which brings the LHA or the sport of hockey into disrepute, including but not limited to:

• Use of alcohol by minors and abusive use of alcohol by other members;
• Use of non-medical drugs;
• Use of abusive language; and
• Objectionable conduct.

In particular, Members and participants shall refrain from:

• Comments or behaviours, which are disrespectful, offensive, abusive, racist or sexist; and
• Behaviour which constitutes harassment, abuse or bullying.

Participants shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the Mission, Vision and Values of the LHA, which include integrity, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, compassion, and fairness. During the course of all LHA activities and events, participants shall:

• Make a commitment to their team to attend all practices, games, meetings, special events, and by playing to the best of their ability;
• Respect their coaches and team staff, and remember that coaches and team staff are volunteers providing participants with the opportunity to learn and play the game of hockey;
• Respect the safety of other participants by observing and following the rules of the game; and
• Respect officials and their decisions.

Parents and guardians shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the Mission, Vision and Values of the LHA, which include integrity, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, compassion, and fairness. During the course of all LHA activities and events, parents and guardians shall:

• Enroll their children for the pure enjoyment of the game and the opportunity to learn the skills of the sport;
• Recognize that at a hockey rink, their children’s development is in the hands of volunteers who are giving their time and energy for the sake of all participants;
• Respect the decisions of the coaches and team staff, whether at practice, special events, or during a game;
• Encourage their children to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility, profanity, verbal or physical violence;
• Never verbally abuse coaches, team staff or officials and remember that they have difficult jobs and not undermine them by contradicting, interfering, or questioning their character, motivation, or judgment in public;
• Acknowledge that they remain responsible, as parents and guardians, for the safety of their children while they are participating in LHA activities and will therefore do their part to protect and enhance the safety of their child and others; and
• Communicate concerns and attempt to resolve conflicts directly with the coaching staff before communicating with LHA officials.

Coaches and team staff shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the Mission, Vision and Values of the LHA, which include integrity, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, compassion, and fairness. During the course of all LHA activities and events, coaches and team staff shall:

• Be reasonable when scheduling games and practices, remembering that players have other interest and obligations;
• Teach players to play fairly and to respect the rules, officials, opponents and teammates;
• Remember that players play to have fun and must be encouraged to have confidence in themselves;
• Ensure that all players receive equal instruction, support and appropriate, fair playing time;
• Remember that participants need coaches and team staff they can respect;
• Be generous with praise and set a good example;
• Respect all participants and recognize that, as coaches and team staff, they are in a position of trust and power, and shall do nothing to take advantage of or abuse it;
• Be well prepared, adequately skilled and obtain training and certification as required by the Hockey Canada, Ontario Hockey Federation, Greater Toronto Hockey League, North York Hockey League and/or LHA as applicable;
• Refrain from ridiculing or yelling at players for making mistakes or for performing poorly;
• Refrain from addressing players of an opposing team except to provide positive encouragement or congratulations;
• Take reasonable steps to ensure that equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to their players;
• Cooperate with officials and address them and coaches of opposing teams only in a civilized and respectful tone;
• Encourage fair and open communication with parents and players and proactively address and seek to resolve all issues and conflicts directly with parents and players and report all material issues and conflicts to the appropriate LHA VP (i.e., VP GTHL,  VP Select or VP House League as  applicable); and
• Cooperate with coaches and team staff at all levels of competition within a given birth year with a view to the best interests of all LHA players of the birth year.

The Leaside Hockey Association is a non-profit, community based hockey organization which does not sell or trade personal information of any of its members for commercial gain.

Personal contact information of LHA members may only be used to assemble team lists and lists of executives for use in connection with communication concerning LHA activities.

Any member of the LHA who violates this policy by releasing personal information for any other or improper purpose including sale or trade for profit shall be subject to discipline by the LHA including, without limitation, expulsion from the LHA.

Click HERE to view Bylaw No. 4.