This petition is a call for USA Hockey and Safe Sport to stand up for what is right. We are not alone in this, many children in this sport endure more bullying than in any other sport. It is widely dismissed because of the competitive and aggressive nature of ice hockey. But there is a huge difference being competitive, aggressive and a little teasing here and there. A tough coach fine, the more attention my child gets the better. But an abusive coach, there is no place in youth sports for that. A coach sets the tone for the team, if you find no value in a player neither will the other players. You are only as strong as your weakest link. Right…. Instead of teach the team to resent a “weak” player teach them to help find their strength. Work as a team.
USA hockey and safe sport (all ice hockey’s governing bodies) need to stand up and start enforcing the rules and codes of conduct. Organizations need to stop covering up their mistakes, take accountability for abusive coaches and take care of their children. We do not want to call out the organizations, but i hope one day they will look and see just what they have done and ask themselves was it worth it. To me even the sacrifice of one child is one child to many.