What do I do if a coach, player or parent abuses me?

Players and team officials: players and team officials must treat referees, linespersons and off-ice officials with courtesy at all times, and any infraction is reported to the Member or league, which may discipline under Section 11 (Rule 5.1 (b)). The referee's decision is final on all questions of judgement (Rule 5.1 (c)).

Penalties by type of conduct:

• Disputing a decision in an unsportsmanlike manner (Rule 11.1): Minor or Bench Minor penalty. If it persists, a Misconduct to a player or a Game Misconduct to a player or team official.
• Abusive conduct that attacks the official's character or integrity (Rule 11.2): Bench Minor to a team official or an unidentified player from the bench; Misconduct to a player; Game Misconduct to a player who persists and to any team official who uses abusive conduct to the referee or any person. A Gross Misconduct applies to conduct that makes a travesty of the game.
• Discriminatory taunts, insults or intimidation (Rule 11.4): Gross Misconduct, with a Game Incident Report.
• Spitting at or on a person (Rule 11.3): Match penalty, with a Game Incident Report.

For a Game Misconduct under Rule 11.1 or 11.2, the referee completes a Game Incident Report with full details and submits it to the Member or league delegate.

Parents and other spectators: the Playing Rules assess penalties to players and team officials. For an incident off the ice that no on-ice official or stand-by official saw, the referee reports it to the Member or league if a league official, team official or off-ice official reported it to them. If any other person (for example a fan or media) reported it, no further action is taken (Rule 4.1 Interpretation 2).

Source: Hockey Canada Playing Rules 2026-2028, Rules 5.1, 11.1 to 11.4 and 4.1. https://cdn.hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Hockey-Programs/Officiating/Downloads/2026-28-hc-rulebook-e.pdf