ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO DRIVE DOWN PRICES TO A FAIR LEVEL

The oil companies are stating that the prices at the pump reflect the market prices. We all know that market prices are set at what the market will bear. In other words, all oil companies are competing with each other, so they all want their prices to be competitive in order to retain their share of the market.

The email strategy, which was apparently put forward by a retired Coca Cola executive suggests that drivers boycott ONE COMPANY ONLY. 

In other words, select a company like Petro Canada which has 1500 retail locations across the country sells 68 million gallons of gasoline each day. If there was a movement across the entire country to begin boycotting Petro Canada ONLY, then before long Petro Canada would be forced to lower its prices in order to draw back its share of the market. It wouldn't take long for this to happen if all of a sudden 68 million gallons of gasoline per day started to back up on the company. Where would they store the product?

Once Petro Canada lowered the price, others would follow suit. If the drop in price was not significant, then the boycott would continue until it reached what experts feel would be a fair price - somewhere in the 90 cent per litre range.

Proponents of the strategy are suggesting that drivers begin this campaign on June 1.

With few exceptions the ATV has become the greatest menace to the bush and trails in and around the City of Greater Sudbury. Their large lugged tires tear up trails creating deep ruts where water collects and create mud holes. Once they can no longer go through these ruts, they start new ones. Creek and river banks are eroded by the passage of the ATV and the water ways through which they travel become polluted. The ATV's ability to travel further into the bush has resulted in new areas in which dumping can occur. No property, public or private, signed or unsigned, fenced or not fenced, is safe from some of the fools that ride these things. Many of the trails, paths and off road byways used for years by walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists, and even horses, have been rendered unsafe and unpleasant by the ATV. Land that does not become a mud hole becomes a desert as the top soil is torn off allowing large plumes of dust to engulf those who are trying to enjoy more environmentally friendly activities. For the half dozen or so sensible, safe, and legal operators of these machines, I feel sorry for you. Technology has outstripped society's and the environment's ability to handle you and through the selfish, inconsiderate actions of others that obey no laws regardless if they are on the street or on a trail, it is time the ATVs are banned. If you want to ride your ATV then it must be taken to a place that is set up for your use alone, where the dust and noise you create bothers no one. If you say there are no such places, then you have to build them.

The popular musical comedy "Nunsense" is the groups Spring 2007 production.

This production will be presented at Ecole Secondaire Hanmer/Hanmer Secondary School, 480 Notre Dame, Hanmer on 26,27 & 28 April and again on 3 & 5 May with the Gala performance on 5 May 2007. Each
performance will commence at 7:0 pm each evening. Tickets are $10 and $12 for the Gala performance and available from Popcorn Video and Valley Plaza Pharmasave in the Hanmer Mall, and Rexall Pharmacy, ValCaron & Caise Populaire in Hanmer, or at the door if vacancies are available on the night.

Like every production presented by Valley Community Theatre "Nunsense" promises to be a great night of entertainment at a bargain price. All residents should support Valley Community Theatre and similar groups. They give our citizens the opportunity to demonstrate their talents as well as an entry into the theatre arts and entertainment fields that otherwise
might be blocked to them.

Reg Couldridge

I was reading one of the story you have about a referee in hockey(see the article below), and having to deal with verbal abuse from parents and coach's and sometimes kids. 

You know I think the swearing issue is getting worse, as years go on. Parents go to hockey games and many yell and swear at coach's, referee's and sometimes spectators. Hockey is supposed to be a sport to have fun and meet new people. I guess a lot of these problems originate from watching professional hockey players behave and play. 

I hear young girls and guys around 11 to 17 years of age, that hang around our confectionary store. They stand outside and talk to their friends and the language that comes out of their mouth is frightful. I guess they think its cool, because some of them probably hear at home. Or they feel powerful if they swear a lot, and do it loud so everyone can hear them. 

Don't get me wrong not all kids talk this way, but the ones that do - it is very disturbing. And this new young generation we have now: some have no respect for anyone. If you look at them the wrong way, they swear at you with every second word. It does not bother me, if they have different hair do's or wear different clothes or earrings and tattoos everywhere, that's their own personal choice. We all had our own style even when we were young. But the swearing and disrespecting people has to change. 

How do parents help their kids change this awful behavior. And some parents don't believe that their child is capable in behaving in such a rational behavior. Don't get me wrong my kid was no angel in her younger days, but I always tried to guide her in the right direction. And she was also disciplined when she spoke in this type of language or disrespected someone. 

These days you need two parents working to survive and this is very hard when raising children. 

The big question is HOW DO WE HELP CHANGE THESE AWFUL BEHAVIORS?

I took some time off work to do some games on Friday. I took some time away from my kids on Saturday and even again on Sunday.  

Now why would I do that? The money, for the fame and notoriety?  Or to take the abuse that people have come to think as acceptable behaviour.  

This weekend the calibre of games varied from house league to peewee A. and for those coaches out there that do it right I congratulate you.  At the beginning of the tournament one of the coaches pulled me aside and asked me the style of officiating in our area.  Was it by the book? or do we let them play.  I asked him what difference it was going to be to him, would it change his style of coaching?  No he stated, the Ref's style just influences the number of pills he had to take.  He was kidding.  He was just looking for an edge in the game.  He wanted to know if he could push his kids a little more or if he had to spend his time teaching them to stay out of the box.  For the most part the officials in this area are a good combination of the enforcement of the rules and letting them play.  And letting them play has become much easier in the last month or so as the players have caught on to skating faster rather than hooking with the stick.
   
What has got me upset enough to write about is the relationship between coaches and officials, was a game on the weekend.  Let me set up the scenario, Sunday morning 8 am -32 out side a balmy -25 inside.  Home town crowd packing it in (maybe 10 parents) and the local team vs. an out of town team.  On the ice for a Pee Wee house league game - three senior officials with 60 plus years of experience. over kill maybe but gave the coaches no way to complain right!  I live in a dream world I know.  The puck drops and the mouths open.  This coach questioned everything the linesmen where doing.  When he got no response, he resorted to name calling and eventually swearing.  It took all of 30 seconds for him to go from polite to over the top.  As the Ref I went over to his bench and called him down from his throne that allows the coach to look down on his humble servants.  I tried to explain that this kind of language  would not be tolerated and that he needs to calm down. I did not want to have to give him a bench minor.  He starts talking to me like I am a child and says "show me where I can't use profane language in the rule book or in the tournament rules".  Is he kidding.  Does he think I am an idiot.  I dinged him for two.  just for being an idiot.  I had no hope that my actions would calm him down.  He just irritated me with his stupidity.  But for the moment he stopped.  The assistant coach did however, start talking to me and started off by saying first" I know we are playing the host team and they are going to get the game called in their favour but do you mind explaining to me why you gave us a bench for swearing.  When I read the tournament rules it did not state that we could not do this."  I can't say what I was thinking.  

Ever just want to call a spade a Spade.  In almost every game I do take abuse.  From the fans from the coaches and to some degree the kids but only because the Adults have paved there way. On Monday night I did a game between some bantam boys house league and their moms, one of the many women's teams in our area. The coach of the boys team is a known yapper, but he cries and hides.  He doesn't think we know it is him until he gets a bench penalty.  Anyway during this fun game I realized he does have some ability as a coach. he was not worried about what I was doing on the ice he concentrated on his kids.  After the game I asked him what he thought and he said that was the most fun he had, at a hockey game in a long time. He forgot about what I was doing and concentrated on his team, and that was the most fun he had, makes you think doesn't it.  

In the same age group but in "A" or Rep calibre we have this coach who I know does not like my style of officiating.  But only two people know of his discontent. He and I.  He has chosen to coach his team on the ice and not worry about what I do.  He doesn't blame me for penalties and he tells his players, if you hadn't pushed him after the whistle you would still be on the ice.  But in an appropriate setting he has no problem re-living every call I made and questioning my motives.  Like I said only two of us know about how much he dislikes me on the ice.     

Now tell me people. Do you really believe the reason we have officials on the ice is so you have an out let to vent your anger?  You can't believe that swearing is okay in minor hockey.  It is not tolerated in most work environments why would it be acceptable in a kids sport.  WE Must change are way of thinking before more people are hurt in a hockey game.  A ref falls, the crowd cheers.  A puck gets caught in a Ref's skate the crowd yells.  The ref blows the whistle on a close off side the crowd screams, if he waves the same play off the crowd screams for an off side.  No matter what our call is we cause rational people to scream and carry on like animals.  So why do it.  Why put my self in this situation.  Why allow my 4 year old to play a game that breeds violence and abuse.  After a tournament weekend you have to wonder is the exercise worth it, time away from my family worth it. I have a very hard time justifying it.

So why allow my 4 year old to play.  I look back at my hockey career and I can remember so many great things, the coaches, the players and even some of the parents.  The people I met through playing, I am friends with some of them today.  So why let my son play.  Well he is a 4 year old sports addict.  I introduced him to skating as soon as he could walk, I bought him a hockey stick so we could pass a puck. Now because he asks me to play, we play hockey inside or outside every day. For his birthday he wanted a hockey net and goalie stick.  For Christmas he wanted a goalie mask and pads.  He can not wait for the weekend so we can go to hockey.  He loves it.  He wants to be a Referee when he is bigger.  (he still thinks I am cool).  As a four year old he is making friends with kids from different communities, from different schools and with different languages.  SO why let him play knowing what I know about parents and coaches once kids grow out of Tim Bits.  Because I will speak up and let others know, let the parents & coaches know that it is not acceptable to scream and abuse the young and old officials on the ice.  Speak Out. 

David-Sean Rowell
Hockey Parent & Referee

It has been two years since I left the coaching ranks of minor hockey. Watching the Hockey Day in Canada event on television recently and seeing some of the great features presented throughout the day on the game’s volunteers had me reflecting on my own experiences as a minor hockey coach, and to ask the question “Why does an individual volunteer to coach minor hockey (sports)?”

So why does one want to coach minor hockey? There are a many valuable reasons why one wants to be a minor hockey coach:

·        Working with children and young adults

·        To teach what you have learned from playing and being associated the game

·        To stay involve and give back to the game, what it gave to you

·        For the sheer love of this great sport

These are just a few and each of us I’m sure has many other reasons why we want to coach minor hockey. I first decided to coach when my son was old enough to register for hockey 10 years ago. I had been associated with the sport for virtually my entire life in one capacity or another. I felt I had a solid background to teach the game being a former Junior, College and Senior player, and as an administrator of many minor sports program with my background as a Recreation Practitioner where I had seen many coaches handle, and perhaps not handle, the pitfalls that can come with coaching minor sports. 

Yes I heard horror stories from individuals who coached about the problems that can occur from the parents of the kids you coach. Perhaps naïve I felt with my background and that fact I was seen as diplomatic in my professional life would be more than enough tools to combat the worse scenarios that might occur. So yes I was “ready” to tackle the ranks of a minor hockey coach 

Those first three years as a “Pre- Novice” (5, 6 & 7 yr olds) coach were great. Just like I thought they would be or even better. I seemed to have the right demeanor and the program I had established was solid. Everyone loved “Coach” and I could do no wrong. Next level is Sr. Novice (8& 9). Teams are now divided into an “A” and “B” traveling team and 4 house league teams. 

Coaches go through an interview process and players are evaluated and placed on teams based on their skill. A small perception is beginning to be established among some parents who hint that players are selected for teams because of who their parents know. I coach the “B” team and, unlike the “A” team, there are some expectations but nothing grand. Parents hope their kids learn and develop and perhaps win a few games in the process. Well the team surpasses expectations to have a great year and ultimately win the league championship. “Coach” is a miracle worker, an asset to the organization, the next Scotty Bowman, and can do no wrong. That year I receive our association’s Coach of the Year award. Now in the back of my mind I think it was Don Cherry that said receiving the Coach of the Year was the kiss of death. Anyway let’s continue. 

The following year my son evaluates to the Novice “A” team and subsequently I am interviewed for the head coach of that team. I am successful but not without some negative backlash as to why I was selected over another individual.  

Parent’s expectations are higher than the previous year because we are now the “A” team and the “A” means better. League play is tough and we are challenged talent wise compared to other centers. The team steadily improves but do not make the playoffs. However the club has a successful year-end tournament run winning two A side championships and coming in second in the final tournament. The season is salvaged somewhat but my “jolly good fellow” tag has diminished.  

The next year sees the age categories change and therefore my son is now in his first and final year of Atom. He again evaluates and is placed on the Atom “A” team and again I interview for head coach of that team against the same person from a year ago, ending in the same results. Expectations from parents increase further as the next year will be Pee Wee and “AA” hockey and I better get these kids ready. 

The team that I have is fairly similar to the previous year with two or three changes, and play against virtually the same group of kids from a year ago, and again are challenged talent wise. Once again we come short of making the playoffs but have some success in tournament play and qualify for the provincial Atom “A” Provincial tournament. 

Knowing we are headed for the provincial finals I begin to make some adjustments, moving players from defense to forward and vice versa and experiment with special teams, as we know the competition will be tough. Some parents are angry and tell me I am setting up their kids for failure. Nonetheless we have a solid provincial championship and lose in the semi finals. A decent finish to a tough season! “Coach” still has his supporters but some parents are not happy with losing and question our talent level, and my coaching abilities. The “jolly good fellow” tag is gone. 

The next season is Pee Wee, and the beginning of “AA” hockey. Coach selections are done in the summer, as coaches are now responsible to pick the entire team. I am again in competition with the same guy over the last two years and again awarded the head coach job. 

Try outs commence and “oddly” enough I regain my title as “ jolly good fellow” for awhile and everybody wants to talk to me…hmmm. The offers to buy me coffees and hot dogs have never been greater, that is until my final player selections are made. From that point on I am “public enemy number one”. 

I receive scathing and attacking letters and phone calls. I have “ruined the lives and careers of several 11 and 12 year old boys”, so I am told. As the year moves on it is very apparent our talent level does not stack up against the large centers and our team struggles. Parents become disillusioned with high-end hockey and some feel we should not be playing at this level at all. Others blame me entirely with one parent pulling his boy because I did not pick the right players for his son to be successful with. I have discipline problems with some kids and the year is very tough. 

I do not only lose the title of “jolly good fellow” for good, I lose friends (or so I thought they were friends) and acquaintances because I did not select their child, and because of our record. As well my wife and son are looked down upon from some of these people. 

I consider packing it in after the year but really still love coaching and do not want it to end like this. So I re-apply for the same position the next year and this time I am unattested. The try out numbers are very low and the quality of kids to choose from is very thin. 

Knowing this will likely be my last year I bring on some young non-parent assistant coaches to mentor with the hopes they will continue on and add a fresh perspective. We are more competitive than the previous year and there is potential to win more games, but for that to occur the bench, at times, may have to be shortened, right or wrong. 

The games are won but the outcry begins. The dreaded parent meeting with the coach and association occurs and the end result is winning is now not important and equal ice time is. I can live with that if they (parents) can. 

Well we go on a miserable losing streak that virtually knocks us out of the playoffs by Christmas. Some parents are again angry about the losing. We have another player that quits because the level of players on the team is not “good enough”, along with the coaching, for their son to achieve success. The year is almost worse than the previous and it is certain that I have coached my last season… for a while anyway.

I suppose reading about my experience one might think this is sour grapes on my part and I deserved the outcome. I guess I still harbor some ill feelings and have some regrets of friendships lost or at the very least substantially tarnished, and from other individuals that I had never known, period, that will forever despise me because I was either selected as a coach over them or had to cut their kid in the process of selecting my team. 

It is these outcomes that I feel no volunteer, coach or otherwise, deserves to ever have happen to them. However I have also come to understand if you are going to put your neck out you have to expect people will try to chop it off. As a volunteer coach you must understand parents will question things you do and probably have some right in doing that in today’s world. Non-parent coaches can shrug this aside because they usually have no past history with the parents or players. However a parent coach likely knows a number of these people through school functions etc. and it then becomes harder, or more uncomfortable, to deal with. 

It is not my intent to scare individuals away from coaching, but to have them understand the evolution that usually occurs. More times than not my story is similar to many others. So what can you do to avoid some of these potential pitfalls? Probably nothing. They are part of what one has to endure as a volunteer coach. 

However to minimize what will no doubt eventually take place, consider the following if you want to coach minor hockey (or minor sports in general).

• If you are going to be head coach of your own child’s team consider not going past Atom (9 and 10 yr old) or at least into Pee Wee “AA” or higher. Your integrity as a parent coach will be scrutinized over and over at this level or higher. Usually at the lower levels, the association’s evaluators primarily do the selection process for you. So basically you do not have to make the “tough decisions” regarding player selections and this is probably the most contentious issue as a parent coach…or coach period.
    
• Coach a team your child is not on, or offer to no more than assist the team he or she is on. If you truly love coaching and want to be the head coach you will have a better chance of survival by doing this. If you feel you can’t do this because of conflicts in your child’s schedule versus the team you may be coaching, then step away for a few years or take a different role on your child’s team (manager, trainer etc). If you love coaching there will always be a team to coach once your children have passed through the system
    
• Understand that you are going to have conflicts, especially at the high-end levels. By simply ignoring this and thinking “not me” will only certainly come back to bite you in the back end. Talk to past coaches and really investigate how to manage through the parent pitfalls.
    
• Check with your association to see what measures they have in place to combat parent “abuse” and other support features they offer coaches. Plain and simple if your association has no plan for this you as a coach are in a no win situation

One final note is to not take yourself or your position too seriously. Yes it is a huge responsibility to coach children and the parents do deserve a committed and trained individual who is always prepared at practice and games. However we all have to remember it is still a game or recreation pursuit. The cream eventually rises to the top regardless of coaching or success of a particular team. You can assist that process as a coach but understand it is the player…and fortunately or unfortunately his/her parent, who will eventually determine their own destiny in hockey. 

Oh yes will I coach again? I would like to but likely in an assistant position as I think my experience, and what I have experienced would be more beneficial for supporting a head coach…. and I would still get to work with the kids!

Jim Racette
Okotoks , AB
 

Comments I have heard include: " I could take a couple of hours to ref a game but 2 days is too much."  

I may have a solution.  In Alberta we have a Petroleum Safety Training program that could be a model for training officials.  I propose that an internet course be offered that the participant could complete in their own time and when completed a certificate could be printed.  The participant could then enroll in an on-ice session to complete the officiating training for 2-3 hours.  

This would free up instructors as well so that more sessions could be offered.  Just a technological advance that may serve us in gaining some numbers.
 
Brett Marple, Fox Creek, Alberta

Hi After the Whistle,

I’m an IIHF level 3 referee in the UK and thought I would share one of my worst game experiences with you.

Well it all started when I was refereeing a U14’s South Group A game in Cardiff , Wales.  It was a close game until mid 2^nd period when the home side started taking silly penalties. Things started to get a little heated as the home side lost their 1 goal disadvantage and increased it to a 3 goal one. Play was in their defending zone and an attacking player had the puck. As he went to pass it, a defending player trying to gain control twisted and fell.

Now to me it was easy to see the player in question wasn’t getting up in a hurry but wasn’t badly injured, so I let play continue as the home team had possession. The player in question had to be helped from the ice by his coach. There was no problem at this time because the player was not from the home side and the home team was able to continue with the play.

Later on in the game the home side was on a 5 on 3 play and sure enough were dominating play with the 2 man advantage.

As they were breaking out of the their defending zone an away player skated hard and tripped hitting his head hard on the boards. Now there was no plenty to call as I’m sure there is no tripping plenty for tripping yourself. The player hit the boards with such force you heard it all over the rink. It was obvious to everyone that this player had done himself a serious injury. Even though the home team had possession of the puck and the injured player was from the visiting side, I stopped the play immediately because I suspected a serious injury.

The home coach went mental and started shouting all sorts of things across the ice.

He then picked up an ice pack and threw it across the ice to which I had to duck to avoid.

Now I know we all get a little annoyed at times but to lose it that much who knows why, especially when he had gained an advantage earlier from his player falling badly.

I had no choice but to assess him a Match penalty for Abuse of Officials. The problem was he went even more mental and on his way off the bench threw a chair on the ice as well. In the end he had to be ejected from the building by rink staff - not much of an example to kids really.

In his defence to the league he said “play should never be stopped for an injury”;

Now don’t know which rule book he’s read but the IIHF 2006-2010 one says different.

 416 - INJURED PLAYERS

a) If a player is injured and cannot continue to play or go to the bench, the play shall  continue until his team has secured possession of the puck, unless any team is in an immediate scoring position.

b) If a player other than the goalkeeper is injured or compelled to leave the ice during the game, he may retire and be replaced by a substitute, but play shall continue without the teams leaving the ice.

c) If a penalized player has been injured he may proceed to the dressing room, and if he has been assessed a Minor, Major or Match penalty, the penalized team shall immediately put a substitute player on the penalty bench who shall serve the penalty without change, except by the injured penalized player if he is able to return.

d) The injured penalized player shall not be eligible to play until his penalty has expired.

e) If an injured player returns to play before his penalty has expired, the Referee shall assess additionally to this player a:

➤ Minor penalty (2’)

➤ 1. If it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or the Linesman shall stop the play immediately.

➤2. When play has been stopped due to an injured player, excluding the goalkeeper, the injured player shall leave the ice and shall not return to the ice until after play has resumed.

So not only was I correct in my 1^st call to let play continue until they gained possession. But I was correct in my 2^nd call in that not only had the player sustained a serious Injury, they were in a scoring position.

If anything is going to come out of this it’s maybe that before players, coaches and fans go mental at us referee’s maybe they should spend a little time and study the rules. Yes we make mistakes but we are only human but I’m the 1^st person to admit when I’m wrong so maybe they should to.

Happy hockey and lets all work together to a cleaner more fun game for players, fans and us officials

Adrian Neilly
Cardiff UK

However, if you take the following test, you may be surprised at the results.

Try to read the following sentences. Once you get by the first sentence, look at how easy it is to read the rest.

As a career educator, I would never accept anything like this from one of my students, but I also took care to pay more attention to "what a child was saying in his/her writing" than the technical part of the product. I believe that you can teach a person how to spell, but it takes a special skill to be able to express what you are feeling. That is communication and this exercise proves just what is most important.