A recently published study of our other colleagues (Canadian minor league hockey referees) conclude that: Referees are important for hockey safety and need to be appropriately supported; The Coach is the most responsible for managing on-ice safety Referees believe that an increased aggression can lead to injury and that rules need to be enforced more diligently; Referees recommend that a rigourous education about safety is needed to guide parents, coaches, and players to make hockey safer. The experience of the [632] referees surveyed is available here: http://bit.ly/yUSEKZ and the CBC report here: http://bit.ly/waQYrH. Read football or soccer instead of hockey and pitch instead of ice, and the above would apply to the various concerns expressed in the following threads: Angry Soccer Parent Editorial https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1880391 Odd situation / fan ejection (high school) https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1883789 Vetshak's "Throw the misbehaving parents out!" thread https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1832108 Wolves should start bullying refs, says Hunt https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1874750 Leeway for a Coach https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1866977 Bad Dreams About Refereeing https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1856821 stress on high level referees https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1853515