From the Dressing Room to the Boardroom: A Change Management Game Plan for Tackling Bullying and Maltreatment in Minor Hockey

Minor hockey is more than just goals and assists — it’s where kids build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. But when bullying or maltreatment goes unchecked, it threatens everything our sport stands for.

For hockey associations looking to make real change, implementing new bullying and maltreatment strategies isn’t just a policy update — it’s a cultural shift. That’s where change management comes in. By understanding the psychology behind change, we can create environments where safety, respect, and accountability are the norm — not the exception.

Here’s how your association can lead that change — and make it stick.

🧠 Why Change is Hard — and How to Make It Easier

Change feels risky. It means rethinking old habits, confronting uncomfortable truths, and stepping into the unknown. That’s why successful change requires more than just rules — it requires empathy, leadership, and consistent follow-through.

🎯 Your Game Plan: Five Core Strategies for Change

1. Communicate Clearly and Consistently

✅ Be Transparent: Clearly explain why bullying/maltreatment strategies are being introduced. Tie it back to core values: safety, respect, player well-being.

✅ Create Two-Way Dialogue: Hold forums, surveys, or team meetings where coaches, parents, and youth can ask questions and voice concerns.

✅ Be Visible: Post your Code of Conduct in arenas and on your website. Use team chats, newsletters, and meetings to reinforce expectations.

🧩 Hockey Tip: Use real-life stories (anonymized) to highlight why these changes matter. Stories create empathy and connection.

2. Lead by Example — From the Top Down

✅ Board and Coaches First: Everyone from board members to assistant coaches should be trained and actively demonstrate respectful behavior.

✅ Create a Youth Liaison Role: Empower a trusted young adult or older teen to serve as a bridge between youth and adults — someone who understands the locker room and the leadership team.

✅ Make Leadership Visible: Attend games and team events. Don’t just talk the talk — show you’re walking it, too.

🧩 Hockey Tip: Have your Youth Liaison speak at team orientations. Their presence normalizes youth voice and shows you mean business.

3. Foster a Culture that Embraces Growth

✅ Celebrate Adaptation: Praise and recognize players, coaches, or parents who model respectful behavior or resolve conflicts well.

✅ Make Space for Learning: Normalize mistakes — we’re not perfect. Build a culture where learning is the goal, not punishment.

✅ Encourage Open-Mindedness: Frame the new strategy as a way to grow and improve — not a reaction to “bad kids.”

🧩 Hockey Tip: Introduce a “Team Respect Champion” monthly award — chosen by peers, not adults.

4. Reinforce with Resources and Recognition

✅ Progressive Remediation Framework: Build a clear, step-by-step approach that escalates based on severity and repetition.

📊 Sample Remediation Ladder:

Level Action Who Handles It Notes

1 Reminder of behavior expectations Coach/Team Manager First-time, minor incident

2 Youth Liaison-led conversation Liaison + Parent + Board Rep Restorative focus

3 Temporary consequence (e.g. practice suspension) Disciplinary Committee Documented and transparent

4 Escalation to governing body or permanent removal Association Leadership For severe or repeated violations

✅ Provide Training and Tools: Make sure your staff, volunteers, and coaches know how to implement the strategy — not just that they should.

✅ Celebrate Small Wins: Highlight teams or age groups that show improvement in culture or safety.

🧩 Hockey Tip: Include your Youth Liaison in training sessions. They bring real insight and credibility.

5. Address Resistance with Empathy, Not Authority

✅ Identify the “Why” Behind Pushback: Is it fear of looking weak? Confusion about the rules? Misunderstanding youth behavior?

✅ Create Safe Feedback Channels: Let people ask “the tough questions” without judgment.

✅ Include All Stakeholders in Decisions: When youth, coaches, and parents are part of the solution, they’re more likely to support it.

🧩 Hockey Tip: Use “locker room listening sessions” led by the Youth Liaison — casual, informal spaces where kids can talk openly.