Ryan Maxwell (ryan.maxwell@dal.ca) @ 06/07/2025
Sports officials are an integral part of ensuring that the integrity of a game/match is played within the spirit and intent of the rules. A large part of this role involves experiencing and diffusing conflict; however, in recent years, there has been increased demand for officials, perhaps due to new officials leaving refereeing after abusive…
NoRefNoGame: The mental health costs of referee abuse in sports
A leading sport administrator, with over 3 decades of experience working with some of the biggest sport bodies in the country, says the kind of abuse faced by referees at all levels of sport in Canada has reached a “crisis” point that requires drastic measures. Johnny Misley, a former top official with Hockey Canada and…