HOCKEY PEI INTRODUCES GREEN ARMBAND INITIATIVE AHEAD OF 2025-26 SEASON
- Hockey PEI
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 20 minutes ago
by Hockey PEI Communications // @HockeyPEI // September 21st, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE - Hockey PEI and its Officiating Committee are excited to introduce the Green Armband Initiative for young officials for the 2025-26 season. Beginning this season, all on-ice officials under the age of 18 will wear a green armband as part of their officiating uniform. The initiative is designed to promote respect towards young officials and to discourage abuse by coaches, parents and players. This province-wide initiative has been successful in other hockey branches across the country and in other provincial sports organizations.
The green armband represents the idea that these officials are new to the officiating world in terms of their age and are learning and developing. Ultimately, the goal is to highlight that these are young officials providing a service to the game of hockey in a public space and should be respected in that role.
THE GOAL
This initiative will help support officials at the grassroots level, who, like the players on the ice, are learning their roles and developing a passion. Young officials should have the opportunity to work in a safe environment. This new initiative aims to eliminate abuse of officials from players, coaches, and fans. This will be achieved by educating everyone involved in the game that it is just that—a game—and that young officials are learning, developing and doing their best. Abuse and negative experiences for officials of all ages must stop.
THE ROLLOUT
Starting this season, all officials under 18 years of age will be provided with a green armband after attending their in-person certification clinic. Once all clinics have concluded in December, all officials will be required to wear their green armband for all levels of hockey.
Officials will wear the green armband on the same arm as their whistle hand, between the elbow and shoulder. For those also reffing at this age, they will wear one green armband on their whistle arm and a traditional red armband on their non-whistle arm. With more than 400 officials in Hockey PEI in this age category last season, the rollout and support within the minor hockey associations will be crucial to the education and success of the program and, ultimately, the experiences of the officials on the ice.
DISCIPLINE
As there have always been penalties and discipline for abuse of officials, the penalty for reported 11.1 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 11.2 Disrespectful and Abusive Behaviour, 11.4 Discrimination, and 11.5 Physical Harassment of Officials will double for players and coaches
who are penalized and reported under these rules when a green armband official is targeted or part of any game in all leagues. If any official is wearing a green arm band and the player or coach is removed from the game, the penalty is doubled. To review the suspension guidelines, you can go here: CLICK HERE.
WHAT CAN I DO?
When at a hockey game, and you see officials wearing green armbands, it is important to understand that this does not indicate a level of qualification or experience for an official; it simply indicates the age of the official and helps advocate to the hockey community to recognize that the officials working that game are young officials—someone’s child or sibling. Educate others on the Green Armband Initiative and the meaning behind the symbol of the green armbands. Understand that although yelling at officials was often common practice, we need to change this mindset and the actions behind it. Recognize that there is a person wearing that jersey, someone who has been training to develop and keep the game as safe and fair as possible for all participants. Share the idea that we need the adults in the rinks to act like adults and let the kids enjoy the game they are playing and officiating. As is often the case, young officials aren’t comfortable or familiar with how to handle situations of abuse during a game. This is where you can help by reporting these situations to the local.
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