“The guys will always come before us”

Being told to go back to their cauldrons or being used as placeholders in assignments: female referees denounce the additional difficulties they face in this already difficult environment.

It is not difficult for a woman to get started in refereeing, but sometimes progressing and fully developing her potential is a feat in traditionally male sports.

For some, who requested anonymity so as not to suffer reprisals, the insults heard are nothing compared to the ignorance shown by certain men responsible for assigning high-calibre matches.

“Unfortunately, the guys will always come before us, believes one of them. A lot of guys tell me that there are referees who don’t belong on certain calibers, whereas me and other girls could do it. Sometimes guys will be prioritized even though they don’t necessarily have the talent. We have become stopgap when no guy is available.

However, several of her daughters work within the women’s college and university circuits. But they would like to have experiences in AAA caliber, in addition to the best school categories, whose matches are assigned by regional referees.

“What offended me was that the only times I did this kind of caliber was because I had to help out at the last minute because I lived across from the arena, because there was a snow storm or because a referee is injured. It lowers my self-esteem, it makes me doubt myself, ”says a hockey official.

“I’ve done a men’s varsity game before. They are men! At some point, it hit me in the face, but I didn’t even have to physically intervene, I just spoke and that was enough. The guys even apologized!” she adds.

She thinks about giving up

Another referee claimed that matches had been canceled despite the fact that she was available. The newspaper however, was unable to verify this information.

Unfortunately, this young woman is so discouraged by the situation that she is thinking of dropping her whistle.

At Hockey Quebec, the director of management and officials, Dave Leclerc, admits having heard of this problem.

“Could it be that a head referee assigns fewer girls? Yes, it can happen, he admits. But we try to manage them well. There is no sexism at Hockey Quebec. The girls are prioritized at the provincial level, but we can arrange to release them if necessary.

girls, that cruise and it cries

Sexist comments are not uncommon in the world of officiating, according to a research report on the experiences of young Quebec officials filed in April 2021.

“They don’t see what’s going on, they let one pass, because they find that the guy is there cute“, told a referee to the team of Professor Sylvie Parent, from Laval University.

Another official had observed that male coaches spoke with her differently than with her male counterparts, being told: “I’m going to stop because I don’t want to make you cry”.

Less worse in the pros

Among the professionals, the top men’s leagues in football (NFL), soccer (MLS) and basketball (NBA) have had female officials for about eight years.

On the Quebec side, Elizabeth Mantha referees American Hockey League games while Marie-Soleil Beaudoin and Myriam Marcotte work in the Canadian Premier League and will be at the Women’s Soccer World Cup this summer.

No matter the caliber, there will always be blubbering, but M^me Beaudoin maintains that at the international and professional levels, she doesn’t hear personal insults, unlike a kids game when the parents are nearby.

“Professional athletes know there is a camera not far away, adds M^me Marcotte. They also have a greater understanding of our role. They know that we train and work hard to be there.