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A Toronto girls hockey league has told coaches they cannot touch players on the bench — not even on their helmets — in a zero-tolerance policy that critics say may be doing more harm than good.

Following a complaint about a congratulations doled out by a volunteer parent, the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association this week sent coaches an email noting restrictions on when men can be in dressing rooms, a ban on social media interactions, and strict rules regarding email communication.

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“On bench behaviour – under no circumstances should there be contact with the players, in any way,” reads the email from John Reynolds, who runs the house league. “Putting hands on shoulders, slapping butts, tapping them on the helmet, NOTHING, this can make some of the girls uncomfortable and you won’t know which ones, so no contact, period.”

Dr. Michael Ungar, a Dalhousie University social work professor, said a question of reasonableness has instead become a zero tolerance policy.