Reporting Unprofessional Refs

[HolyRider]

I attended the Mankato West v.s. Roch. Mayo game on Saturday and aside of the fact that the refs wanted to be the center of attention and kept stopping play (I can't wait until Pointstreak posts the boxscore, 20 plus penalties.) The ref swore at the kids as they were coming into the face-off circle with :30 seconds left in the game.

I know the kids were jawwing back and forth but then tell them to knock it off or send em off the ice. This ref decided swearing at them was a better idea. It was loud enough that everyone in that end of the arena heard it.

I am wondering if this is common for Refs to swear at the kids and I am blowing this out of proportion or if this is something that can and should be reported?

[newsguy35]

I attended the Mankato West v.s. Roch. Mayo game on Saturday and aside of the fact that the refs wanted to be the center of attention and kept stopping play (I can't wait until Pointstreak posts the boxscore, 20 plus penalties.) The ref swore at the kids as they were coming into the face-off circle with :30 seconds left in the game.

I know the kids were jawwing back and forth but then tell them to knock it off or send em off the ice. This ref decided swearing at them was a better idea. It was loud enough that everyone in that end of the arena heard it.

I am wondering if this is common for Refs to swear at the kids and I am blowing this out of proportion or if this is something that can and should be reported?

My first question would be: "Was the AD in attendance and did he/she hear it?" If the AD heard it, generally speaking, they will take it back to the supervisor of the association that the officials are from. I am not certain about a fan complaining but would guess that if you call the MSHSL that they will field such a call and will look into it.

I wouldnt tattle on a ref, howeverif you feel it is that important that you must I would go straight to the MSHSL with a call. As I wrote above, the AD's usually take care of these sorts of things by a phone call to the head of the association.

[HolyRider]

I attended the Mankato West v.s. Roch. Mayo game on Saturday and aside of the fact that the refs wanted to be the center of attention and kept stopping play (I can't wait until Pointstreak posts the boxscore, 20 plus penalties.) The ref swore at the kids as they were coming into the face-off circle with :30 seconds left in the game.

I know the kids were jawwing back and forth but then tell them to knock it off or send em off the ice. This ref decided swearing at them was a better idea. It was loud enough that everyone in that end of the arena heard it.

I am wondering if this is common for Refs to swear at the kids and I am blowing this out of proportion or if this is something that can and should be reported?

My first question would be: "Was the AD in attendance and did he/she hear it?" If the AD heard it, generally speaking, they will take it back to the supervisor of the association that the officials are from. I am not certain about a fan complaining but would guess that if you call the MSHSL that they will field such a call and will look into it.

I wouldnt tattle on a ref, howeverif you feel it is that important that you must I would go straight to the MSHSL with a call. As I wrote above, the AD's usually take care of these sorts of things by a phone call to the head of the association.

The Superintendent of the school district was there but he was at the other end of the ice and probably didn't hear it. Would you suggest I talk to the AD?
I just think that the refs at this game set a very poor example. I was also told by several Mayo parents that the ref looked up at them several times and gave them a cocky smirk and head nod when they boo'd several of the many calls. That's not right.

[hipcheck]

MSHSL has strict guidelines for all to follow.

Teachers, custodians, bus drivers, kitchen helpers, all must follow a school code of ethics.

Highschool sanctioned games should be following the same guidelines for Refs. If a coach was to swear at the ref, I am sure a bench penalty would occur. If a players cusses at a ref, we know what would happen.

This ref should definitely be reported and some action should follow.

[HolyRider]

MSHSL has strict guidelines for all to follow.

Teachers, custodians, bus drivers, kitchen helpers, all must follow a school code of ethics.

Highschool sanctioned games should be following the same guidelines for Refs. If a coach was to swear at the ref, I am sure a bench penalty would occur. If a players cusses at a ref, we know what would happen.

This ref should definitely be reported and some action should follow.

Funny you mention that, they did get a bench penalty for exactly that about 2 minutes prior to the incident.

[newsguy35]

MSHSL has strict guidelines for all to follow.

Teachers, custodians, bus drivers, kitchen helpers, all must follow a school code of ethics.

Highschool sanctioned games should be following the same guidelines for Refs. If a coach was to swear at the ref, I am sure a bench penalty would occur. If a players cusses at a ref, we know what would happen.

This ref should definitely be reported and some action should follow.

Funny you mention that, they did get a bench penalty for exactly that about 2 minutes prior to the incident.

I would go to the AD first. Like I said before, you dont want to get too involved in this sticky matter as there are politics and parts of the game you may have missed being that you were only in the stands. I would definitely go to the AD or email/call the AD on Monday morning about htis incident. They usually handle all of the affairs with the MSHSL and usually are the ones who help schedule what officials get which of their games (within reason of course per head of association). Best bet is that the AD has already heard about this incident via coach or another fan, especially if the superintendent was there.

I would bet the AD has already discussed this with the coach. Most AD's get the dl on certain occurrences and I can only assume that with the coach getting a penalty for the same act that he would bring it up.

[Pucknutz69]

Oh no he cursed???? Have you ever heard some of the things that come out of the mouths of our little angels?? The ref swears once, oh be it unprofessional, these kids say far worse, the bad example has been set a long time ago.

[Marty McSorely]

I'd agree, if the Ref's called all the Misconducts for Language most teams would have 4 in the box.

Sometime you have to speak the same language as the audience!

[hockeypurist]

I, too, have to challenge Holyrider's motive. The MW/Mayo game was one of the most overofficiated games I have ever seen. It was the 'Josh Brown Show', has some have coined whenever he officiates a game. He was the same official who had Corey Leiverman suspended for 4 games. Nevertheless, had the game been well officiated, and the post game talk be that of the game, as opposed to the officiating, would Holyrider even be raising the profanity issue. Holyrider, have you ever walked by a HS locker room when coaches are expressing displeasure in the team's performance? I can tell you there are not a lot of 'darns', 'craps', and 'fricks' been aired. I think there are far bigger fish to fry. Let it go. What happens on the ice and in the locker rooms, verbally, needs to stay there.

[Reggie]

Bob Tok makes the list.

[cheese]

this man should definitely be reported! under no circumbstance do you swear at the kids. i mean come on if your reffing high school be a little more professional then that. there are parents and school reps watching use your head. and great point, if a player swears and the ref even assumes its toward him, ten minute misconduct. no questions asked.

[GopherPuckPlayer]

Wasnt there a game down somewhere in the cities, I think around x-mas time where the team played one period, the ref's werent calling penalties, so the team didnt even come out for the rest of the game and left for home? Or was that just another rumor?

[newsguy35]

Wasnt there a game down somewhere in the cities, I think around x-mas time where the team played one period, the ref's werent calling penalties, so the team didnt even come out for the rest of the game and left for home? Or was that just another rumor?

This happened....

On a side note, I agree with everything being said. In no way should the officials swear at the players. However, there are worse things being said about the officials by the players and fans as well as occassionally coaches. I do not feel this warrants a call or any action unless the AD and head official in the association deem so.

This is a pretty liberal thread and it is sad that we would even think about slapping an official on the hand for doing the same things we as parents, coaches and players are doing to them... Is it right? NO! But deal with it as you are doing the same exact thing to them.

[hockeypurist]

Wasnt there a game down somewhere in the cities, I think around x-mas time where the team played one period, the ref's werent calling penalties, so the team didnt even come out for the rest of the game and left for home? Or was that just another rumor?

This happened....

On a side note, I agree with everything being said. In no way should the officials swear at the players. However, there are worse things being said about the officials by the players and fans as well as occassionally coaches. I do not feel this warrants a call or any action unless the AD and head official in the association deem so.

This is a pretty liberal thread and it is sad that we would even think about slapping an official on the hand for doing the same things we as parents, coaches and players are doing to them... Is it right? NO! But deal with it as you are doing the same exact thing to them.

Well said, Newsguy!

[HShockey2180]

On a side note there were 31 penalties in the game, 17 on Mayo... meaning Grosso is not allowed to be on Mayo's bench for the next game, along with Yaggy who is suspended for the next game because he was ejected in this game.

[norcon]

Bob Tok make the list.

There's no one worse on the range than Tok. He's always trying to be the center of attention. The stunt he pulled Saturday during the Rapids and Anoka game is an embarassment to all guys who wear the stripes. Time to hang up the skates!

[SEMinnHockeyNut]

On a side note there were 31 penalties in the game, 17 on Mayo... meaning Grosso is not allowed to be on Mayo's bench for the next game, along with Yaggy who is suspended for the next game because he was ejected in this game.

Is this true? Wow! Did Yaggy get in a fight?

I have seen the ref mentioned in this thread and he loves his whistle and he likes the attention. So he suspended Leiverman eh?

How many ejections yesterday?

I am sorry, but I have never seen a high school game that warranted 31 penalties - that is absurd.

As far as the language, it is inappropriate to swear at kids period! Refs are the highest paid people involved in a HS game - even with travel time, etc. They need to act professional.
As far as coaches, my guess is that if you put a mic in the Mayo locker room, you would never hear Coach Grosso using that language at his players. He hardly ever raises his voice during games.

It is too bad West/Mayo did not get to decide the game from the sound of things yesterday.

[goldy313]

The players did decide the game. These weren't ticky tack calls, if they had been you could have had 50 penalties. Both teams got out of hand, it was as poor a game as I have seen in a long time. Classless would be a good term to describe the game. The only thing that might have settled it down a bit was to start giving 10 minute misconducts there by keeping the goons locked up for a time.

[HShockey2180]

Yep, Yaggy got in a fight with Mankato's #27 with about 5 minutes left in the third, and they were both ejected.

[DRGC]

I was also at the West/Mayo game and it was so bad. I don't know how anyone can get a team off and running when they stoped the game every 45 sec to 2 min. I don't think anyone out there was to tired. Let them play. The ref had a smirk on his face the whole time and provoked both teams players towards the end of the game to "keep it up, you will be tossed too". I was sitting behind the penelty box and could hear everything everyone said. The ref was on a power high. I fell bad for both teams not getting to play the game and am embarrassed for Mankato because this normally doesn't happen. I can now see why people call West classless, they start off with a bad rep. Both teams were furrious with the game at the end, that they needed to take it out on someone and since they couldn't with the ref, they did on each other.

[uglystick007]

High School Hockey rules are different than USA Youth hockey rules.
There is no penalty for the coach if his team encounters 15 penalties.

[Edger]

West is having a great year. they are one of the best offensive clubs I've seen in this part of the state.
It's unfortunate so many of their games (the past couple years) are, or have been, ruined by drama.
Playing the greatest game in the world is a chance to make great relationships with teammates, fans, coaches, and yes, even opponents and refs.
Some players don't get that until it's too late.
Respect and discipline are huge in the game of hockey.
It makes every experience along the way better.

[davey]

Yep, Yaggy got in a fight with Mankato's #27 with about 5 minutes left in the third, and they were both ejected.

Not exactly sure you would call it a fight. Goalies jabs player standing the the crease with blocker, Player pushes back and some wrestling takes place. Double minor coincidentals at the most, but refs saw it differently I guess. What I found interesting is that one of the officials also worked the Thursday night East-West game and actually let the kids play and kept penalties to a minimum and had complete control of the game. He then gets with a ref who calls it a little tighter and seems to try to make as many calls so as to not look bad and the game goes all to he--. I bet there was less than 10 minutes of 5 on 5 in this game. Was really frustrating game to watch as there was no flow. I was really looking forward to a good game as there are some talented players on both teams. Must have been really frustrating to play in

[HShockeywatcher]

hockeypurist,

In response to your first post; if you walked the halls of our schools (public, private, what have you), and even lots of classrooms, you would hear and see similar and much worse talk/actions coming from students. Does that then mean the teachers are allowed to swear at students and use similar language?

I don't disagree that on the court, ice, field, whichever you're on there's plenty that is said/goes on that isn't great, but IMO that doesn't warrant those officiating to do the same, to any extent.

[hockeypurist]

hockeypurist,

In response to your first post; if you walked the halls of our schools (public, private, what have you), and even lots of classrooms, you would hear and see similar and much worse talk/actions coming from students. Does that then mean the teachers are allowed to swear at students and use similar language?

I don't disagree that on the court, ice, field, whichever you're on there's plenty that is said/goes on that isn't great, but IMO that doesn't warrant those officiating to do the same, to any extent.

So, by your rationale HShockeywatcher, anytime that something is said by an authority figure, that is determined to be 'offensive' by someone (there is plenty of offensive language that is not defined as swearing), warrants 'tattle taling' to the higher power. I don't agree with your logic (see my closing statement). So if a player swears on the ice, should an opponent alert the official to the offense so he can penalized accordingly?

What I find intriguing about this thread is that plenty of discussion has been initiated about 'swearing' by an official in a specific game. No one has even quoted what was said!!!! Offensive comments are in the eye (or ear) of the beholder.