HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Melvin44 wrote:

hockeyfan21 wrote:I think the biggest problems coaches have with referees are:

#1: Consistency. If you are going to call it tight, fine, call it tight on both sides and then the players can adjust. Some teams play very aggressive physically, but if the refs set the tone, well coached teams will adjust. Might take a few penalties to figure it out, but they will.

#2: Communication. If there is a call that the coaches have a problem with (questionable check, blatant missed call), good refs are willing to talk to the coaches. The best are willing to admit when they make a mistake. A ref two years ago made a horrendous call and disallowed a goal in the third period of a 0-0 game because of a quick whistle. Came right over and owned up to it and the coaches were okay with it, everyone makes mistakes. It gets out of hand when refs act infallible and refuse to talk.

#3: Spotlight Hogs. Some refs refuse to let the game decide itself. They want to be part of the action and you can see it from the drop of the puck. Usually arrogant and refuse to talk to coaches, act like they don't have to defend themselves or explain themselves.

I give ref's alot of credit; I wouldn't want to do their job and I appreciate that the majority are trying to do a good job. Tough to get good refs though when they are hammered night in and night out by coaches who are trying to get any advantage in a game (which they should be) and parents who have blinders on. Honestly, is there anyone more annoying, and biased than a hockey parent?

Couldn't have said it better.

observer wrote:I wonder why no one sings? Ever seen a game in another country? Or a team from another country playing here in the US? Flags waving, everyone signing, faces painted. What's up with our national pride? Did everyone forget the words?

observer wrote:I wonder why no one sings? Ever seen a game in another country? Or a team from another country playing here in the US? Flags waving, everyone signing, faces painted. What's up with our national pride? Did everyone forget the words?

So I can't even get that right?!?
Sorry, had to...

hockeywild7 wrote:Agreed, hockey parents and I will include coaches are biased.

gopher 16 wrote:#3: Spotlight Hogs. Some refs refuse to let the game decide itself. They want to be part of the action and you can see it from the drop of the puck. Usually arrogant and refuse to talk to coaches, act like they don't have to defend themselves or explain themselves.

Just want to clarify this comment. As far as I know, NONE of the officials I work with want to be in this situation. We'd prefer to be as invisible as possible. With some games, it is impossible to not, in the coach's or fan's eye, become the center of attention. Calling the game by the rules dictate this (like it or not, with interference, obstruction hooks and holds). If you call 1 obvious penalty, then yes, be consistent and call them all, whether a team is ahead or behind.

As for being arrogant and not talk to the coaches, if you have ever been told what officials tell the Captains at the pre-game meeting, you would be much more well-informed about that comment. We tell them, if you have a question, we'd like to talk to one of you (the Captains), not the coach. IF the call warrants an explanation, then fine. If a coach only wants to yell, they are not going to get an explanation. If they are on the top of the bench or dasher yelling, same thing. A referee doesn't want to stop the game EVERY TIME a coach thinks a penalty or rules question occurs and have to explain him/herself. This is not arrogance, it is keeping the game going. And if one coach is getting all the attention, the other one feels slighted, and then you are going over there to explain the them why you are at the other bench all the time. A coach is not ENTITLED to an explanation on anything. It is a courtesy to go over and explain a call or rules interpretation. If an official wants to be the center of attention, they are in it for the wrong reason. It's the best view on the ice, most are there to call a fun game and nothing more.

hiptzech wrote:Just a little insight for all you fans of the refs....When I am standing at center ice during the national athem before the game, I give thanks and ask for GOD's bleessing. I start with the players, coaches, fans and officiating crew that we ALL have a safe and fair game. I then go on to give thanks for my family and friends as well of the gift and ability to officiate the game. I go into further thoughts about those that serve in the armed forces and run our country. Diving deeper I pray for those that are in need around the world and locally. Finally, I give thanks for this great country...At no time, do I think about screwing anyone.
What do you posters think about during the anthem?

observer wrote:I wonder why no one sings? Ever seen a game in another country? Or a team from another country playing here in the US? Flags waving, everyone signing, faces painted. What's up with our national pride? Did everyone forget the words?

hockey_rocker wrote:

hiptzech wrote:Just a little insight for all you fans of the refs....When I am standing at center ice during the national athem before the game, I give thanks and ask for GOD's bleessing. I start with the players, coaches, fans and officiating crew that we ALL have a safe and fair game. I then go on to give thanks for my family and friends as well of the gift and ability to officiate the game. I go into further thoughts about those that serve in the armed forces and run our country. Diving deeper I pray for those that are in need around the world and locally. Finally, I give thanks for this great country...At no time, do I think about screwing anyone.
What do you posters think about during the anthem?

Well, if you ever done any of our games, I'm the one singing it, on the ice. Great post .

hiptzech wrote:

hockey_rocker wrote:

hiptzech wrote:Just a little insight for all you fans of the refs....When I am standing at center ice during the national athem before the game, I give thanks and ask for GOD's bleessing. I start with the players, coaches, fans and officiating crew that we ALL have a safe and fair game. I then go on to give thanks for my family and friends as well of the gift and ability to officiate the game. I go into further thoughts about those that serve in the armed forces and run our country. Diving deeper I pray for those that are in need around the world and locally. Finally, I give thanks for this great country...At no time, do I think about screwing anyone.
What do you posters think about during the anthem?

Well, if you ever done any of our games, I'm the one singing it, on the ice. Great post .

Haven't embarassed myself in 6 years of doing it. Thank god.



Well then, thank you for stepping up and taking on the challenge. It must be stressful to put yourselve out there knowing that you could ultimately screw up and embarass yourself. Thanks as well for giving me the sound and words of such a great song to reflect to.

Maver2010 wrote:I said something to the extent that ref's are geared to being boy ref's and then have to adopt to being girl ref's. The idea is that they don't know how to adopt. So, I got a bunch of replies that suggested there isn't a difference other than checking and refs are perfectly trained from day one.

Sorry, I have watched hockey for 11 years. Longer than most of you refs have been refs. (most, some of you good ones are the exception). I see over and over again two girls get tangled and when one falls, the other gets the penalty. This is very clear to me an indication that the ref doesn't understand the rules for girls. There is no difference between girls and boys other than the check. Falling is not an indication of a penalty. In fact, there are tons of penalties that don't get called because the girl doesn't fall. Again, an indication that the ref somehow thinks the rules are different and doesn't understand their role.

My original point was that northern and metro refs are pretty dang good. But, in between, they are not consistently good because they are ref's that want to ref boy games and got assinged to a girl game. I believe they don't know the differences or the similarities and haven't taken the time to find out.

My opinion is that refs that ref girls hockey are not consistent. Sorry to all you refs that try your heart out and are doing your best, but 11 years of watching girls hockey tells me that as a whole, the ref's assigned to girl games don't do a very good job.

I wish it were different.

hockeyheaven wrote:My take:

I think everyone will consent to the facts that refing is difficult…you can really only gain a greater level of competence thru experience…and… the better the competitors the easier it is to ref. I use to officate softball… so I know this. The A leagues games (even though you are dealing with greater egos and stronger personalities) are much easier to call then D league games (even if you’re a novice). Church leagues…forget about it. That’s what ended it for me. Nothing like having a minister curse like a sailor and then physically threaten you over balls and strikes…true story. The better the players the less questionable plays need to be assessed and responded to. The better players don’t take a million pitches and not a lot of fumbling with the ball so that every base play is a close call…you get the picture. This would then be equally true with girl’s high school hockey because of the great disparity in skill level amongst the players. Nonetheless, what gets lost in this day of instant replay and a skewed interpretation of equity is that everyone makes mistakes. It’s unavoidable…so there’s no reason to cry foul. Don’t always want to admit it but that’s the beauty of sports. If it wasn’t for this factor the more skilled teams would always win. Coaches and players make mistakes…so why not referees? However, this can only apply when everyone is approaching the contest free of an agenda. I think that’s where we tend to run into trouble is when you have an official who is not using objectivity when calling a game. The real problem then is that these individuals are not aware of this…clueless. So arrogant and confident (bad combo platter) in there thinking, that they are incapable of filtering out their own personal bias and preconceptions. I know the percentage of these individuals is low. But all’s it takes is just one in the crew to screw it up and create a bad situation. You see this time and time again…and you can tell because one guy is calling everything. I personally don’t see this as big a problem as it appears on this forum because generally these incidents tend to even themselves out…but we are dealing with life and death…right.

Maver2010 wrote:I pulled this post, as suggested. It sounded like crashing refs, but that wasn't the point. I have watched countless hours of hockey. That does qualify me to make an observation and I do have the right to an opinion. I'll let you all decide what you want to do with it. Have a great day.