HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Is it acceptable for a referee to swear at and intimidate an 11 year old 80 lb pee wee?

What does the forum have to say, I know there are some party’s out there that sit on various district boards at minimum?

The nuts and bolts:
-goalie gets scored on and shoots the puck out of the net in frustration (we’ve all seen it b4)
-play goes to center ice, all is set, at which time ref stops, doesn’t drop the puck, but rather skates to goalie, stands over him for 15 seconds and says “don’t pull that bull s___ on me you idiot, next time hand me the puck nicely…”
-play goes on
-coaches and parents find out what was said after the game
-as concerned parents we write/cc Minnesota Hockey and certain district 8 parties to advise them of the situation, and our coach also fills out an on-line notice via the web site – we want this official removed for good, we asked for a response regarding the course of action for this situation
-district supervisor of officials emails us he has a policy not to get into discussions with parents
-Minnesota Hockey emails us – this matter is best dealt with through local supervisor of officials
-we are copied on an email from district director advising the supervisor of officials would be handling for district 8
-we are then copied (last rec’d) on an email from the supervisor of officials that indicates he spoke with the respective official and coach, the official admits to saying “bull ___” but not the rest of the comment, supervisor admits “right or wrong, his wording was not correct”, and “I have read and reviewed much worst situations with our district…”

Well it’s been a week plus now and it is my understanding the official was verbally reprimanded but has not been suspended or terminated. Also note, in the summary of the comments above, there is no apology from ANY of those written/cc’d, while the referee has admitted to at least swearing. Are we out of line to think it doesn’t end with a slap on the wrist and shove it under the carpet? Isn’t this serious enough not to allow one person, the supervisor of officials, to make a solo decision? How many of the 19 officials codes of conduct items need to be broken to get removed as an official (apparently the 8 we count is not enough)?

YouthHockeyHub, you seem to be a “player”, you want the exclusive on this? Send PM.

At minimum share this with your district 8 peewee coach. Keep a close eye on him. Don’t allow him to talk to your players. Don’t allow him to intimidate you any longer. It is our understanding this particular official has been at it for a while.

So this guy has been "at it" for quite some time? Sounds like the ref in charge needs some time off as well!!!!

Waaaah

Tell me about the players apology to the ref for his bull shi.. behavior.

Sounds like the ref was having a bad day. Nothing more.

But, remind your players that the ref is in charge and can do whatever he wants. The language was unfortunate but every kid has heard a lot worse.

TheJet wrote: we want this official removed for good

Agreed that swearing at a kid and lambasting him is absolutely wrong. Just curious if you're ready for this standard to be applied across the board. Berate a ref and the player/coach/parent is banned from hockey?
Only NoDak halo players/fans would be left.

If I understand this correctly this happened a couple of weeks ago?
My thought is that maybe we should find another problem to fix.
I don't think that ref should be swearing at the kids but seems like
It is time to move on.

What always make scratch my head is the amount of swearing
Youth coaches do in practice.

spin-o-rama wrote:

TheJet wrote: we want this official removed for good

Agreed that swearing at a kid and lambasting him is absolutely wrong. Just curious if you're ready for this standard to be applied across the board. Berate a ref and the player/coach/parent is banned from hockey?
Only NoDak halo players/fans would be left.

So your equating an adult swearing at an adult to an adult swearing at a kid? I have seen parents removed for less than swearing. Apples and oranges IMO.

Refs are paid to be in charge.Lambasting not part of it.

observer wrote:Waaaah

Tell me about the players apology to the ref for his bull shi.. behavior.

Sounds like the ref was having a bad day. Nothing more.

But, remind your players that the ref is in charge and can do whatever he wants. The language was unfortunate but every kid has heard a lot worse.

B.S. behavior by the kid? U r warped. LOL.

Very interesting...these are not the first charges I've heard about officials in D8, hopefully the district directors can come on here and explain how this is not a disciplinary action and has not been apologized for.

What the ref should have done is give him a penalty and explained the kid professionally like 99% of good refs do what he did wrong.

Jet: keep me posted, our goal is to be the voice of our hockey community and if the district people don't listen to it's constitiuants then hopefully our site can shine some light on it and be that voice for you.

I'll dm you my contact info.

TS

What the ref should have done, instead of skating all the way back to the goalie, is simply skated over to the team bench, and told the coach, he 's not going to tolerate the behavior. If it happens again, a delay of game penalty will be called. I really have a problem with the ref's barking at the kids - it's not their job, it's the coaches, and when they get off the ice, it's the parents. IMHO

Youth Hockey Hub guy.
Be careful not to try and serve to many
Masters. I would also caution you to pick
Your battles. Remember that you can only
Believe half of what is reported as fact on
This site. Seems to me that they don't
Need you as a voice, they already have one
On this site.
Spend your time coming up with something new
Or what they can't find on this site. I think
Your story about Bernie McBain is a good
Idea. More along those lines.
Doing a story about a ref that lost his cool
Because of a kid that was most likely be a
Brat is not worth your time

I agree this was not proper conduct by the official. Maybe its by catholic background but I take offense to any swearing, no matter who I hear it from. I can tell you I am amazed at the swearing coaches do on the bench and in the locker rooms. Ever listen to the kids in the locker rooms or the ice? I have given the 10 minute misconduct penalty for a kid swearing. it does not go over well, Coaches, parents, i.e. tell me its "boys being boys" I will also add I am amazed at how many experts their are on officiating - It is not as easy as it looks in the stands - the game is a lot different on the ice. until you've been in that position its hard for me to explain. I think every district will tell you that they need more "qualified"officials - there seems to be more and more teams, games, rules, etc. so its harder to keep the experienced officails around. and if they are "experienced" some think there to old and can't keep up in the play. Most of your real qualified officials also ref High school, Juniors, College, semi pro- i.e. and sprinkle in a few PW and U12 games in the mix. All I am really trying to say is, youth sports can draw on many different emotions, they sometimes get the best of us. there are pressures from ALL sides. I think for the most part we (as a whole) handle them pretty good and by (a whole) I mean Officails, Coaches, Parents, Players, so on ...... there will always be negative instances that come up from time to time. In the perfect world Yes - both parties could get togather and appologize. a "wrong" was committed by both parties. All the result of uncontroled emotions. ok - I'll shut up now - sorry for rambling. I wish everyone best of luck with playoff's drawing near..

The ref should have gave him a spanking also.

Punk kids need that from time to time.

So a player/goalie shoots the puck down the ice. The refs calls it BULLSH1T. Are you kidding me? Who cares. The ref should have given the little goalie a 10 minute misconduct which he would have had to serve.

I think BULLSH1T is pretty mild compared to alot of the language I have heard from PW locker rooms and benches.

Had the ref called him a little F'er. Or said you little SH1T. Or something directed at the kid personally. But to just say BULLSH1T? Funny

That said, the D8 ref in chief likely views these cases as "I've done worse than that..." He doesn't practice what he preaches!

Wrong on both side, the Ref and the goalie. Should have never happened.
let's move on EH!

Say nothing and give him a delay of game penalty.

i'll say this...some ref swears at my kid in lieu of penalizing him, i'll remind him that i pay the bill. in d6, the refs grandstand by calling everything. it sounds like in d8 they grandstand by yelling at kids...

warning: most refs are guys that can't play or couldn't ever play, so they trot out there and start becoming an authority on a topic they never had authority on....beware, it's a bad combination. not until the kids get older do the refs get better.

jet...you got every right to complain

d8..c'mon man, just apologize or this could get "worst"

BenDangle wrote:i'll say this...some ref swears at my kid in lieu of penalizing him, i'll remind him that i pay the bill. in d6, the refs grandstand by calling everything. it sounds like in d8 they grandstand by yelling at kids...

warning: most refs are guys that can't play or couldn't ever play, so they trot out there and start becoming an authority on a topic they never had authority on....beware, it's a bad combination. not until the kids get older do the refs get better.

jet...you got every right to complain

d8..c'mon man, just apologize or this could get "worst"

I always thought the 'non-players' became district directors or CinCs...positions of greater authority ect...

Observer - your nuts. I have seen goalies shoot the puck out of the net all of the time, so has he, and have never seen a penalty called. However, no problem here, had the guy called a penalty this would not be a topic. To say the kid has heard worse? Yeah, adults in authority positions call him worse than "idiot" all the time - get real.

Scrap - you must be an angry ref to. Why do it if you guys get so worked up. Don't know the kid but automatically a brat?

Badger - "idiot" was directed at the kid as well, and the ref in charge never said he has done worse - read carefully.

BenDangle wrote:i'll say this...some ref swears at my kid in lieu of penalizing him, i'll remind him that i pay the bill. in d6, the refs grandstand by calling everything. it sounds like in d8 they grandstand by yelling at kids...

warning: most refs are guys that can't play or couldn't ever play, so they trot out there and start becoming an authority on a topic they never had authority on....beware, it's a bad combination. not until the kids get older do the refs get better.

jet...you got every right to complain

d8..c'mon man, just apologize or this could get "worst"

I would say at minimum he needs to get a better spell checker. Thx.

Maybe the wife served him with papers that morning or his dog died or something.

If this was his first recorded offense, I'm not sure a ban from refing is the right judgement.

Yes I believe what he did was wrong, but who knows what led up to his outburst.

Maybe he is from ER and just refs D8, that would explain alot.

BadgerBob82 wrote:So a player/goalie shoots the puck down the ice. The refs calls it BULLSH1T. Are you kidding me? Who cares. The ref should have given the little goalie a 10 minute misconduct which he would have had to serve.

I think BULLSH1T is pretty mild compared to alot of the language I have heard from PW locker rooms and benches.

Had the ref called him a little F'er. Or said you little SH1T. Or something directed at the kid personally. But to just say BULLSH1T? Funny

That said, the D8 ref in chief likely views these cases as "I've done worse than that..." He doesn't practice what he preaches!

Who said the goalie was little? Do you know this goalie?

Inexcusable! Most of these vet refs have carte blanche, it seems to be an old boys network. When is the last time anyone has heard of a youth ref being disciplined? This breakdown has only accelerated as the game has gotten faster. Most of these vet refs couldn't keep up with the game when they started, now they are in charge. The communication between refs and coaches is on the verge of a total meltdown, if a coach asks for an explanation, it's viewed for the most part as a personal challenge to the refs ability. USA hockey is somewhat to blame, they have piled more and more interpretation on these refs, it's too much.

JoltDelivered wrote:

BadgerBob82 wrote:So a player/goalie shoots the puck down the ice. The refs calls it BULLSH1T. Are you kidding me? Who cares. The ref should have given the little goalie a 10 minute misconduct which he would have had to serve.

I think BULLSH1T is pretty mild compared to alot of the language I have heard from PW locker rooms and benches.

Had the ref called him a little F'er. Or said you little SH1T. Or something directed at the kid personally. But to just say BULLSH1T? Funny

That said, the D8 ref in chief likely views these cases as "I've done worse than that..." He doesn't practice what he preaches!

Who said the goalie was little? Do you know this goalie?

The opening post said the goalie was 11 yrs old and 80 lbs.