Refs; the good, the bad and when it's UGLY!

[Big Red]

OK, <br>Let's talk refs.<br><br>From what I've seen and read on this board, the situation does deserve some discussion and action.<br><br>I've seen and posted on some abysmal calls, but let's not waste time with specifics because it'll waste too much space.<br>I'm sure everyone has examples.<br><br>Let's just have some very positive discussion on how it can be made better.<br><br>???<br><br><br><br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... d@mnhs>Big Red</A> at: 2/25/06 8:00 pm<br></i>

[ThunderStorm22]

First, Big Red, do you officiate? Second, does Minnesota use women only officials for the girls games or is it a mix of men ad women?<br><br>Regardless of your answers, I hope that any and all officials that are taking the ice are taking every game very seriously. I am an official and I know that ALL games I officiate I take very seriously. I will admit that most are 'Routine' but some are great matchups and games that I have been happy to be involved in from an officiating standpoint.<br><br>In my opinion, the best way to make things better is to put the best officials on the ice for each game. Minnesota High School Hockey Officiating is a 'Right of Passage' and I hope that all the officials feel the way that I do. <p></p><i></i>

[shinpad]

I think it's a mix of men/women when it comes to the girls playoff games, but I'm not sure. We did have a couple women linesmen this year during some regular season games, but few and far in between. I'd like to make this point regarding the reffing that I watched on television throughout this entire weekend: The refs look like they are not having fun and do not want to be there! I reffed h.s. football for many years, and our crew had fun doing it. It was fun to interact with the kids and also show them that we cared about the game, both teams equally, and we wanted them to play their best. I watched Warroad vs. New Prague, and that ref looked grumpy, crotchety, and downright miserable! Basically, it looked like he had better places to be and better things to do. Now, I don't know what/if he said anything on the ice, but by outward appearances he looked miserable. I have coached in several games over the past few years in which we had several refs with much the same attitude. The girls aren't stupid. They know when a ref doesn't care. I'm not sure that this is the case, but I think there ARE several refs out there who are not reffing because they love the game, the mentorship, and the experience...but because they want that extra $$$ throughout the season.<br>Just a thought... <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

Which raises the question - would we be better served to raise the compensation for these positions but then also raise the expectations of how these services are performed (as well as institute a standard evaluation process akin to what's already being done via MSHSL website, evaluation postcards, etc. by certain officials associations, etc.)?<br><br>One thing I've found is that we seem to get better officiating with a 2-person vs. 3-person system. Why? There could be a number of reasons, but it ranges from that you get more experienced officials assigned when it's just 2 vs 3, and also officials may have more responsibility for being on top of the game with 2 vs. 3, and I know that if the compensation that is set is divided by 2 vs. 3 that then there is more $ for 2 vs 3 so maybe this attracts the better officials too (makes it more worth their time?)???<br><br>Officiaiting is not a glamorous position in my mind. These people usually have a love/passion for the game, for working with kids, and this puts a few extra bucks in their pocket. To be honest, I don't think that refs get the respect they deserve, and it may actually be that we have started to drive some of the best from the game as in this day and age there isn't enough respect for the people in these positions.<br><br>By the way - there are more games than ever now to cover with guys & girls HS at the point it's at now. This spreads them very thin I think, and I'd be curious as to how the officials association numbers have fluctuated with the expansion of the girls game and the additional assignments this has created. <p></p><i></i>

[shinpad]

ghshockeyfan...nice post.<br>Correct me if I'm wrong...we evaluate the refs during the regular season via the MSHSL website. Does this not indicate or determine which refs are going to work the playoffs/state tourney? I know in football we had to "apply" to do tourney games, but I would hope that our scores had some bearing on the decision.<br>Also, I believe the 2 ref system is more effective for girls hockey. There were several times in the section playoff games that I watched where the third ref was horribly out of position and actually got in the way of the play.<br>ghshockey is also very correct in pointing out that MN h.s. hockey needs more refs now than ever, and that can certainly diminish the talent pool. However, we should have the BEST refs doing the state tourney, and I believe we did not see that this past weekend. <p></p><i></i>

[Big Red]

Tstorm;<br>No I have not donned the stripes.<br>I have coached (years ago) and have watched games for the past 17 years with my four kids.<br>Three of my kids ref, and I have strongly encouraged them in this.<br>A good ref needs a heart for hockey, but also a knowledge of the rules, a sense of reasoning, and the ability to make correct decisions on the spot.<br>According to many here, a review of refs is long past due.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

Honestly, I don't know how the selection process for state tourney officials happens, but I would imagine that you have to apply for this honor and that then a review of your scores is looked at (meaning , the evaluations done on the MSHSL website).<br><br>I believe that as much as we look at the review of refs, that we also have to review the entire process for improvements - meaning, this may not be as much about the people involved, but more about how we evaluate, what expectations we have and how these are communicated, better consistency for girls officiating with the body contact quirks that exist in this game's rule set, etc.<br><br>#1 point of emphasis should again soon be the differences between incidental contact and body checking - and also please note that refs call everything on intent to some degree! If it looks like I'm running at you with no intention of playing the puck, and I hit your body, get my hands up in your face, etc. - I will get a body check (or maybe a roughing)...<br><br>I saw some incidental contact called this weekend in the few moments that I was able to watch the games on TV, and I also saw some let go, but once a standard is established, it must be consistently enforced obviously - and I think that if you ask coaches, players, AND officials - you'll find that they all want consistency more than anything. Meaning, if a game is going to be called tight (everything whistled) then it shoudl be that way all game with the obviouls last few minute/OT close game considerations of only blatant calls needing to be made (questionable ones during these periods are always problematic)... <p></p><i></i>