What Makes Breaks a Referee?

[slaw 1]

At any levelof hockey what do you guys like? A ref who lets a bit go or calls everything hes/she sees?

[kosydar 0]

Someone who isn't consistant will never be a good ref. A good ref can let a lot of questionable penalties go uncalled and still be effective, same with being ultra tight. It all depends on the game situation. However, if one period you let stuff go, and the next you crack down for no real reason, you'll lose the player's respect.

[chk hrd 164]

Someone who isn't consistant will never be a good ref. A good ref can let a lot of questionable penalties go uncalled and still be effective, same with being ultra tight. It all depends on the game situation. However, if one period you let stuff go, and the next you crack down for no real reason, you'll lose the player's respect.

I agree. Consistancy for both teams is key. If you call it on one you have to call it on another. I also respect refs that don't abuse thier authority, you know the ones who think they are God. I like it when a ref lets you know what the call was for when you ask without being a jerkoff. I also like the refs that actually skate during a game so they are in correct position to make a call, nothing worse than some fat ass ref who disallows a goal from the blue line...the far blue line.

The refs who are cool, calm and collected are the best. They talk to you like a person and lighten things up during face offs and stoppage.

[Vapor 0]

I would rather a ref call EVERYTHING than nothing. In higher levels of compitition (and its worse in beer leauges) games really get out of hand when the refs let blatent shit go.

[pantherfan 0]

A ref that doesn't let the players give him shit and doesn't listen to anything the players say.

[jjtt99 0]

The big question is refereeing an art or a science?

[chippa13 1844]

The qualities of a good ref are consistency, hustle, understanding of the rules, understanding the game, and a thick skin.

[Vapor 0]

reffing is an art, you have to have good descretion

[pantherfan 0]

^^Exactley what iw ould have said.

If it were a science then there would be tripping, hooking, slashing, roughing calls on almost every shift because the NHL Rule book allows alot of referee descretion

eg. "Slashing is the act of swinging a player's stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not."

^^How many penalties would be drawn if that was followed by the book?

[Trooper 8]

I want consistency and the ability to control a game. If things get chippy and the ref establishes his authority and draws a line early in the game, you can still have a good, chippy game. If the ref fails to do this early in the game I find that is when things tend to escalate over the course of a game.

Some refs are know-it-alls. Last year in an ACHA game, the ref (who was young) had all kinds of people in the box for both of our teams. So we line up 4-4 I believe and a penalty for us expires and comes off the board. Our guy comes out and he calls too many men. We explain that he lined us up. He told us when the penalties expired, and we did what he explained. He wouldn't hear any of it. The assistant ref tried to reason with him but he wouldn't budge. Submitted the tape to the head of officials and never saw the guy again.

[Ti-girl 0]

I would rather have a ref that calls things than doesn't.

Secondly, refs need to understand that sometimes there are differences between the levels of play even in the same league.

Ex if two girls took each other out because they couldn't stop, or one girl takes the other one out because she couldn't stop is completley different from a girl bodychecking the other.

[chippa13 1844]

I would rather have a ref that calls things than doesn't.

Secondly, refs need to understand that sometimes there are differences between the levels of play even in the same league.

Ex if two girls took each other out because they couldn't stop, or one girl takes the other one out because she couldn't stop is completley different from a girl bodychecking the other.

In your second example, I'd call the girl for a penalty. Inability to skate is similar to ignorance of the law, it isn't an excuse.

[teamriot38 0]

Confidence is huge in officiating, I can't tell you how pissed i get when a ref sees something and is too timid to call something. And if you're gonna make the call, let everyone know you mean business. Nothings worse than "uh.....high sticking...on.....uh....number....37....no.....43. yeah"

[chippa13 1844]

The arm starting up and then coming back down is a bad one. That and the hair trigger unsportsmanlike are pet peeves of mine. As a ref, you have to let guys have their one sentence of wtf or whatever. As long as they don't get in your face, swear into your face, or keep it up after you tell them its enough then just let them get it out.

[althoma1 574]

Adult Mens league - I prefer a ref who calls a tight game by the rules and is consistent. I get very few penalties a year as I try to play a clean game, but most of my penalties are retaliatory in nature. If a guy is hooking me badly and water skiing down the ice and that isn't called, or I'm slew footed ect, eventually I'll end up shoving, hitting or slashing someone and end up in the box. If that kind of stuff is called then I'll almost never get a penalty. I know I have to learn not to retaliate and I try not to, but when I ref constantly lets obvious hooking and holding go (especially when it's against a slower less skilled team that relies on that to get by) it's really frustrating.

[technophile 0]

The ability to take abuse from players and spectators, day after day, without letting it affect him personally or in the game.

I think that's probably the toughest part (not that I'm a ref). There are a lot of assholes out there, or even just people who get excited and yell at the ref when they disagree.

After that, I would agree that consistency is important. As a player, it really throws you off your game if the ref is calling things inconsistently; all of a sudden you don't know if you can go hard into the corner, or protect your goalie, etc.

[kosydar 0]

The refs who are cool, calm and collected are the best. They talk to you like a person and lighten things up during face offs and stoppage.

This is good, up unto a certain point. If you get too friendly with the players, then they don't take you seriously andbegin to think they can walk all over you. It really depends on the flow of the game. If the game is really relaxed then I'll joke around with players or whatever. If the game gets rough or whatever, I'll keep my mouth shut. Nothing pisses people off more than to see a ref laughing in between play, and then calling penalties left and right. There is a real fine line where this comes into play.

[kosydar 0]

The ability to take abuse from players and spectators, day after day, without letting it affect him personally or in the game.

I don't let spectators and especially players abuse me at all. I know I can't hear what they say to each other on the bench, and that doesn't bother me. But if I can hear it, I'll deal with it. I'm not out there to take shit from these guys, and they know it. If they want to disagree with a call, fine, just keep it minor. However, if they start yelling at me or telling me how shitty I am, I'll give them an unsportsmanlike. In the main league I've been reffing in, people think that because they pay $200 a session or whatever, they are given the right to say whatever they want to the officials. While some refs take it, I, and many others don't. We're out there performing a service on their behalf. If the players have a problem with the way the game is being called or anything else, I'll let their captain talk to me in between periods about it in a rational manner. I'll talk to any player about anything after the game, so long as they are cool about it. One of my pet peeves as a ref and as a player, esepcially in simple adult leagues, is when refs slow down or stop games in order to get yelled at by players and coaches.

[chippa13 1844]

The refs who are cool, calm and collected are the best. They talk to you like a person and lighten things up during face offs and stoppage.

This is good, up unto a certain point. If you get too friendly with the players, then they don't take you seriously andbegin to think they can walk all over you. It really depends on the flow of the game. If the game is really relaxed then I'll joke around with players or whatever. If the game gets rough or whatever, I'll keep my mouth shut. Nothing pisses people off more than to see a ref laughing in between play, and then calling penalties left and right. There is a real fine line where this comes into play.

Actually, when a game is turning to the rough side, that is exactly the time to crack a joke or something with players between faceoffs, especially after a little scrum or gathering. It lightens the whole thing up.

[chk hrd 164]

The refs who are cool, calm and collected are the best. They talk to you like a person and lighten things up during face offs and stoppage.

This is good, up unto a certain point. If you get too friendly with the players, then they don't take you seriously andbegin to think they can walk all over you. It really depends on the flow of the game. If the game is really relaxed then I'll joke around with players or whatever. If the game gets rough or whatever, I'll keep my mouth shut. Nothing pisses people off more than to see a ref laughing in between play, and then calling penalties left and right. There is a real fine line where this comes into play.

Actually, when a game is turning to the rough side, that is exactly the time to crack a joke or something with players between faceoffs, especially after a little scrum or gathering. It lightens the whole thing up.

they are the refs who have the most confidence in thier abilities, that is why they are relaxed. They realize that thier attitude and posture go along way on the ice. If he treats the players with respect he usually gets respect back. Since the are the better refs the players know not to push thier luck or try to intimidate them.

[repus 0]

As a ref, you really can't do it for the money. Personally I do it for 2 reasons:

- I believe that I am creating a positive influence on the game

- I am having a good time refereeing

I used to referee up to the juniors and found that it started getting too political. I have also refereed some bush league stuff where it seems that the players showed up to abuse me because their boss during the day treated them poorly.

I don't mind a player getting upset from time to time and I think that being able to handle that situation is important. What is most important is establishing your reputation and backing it up game after game.

I believe that the players can set the bar as to the physical level of play but never allow a player to take advantage of another player in terms of border line physical play.

Referees should also remember that everyone is out there for a good safe time and it is their job to ensure that happens. When a player comes up to discuss a call. Take the time to explain it to them. This is a test for how well you understand the play that just happend and are able to communicate it. Also it is a test for the player of how well they can discuss it with you calmly.

-dave

[Cheesehead 0]

The big question is refereeing an art or a science?

all three

but seriously a ref should be consistant. if somebody gets an obivious slash, and the ref doestn call it, i think it is a less talented ref. dont get me wrong, i have respect for them, especially cuase at my rink sometimes there is only 1 ref reffing a game, so i could understand that.

[jay 1]

What makes a good ref?

One that realizes he's not "better" at refing then the players are at playing.

One that's actually got the balls to call a penalty.

One that's not so hardheaded he can't stand a little criticism from time to time.

One that's not confrontational to a player BEFORE being confronted by one.

One that realizes part of his/her job is to make sure nobody gets seriosuly injured.

One that's not in it for the power trip.

And most importantly, one that's out there to have fun.

[kosydar 0]

In reading your guys' responses, I'm thinking I have a way different fundamental approach than you guys. I don't ref for fun. I don't find it particularly fun at all. Its nice being on the ice and skating, but thats about it. To me its a job, a hell of a good job for someone my age. I make great money doing something that isn't hard for me, with very good hours. And so I treat it as a job, not as a hobby or a sport. If I didn't get paid I wouldn't do it.

[slaw 1]

really interesting to hear these responses. I'm 16 and Play alot of hockey around here & for some reason i get alot of games some Sr. guys would normally get but I really found last year, after i got my level 2 (OMHA) that people were down right screaming a little bit more and I was unhappy with the way i was doing things so im tying to work on what gets peoples goat and try to keep away from that. thanks guys and girls for your help. another question....new NHL rules ? how do you think the effect or affect will be on Minor hockey and junior c through a players? Was at the referees tournament las tnight playing and WOW It was a little bit insane we logged something like 96 minutes in penalties in a 56 minute game...