Interacting with On-Ice Officials in Adult League

[wrangler 157]

It's funny, McCreary gets personal and borders on insulting some of the guys. Now, he may know that it's the only way to get through to those particular guys, but it is exactly the type of thing they teach you not to do.

That may not be how he started, but after all the years, and all the games, I'd think he'd know the veteran players well enough that he'd know exactly how to talk to a given individual. There was probably enough respect going both ways built up over the years as the working relationship evolved, that the dialogue didn't create any problems, but rather facilitated getting the job done.

[shooter27 116]

Just made me think of a funny story from my first year in Bantams (13-15 year olds). We were getting beat pretty bad and one of our centers drifts in for a faceoff and mutters, "You suck ref!" The ref comes right back with, "Your whole team sucks." So our kid hauls back and glove punches the ref. Best 30 day suspension I've ever seen.

Similar thing happened to a teammate of mine in college. A ref had seriously butchered a game (I think we won, may have been a tie, can't remember) literally just calling every single thing imaginable. I think there were 20 PPs in the game, and it wasn't a particularly chippy game, these were all trips, hooks, interference type calls. Anyway, my teammate was a Freshman and he didn't have a PP/PK role, so the fact that there were so many penalties limited his minutes severely. At the end of the game, he goes up to the ref and says, "You see all these people in the stands? You realize they didn't come to see you, right?" So the ref shoots back, "Apparently they didn't come to see you either." I always thought that was way over the line for the ref to say that to a player, just completely unprofessional.

[shotty 7]

in my league there is a very small pool of refs, so a player can earn a reputation fairly quickly -- positive or negative.

they all have their own style, their own prerogative. its just as important to understand the style of ref you have as it is for them to understand what kind of players they are officiating. the most important thing to remember is that the more honest information they have, the more efficiently they will work. if your comments are respectful, honest and precise, you will develop a mutual respect.

it's just like getting pulled over by the police. some are out there to fine every loud exhaust, every burnt out tail light, every speeder, etc and others are out there for the greater good. as someone mentioned, it is a power thing, and identifying the power tripping refs early can lead to a game full of power plays if you play your cards right.

[akravetz 29]

Here in Peoria, many of the officials are former players and well, everyone knows everyone. You can gripe about a call but cursing out an official is a no-no. And even griping is kinda all done in fun. In the lower-level beer league I play in, we all know one another and often see each other outside of the game. It's hard to get on a person's case when you see them at the store.

Andy in Peoria

[215BroadStBullies610 435]

Similar thing happened to a teammate of mine in college. A ref had seriously butchered a game (I think we won, may have been a tie, can't remember) literally just calling every single thing imaginable. I think there were 20 PPs in the game, and it wasn't a particularly chippy game, these were all trips, hooks, interference type calls. Anyway, my teammate was a Freshman and he didn't have a PP/PK role, so the fact that there were so many penalties limited his minutes severely. At the end of the game, he goes up to the ref and says, "You see all these people in the stands? You realize they didn't come to see you, right?" So the ref shoots back, "Apparently they didn't come to see you either." I always thought that was way over the line for the ref to say that to a player, just completely unprofessional.

It goes both ways haha. If you have put on the stripes, it's tough to have some college kid come and chirp ya. I'm only 24 so I can handle it better since I'm just 2.5 yrs removed from college. Are officials suppose to take the high road? Of course. But guess what? We are human also haha. Even as a Christian, I sometimes struggle with 'turning the other cheek.' Officiating has humbled me both as a person and player so I don't mind the confrontations as much. It's all part of the competitive nature of ice hockey.

[Chadd 916]

That may not be how he started, but after all the years, and all the games, I'd think he'd know the veteran players well enough that he'd know exactly how to talk to a given individual. There was probably enough respect going both ways built up over the years as the working relationship evolved, that the dialogue didn't create any problems, but rather facilitated getting the job done.

The scene where he kept going back to Stuart to say something else was the part that really struck me as poor form. Once he was in the box, there was no reason to go back and put him down again.

[wrangler 157]

I'll have to agree with that.

[pittu 15]

I'd agree too, except that he thought of that zinger and he couldnt let it go...."I wasnt good enough to play in the NHL, and youre not good enough to ref here" ...common, thats classic..

[Chadd 916]

I'd agree too, except that he thought of that zinger and he couldnt let it go...."I wasnt good enough to play in the NHL, and youre not good enough to ref here" ...common, thats classic..

Actually, I thought it was pretty weak.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Reminds me of the time I had a ref actually open up the penalty box door and yap at me WHILE PLAY WAS STILL ON. Blew my mind. I just kept repeating "I don't think its safe to have this door open during play" and he wouldn't leave. Something about him doing that just didn't seem right...

[scorer75 9]

Just made me think of a funny story from my first year in Bantams (13-15 year olds). We were getting beat pretty bad and one of our centers drifts in for a faceoff and mutters, "You suck ref!" The ref comes right back with, "Your whole team sucks." So our kid hauls back and glove punches the ref. Best 30 day suspension I've ever seen.

Ref's wrong. Kid's blowing off steam, I wulda let that slide. Nothing positive could come out of the ref's reply. I bet the kid would have apologized after the game when he cooled down a bit. 30 days? You hit a ref around here you're looking at a year, and good luck getting picked up by another travel team.

Similar thing happened to a teammate of mine in college. A ref had seriously butchered a game (I think we won, may have been a tie, can't remember) literally just calling every single thing imaginable. I think there were 20 PPs in the game, and it wasn't a particularly chippy game, these were all trips, hooks, interference type calls. Anyway, my teammate was a Freshman and he didn't have a PP/PK role, so the fact that there were so many penalties limited his minutes severely. At the end of the game, he goes up to the ref and says, "You see all these people in the stands? You realize they didn't come to see you, right?" So the ref shoots back, "Apparently they didn't come to see you either." I always thought that was way over the line for the ref to say that to a player, just completely unprofessional.

Actually, I think that's pretty funny, not a bad chirp at all. Depending on the situation I'd be fine with saying that to a player.

I worked a game this weekend where this one guy wouldn't stop chirping. They must have been up 7 or 10 goals, and this guy won't shut up. At a stoppage, the ref looks at him and says "next time I work ur game I want you to wear two mouthpieces so I don't have to hear you chirp all game" Everyone laughed, but none harder than his teammates.

You guys should have heard the shit I got this weekend. I'm lining a midget AA game, the team rushing the puck crosses the red line, I'm inside the blue line and realize the player is going to fire the puck into the zone. I slide off the boards giving him room to fire the puck in, naturally, he misses and hits me in the shin guards. Of course the puck ricochets directly to his teammate heading to the far corner to play the dump in, he gets a breakaway and scores. Doh!!! As I'm retrieving the puck the D looks at me and says that one's on you. I ask him if he thinks I should get the primary or secondary assist, he smiles and skates away. I was in the right spot, and would do the same thing again 100 out of 100 times. It's hockey, these things happen. The worst part was since it was the 2nd period I had to go stand in front of the bench of the scoring team for the ensuing face off. Every player and each coach had a comment for me, from "nice pass" to "can you ref all of our games the rest of this season" to "come by the locker room after the game, ur gonna get a game puck if that's the winning goal". Game turned into a blowout so that goal didn't matter :)

As for hard work, discipline, and love for the game paying off, I just got bumped, I'm now officiating EJHL games :)

[shooter27 116]

Actually, I think that's pretty funny, not a bad chirp at all. Depending on the situation I'd be fine with saying that to a player.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I would think an NCAA level ref should have a higher level of professionalism than to be chirping at a player after a game.

[215BroadStBullies610 435]

It could be ACHA hockey.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Not sure if this should go here or in the venting thread, but...

Last night, I got bowled over. I had gotten to a loose puck, and suddenly he drove his shoulder into my chest and knocked me flying. I see refs arm go up, as it should have. Then it comes down. Wait, what? Apparently the guy had knocked me down into their zone and I was off-side...

I skate to the ref after the play and im like "how is that not a penalty?!" "it was a collision, not intentional" ... WTF? Are you kidding me? So I'm just like "whatever, what a joke" (as he's still skating to my left). Then he suddenly cuts in front of me and bumps my shoulder and starts going off "DONT YOU TOUCH ME! DO THAT AGAIN AND YOU'RE GONE!!!" im like... "WHOA...SERIOUSLY?!??! whatever man.... " and just turn away and skate to the bench. What a dick. That's all I could think about all night after the game - not even the ridiculous hit, but him bitching at me because he ran into me. Get over yourself, pal.

[wrangler 157]

The timing makes me wonder if he thought he was cleverly illustrating his point.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I should have replied "was a collision, not intentional!" But alas, my wit is not so quick.

[wrangler 157]

It's probably better that you didn't. Just from reading about it, it's hard to tell if the guy could have been kidding, and setting you up for that line, or if he'd fly off the handle at that response.

[scorer75 9]

The coach has to go, and will probably get suspended, but as an official, it's still funny :)

http://youtu.be/7JPeeRG2HGo

[shooter27 116]

It could be ACHA hockey.

I guess it would be a little more appropriate at the ACHA level, given that it is technically "club" hockey. As for my particular story, that was NCAA hockey.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

It's probably better that you didn't. Just from reading about it, it's hard to tell if the guy could have been kidding, and setting you up for that line, or if he'd fly off the handle at that response.

Nah, he was drop dead serious. But after how ridiculous the game had gotten, I honestly would have said it had I thought about it.

[pittu 15]

That "blind man" routine was a little over the top, you think??? LOL..never saw anything like that before...

[Munsons 2]

If a call was going to affect my career I would definitely have a few words with him, but I'm paying to play. I prefer to just skate to the penalty box and laugh it off. I can't remember ever seeing someone yell at a ref and it ending well for the player. They tend to remember when someone berates them.

Only time it's really justified is when a game is getting out of control and the ref is doing nothing to stop it. Then they need to be reminded that most guys have a job to go to the next day and don't want to show up short a few teeth.

[wrangler 157]

More of a baseball joke, eh? I think I've seen that done in response to ball/strike calls.

That "blind man" routine was a little over the top, you think??? LOL..never saw anything like that before...

[pittu 15]

 

More of a baseball joke, eh? I think I've seen that done in response to ball/strike calls.

 

I've seen the "3 blind mice" thing done at a hockey game, but that was a few of my drunk friends up in the stands.. Ha...

[215BroadStBullies610 435]

I guess it would be a little more appropriate at the ACHA level, given that it is technically "club" hockey. As for my particular story, that was NCAA hockey.

Really? Surprising but I guess they chirp better at the varsity level haha. Club or not, officials SHOULD take the higher road.