Hey Ref

Hey Ref – Mid-season focus

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Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By Duncan Ryhorchuk

Half of the regular season is over. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year tournaments are in the record books. It’s cold outside, traffic is slow, the Christmas Visa bill is due and it seems to snow every other day.

With all these factors in play, officials need to remain focused on the game that they are officiating. Officials are expected to bring their “A” game all the time. How can this be done with all these factors?

Most officials officiate because they love the game and want to give something back to youth organizations. Some do it for the physical activity. And yes, a few do it for the money. But as with players, the percentage of officials that will make hockey a career is very low.

Looking at these factors, when is too many games or workdays in a row too many for an official to maintain their focus?

In the Jan. 10, edition of the Star Tribune, there is a headline in the sports section titled “Iron Man Theodore ran out of gas.” Minnesota Wild goalie Jose Theodore had played the last three games on the road and coach Todd Richards was wondering if the veteran goaltender felt fit enough to start the next night vs. Dallas.

Four work dates in a week may not seem like a lot in some professions. But with all the extra game-related activities, travel, practice and pre-game preparations and requirements, plus the focus that a professional goaltender must maintain, a mental or physical letdown by the player cannot solely be blamed.

This mental or physical letdown can also happen to some youth hockey players. Teams schedule a three- or four-game tournament on a weekend only to have a regular season game scheduled upon their return on Sunday night. The coach and parents then blame the team’s letdown in the Sunday night game on playing so many games in the tournament.

For each official, the number of games that they are able to maintain their focus in varies. Some say they can do 10 days in a row with two or three games a day and focus is not a problem. For other officials, in the second game in a day they find their minds wandering, or they are unable to turn on the speed to get to the goal line on a play at the net.

Whatever drives an official – love of the game, conditioning or compensation – they must remember that regardless of the level of the game or the time in the season that the game is being played, that particular game is important to someone. Yes, for the majority it is just a game. But what if little Johnny received a new stick for the game or Sally’s grandparents are at the game watching?

Officials need to be at their best all the time, thus allowing the participants fair opportunities to showcase their talents. Lack of focus or being tired because this is your sixth game in three days is not an acceptable excuse for not getting in position or not making the correct call. 

Knowing when enough time on the ice for players, coaches and officials is important for physical and mental focus. The home stretch of the season and the playoffs are coming up. Let’s be prepared to bring our “A” game to the arena for each game.

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