Paul Stewart: The Officiating Recruitment Crisis Is Real

Hey, you officiating experts in the stands and pressbox, can YOU pass a rule book test? Could you hack it in an officiating seminar? I cordially invite you to find out. Just fill out a 3X5 index card with everything you know about officiating from your vast experience. Then turn in the blank card along with your registration fee and learn what it's like to work your way up from scratch.
- Paul Stewart

I don't know if this is the best message to send people to make them want to be officials. I could be wrong, but they say you catch more flies with honey.

Also, if a person really know absolutely nothing about officiating and/or the rules of the game, I'm not sure you want to be recruiting them to officiate it, either.

I don't know if this is the best message to send people to make them want to be officials. I could be wrong, but they say you catch more flies with honey.

Also, if a person really know absolutely nothing about officiating and/or the rules of the game, I'm not sure you want to be recruiting them to officiate it, either.
- jmatchett383

neither is this.

For all you heroes that coulda, woulda, shoulda been stars as players but you hurt your knee, or the coach didn't like you or someone stole your equipment out of your car or any other of those bogus excuses that you have been telling people all these years, come on out and put it on the line.

maybe we need new recruiters with a different attitude towards those they are trying to recruit.

I think that people just don't want to be referees. Players will take the long bus drives and the low-paying jobs because they've always wanted to be professional hockey players, and are willing to pay their dues to do so. I'm not sure many people grow up dreaming of being referees and will take the low-paying jobs dealing with bullpoop for 20 years to finally make the ECHL cicuit.

I know it doesn't (or shouldn't) take 20 years to make it to the ECHL, but you get the idea.

I think that people just don't want to be referees. Players will take the long bus drives and the low-paying jobs because they've always wanted to be professional hockey players, and are willing to pay their dues to do so. I'm not sure many people grow up dreaming of being referees and will take the low-paying jobs dealing with bullpoop for 20 years to finally make the ECHL cicuit.

I know it doesn't (or shouldn't) take 20 years to make it to the ECHL, but you get the idea.
- jmatchett383

i just wonder if the profession of ice hockey officiating needs better champions.

There are soo many issues that one blog could not address them all... but to address the whole parental and coach abuse topic

When you officiate a AAA game you get an intelligent player, that knows flying off the handle will hurt his cause, same with the coach.... honestly parents are more knowledgeable about the game in itself

The issue is you start off with Local league ... where anyone can and does play / coach. Coaches will argue the most obvious penalty , a 5 foot offside call, ride you all game , and that disrespect rubs off on the players . Hell I cant count how many times as a linseman i am asked why i didn't call that penalty.


My first ever travel (rep) game was an eye opener. I remember thinking to myself
"wow these players are impressive. The simple fact they know to look out for an official before firing it off the boards, no arguments even on close offside calls. Hell i had a call where i was like " man i wish my arm didnt shoot up this fast" and not one single complaint "

As a local recruiter i know the issues of getting people interested, and the even bigger issue of keeping them around. We need to start teaching and enforcing respect from our local league coaches, right up through the system. That is the only way we will keep these kids involved.

383,

Sorry quoting isn't working today, but sometimes not knowing much about the game is a great place for new officials to start, if they are willing to work hard and learn the game. It will take them some more time, because eventually you have to become what some people call 'unconsciously competent' to be a top flight official, when you are able to see/read a play and make a call without thinking about it. When a good official works a game he or she knows what to look for in what situation, what needs to be called or let go, and then does it.

The other issue here is fans and coaches/clueless coaches. Officials have to have a thick skin, an ego that's big enough to say 'I'm right even if everyone in the crowd thinks I'm wrong', and guts to go out and do the right thing in a game. the vile hatred and media attacks on officials also sours kids on becoming officials. If you grow up dissing officials, seeing your coach ream officials out every night (as if someone hears them, lol) and being inundated with how bad officials are, who want to become one?

In US society people want to be loved, cared for, part of the group, always fitting in, to have their 'safe spaces' and never any controversy, exactly the opposite of what the mind set of an official should be. In our wimpy society we have fewer young people willing to do what is needed to become an official. We also have people so tied to their I-phone, Android device, social media site or game console they don't want to give anything back to the game they played/loved, and so eventually the game will not have any officials to officiate it.

there are all kinds of other issues involved too (like not being paid enough) that are a part of this, but it is a great blog.

I like the idea of being an on ice official but I've never seen anything as far how to actually get into that field of work. Probably the best place to recruit from is the minor leagues from among the guys who really know the game but aren't going to have real careers.

I have to say that here in Edmonton (I assume it's similar elsewhere) there is no clear pathway for people to make officiating their career. It really isn't clear how you can progress through different levels, how to get to semi-pro leagues, etc. I'm 28 now so I doubt I'm ever making one of those leagues, they probably are looking at younger guys with potential. But they need to start making it clearer what is required from guys if they want to make a go of it. The pathway needs to be clear, or younger refs aren't going to see the opportunities in front of them and give up. The local region websites, Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada websites all contain information, but a lot of it is contradictory between the websites, and most of it is not helpful. The local officiating chiefs and reviewers don't really know either, as most of them have never refereed higher than Junior AAA. We need guys that have made those steps to Major Junior, ECHL etc. to be mentors to younger referees and get their story out there as to how they progressed through different leagues. Serve as inspiration to younger officials. The only refs I've ever seen talk about stuff like that are guys like Stewy, but the process has obviously changed since he went through the ranks