Paul Stewart: LaVar Ball Incident Affects All Sports Officials

Very nice piece, enjoyed the read.

I was reffing a midget A game(could devolve into madness at times, but this game was a real hockey game) when A player on one team received a four minute spearing penalty for the old 'stick up the nuts' play. The team was up by a goal with exactly four minutes left in the third(no ot in regular season).

The coach lost his marbles and earned himself a two minute bench minor, putting his team down 5 on 3 at this crucial point of the game. He continued with the verbal assault and clearly wanted to be tossed from the game. With the "f you, you f'in moron(not the word he used) and the "toss me already you ......"

Instead of giving him what he wanted a making him a hero in his teenaged players eyes I simply gave him a second bench minor, extending the 5 on 3 to a full four minutes.

He shut up immediatley and for the rest of the season. The other team scored two 5 on 3 goals and won the game, while I am certain the coach took all the blame from the players and parents.

This coach has not disrespected me or another official in our town over the last five years which is great since he used to be more penalized than the gooniest goons in the game.

So, you write an article about how its best not to get "chummy" with the players for fear of appearing biased, then yet a few days later here's an article full of "chummy talk with Mike Keenan, Bubble gum gags with Pat Quinn", etc

Why can't you refs just keep your greasy noses out of it, stand in solidarity with your officiating "bretherin", save the jokes and the chummy talk for them?

I know the answer, all about inserting yourselves into the narrative of the game when you should really be impartial, unidentifiable striped shirts

The game would be better for it

I was reffing a midget A game(could devolve into madness at times, but this game was a real hockey game) when A player on one team received a four minute spearing penalty for the old 'stick up the nuts' play. The team was up by a goal with exactly four minutes left in the third(no ot in regular season).

The coach lost his marbles and earned himself a two minute bench minor, putting his team down 5 on 3 at this crucial point of the game. He continued with the verbal assault and clearly wanted to be tossed from the game. With the "f you, you f'in moron(not the word he used) and the "toss me already you ......"

Instead of giving him what he wanted a making him a hero in his teenaged players eyes I simply gave him a second bench minor, extending the 5 on 3 to a full four minutes.

He shut up immediatley and for the rest of the season. The other team scored two 5 on 3 goals and won the game, while I am certain the coach took all the blame from the players and parents.

This coach has not disrespected me or another official in our town over the last five years which is great since he used to be more penalized than the gooniest goons in the game.
- Njuice

Well Done, How it should be....

Now Pauls version of the story would go something like this...

He likely would have gone over and said "Hey Coach, I know you want me to make you a hero but you're killin me here, har, har, har..... If ya want, I can get you a megaphone and you can save your voice... har, har, har..... Your boy just gave that kid "The Business", whatcha expect me to do?... har, har, har.... then at the next game a few weeks later I left a megaphone on the bench, when the team came out for warmups the coach gave me a staredown and I gave him a wink..."

Very nice piece, enjoyed the read.
- SnipeDevil6

Agreed!

Well Done, How it should be....

Now Pauls version of the story would go something like this...

He likely would have gone over and said "Hey Coach, I know you want me to make you a hero but you're killin me here, har, har, har..... If ya want, I can get you a megaphone and you can save your voice... har, har, har..... Your boy just gave that kid "The Business", whatcha expect me to do?... har, har, har.... then at the next game a few weeks later I left a megaphone on the bench, when the team came out for warmups the coach gave me a staredown and I gave him a wink..."
- PensWin87

Thanks for your contribution.