Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
In the National Hockey League level and in other pro leagues, most officials are in excellent physical condition. I wish I could stay that was the same at all levels but it is not. There's a distressingly high percentage of officials, particularly older ones who mistakenly believe their experience alone will cover for them, who have gotten complacent about their conditioning.
Plain and simple, unless it's the most informal of rec hockey leagues, conditioning is not optional in today's game whether you're playing or officiating. Cardiovascular conditioning is every bit as important as muscular conditioning.
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all" is a quote variously credited to Gen. George Patton and to Vince Lombardi. To be honest, I don't know if "coward" is the right word. However, fatigue most certainly leads to physical errors and mental miscalculations that one would not ordinarily make. An official has to be able to skate where he (or she) needs to skate to see what must be seen.
During my playing days and active officiating career, I took pride in my conditioning. However, there was less understanding back then than there is today of things such as the need to stay well hydrated throughout a game and to eat something during intermissions. I can remember times where fatigue started to take hold -- as much I tried to fight it -- and times where it contributed to mistakes.
The next time you watch a playoff game that goes multiple overtimes and you hear the announcers go on and on about how taxing it is on the players -- and it certainly is -- keep in mind that the officials are out there skating the entire game. There's no one to hop over the boards for the next shift to give the officials a respite.
In today's NHL, the officials are among the best conditions athletes in the game. Aspiring officials should take note of this, and those already in the game must be accountable to upholding those standards. You owe it to the game, the fans, the players and to your officiating brethren.
Self-critique and self-honesty is vital. I reached a point in my career where I had to realize that my assortment of injuries had taken a toll. I could no longer physically do things I once did. Recently, I was reminded of a story from my playing days in which I jumped over the net like a hurdle. Nowadays, I'm just glad I can lace up skates and get around the ice. I don't lament the passage of time, but I also know that, except for old-timers games with NHL Alumni and other special events, I am not physically able to officiate anymore. It just is what it is.
As an officiating assignor and director, some of the saddest conversations I have to have are the ones where I have to retire older officials who can no longer physically keep up with the demands of the sport. It's not fun but it's nature. The ones I have trouble feeling sympathy for are the ones who just let themselves go physically when they ought to still have good years left in them chronologically. You can't beat Mother Nature but you'd better not cheat the game.
************************************************************************
Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, he is the director of officiating for the ECAC.