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Recently, a message board contributor on HockeyBuzz asked me what goes into scouting the work of an officiating crew and reporting the findings back to the league. The job is not all that different from the way players are scouted. It is one of identifying and communicating back to your bosses the areas of strength and areas of needed improvement of each official.
The following is a sample report. It was culled from an MHL game I recently attended in Russia. As with a HIPAA-compliant medical report, I have removed all names and edited out identifying characteristics. However, it is close enough to my original report to show the kinds of things I look for when I review the officials and speak to them after the game.
REFEREE
This official showed well in most of this game. Penalty selection was good and he did not clutter the game by over-calling things.
There are certain aspects to his positioning that could stand adjusting. Like many European Officials, he tends to stand still in the corners, too far from the net. This habit played into a goal/no goal situation in the game.
Skating forwards was above-average. He could use some work on building leg strength as he does not get maximum power from his strides. Backwards, again, like many officials, he relies too heavily on crossovers to gain speed when hard C cuts would be the correct way to get backwards to the proper position.
There is the usual pinwheeling in the corners with him getting caught up in traffic. COACHING by video and working with an experienced partner in a two ref game will benefit him.
One certain method I would recommend for him would be to attend a game when a good supervisor who can sit next to him and discuss things that happen in a game right then and right there.
THE DISPUTED GOAL
The Right Call was made after a successive pair of video reviews on a controversial play at the net by the attacking players.
On the initial on-ice call, positioning on this play by the referee was as usual for all the referees that I see: TERRIBLE. Too far from the net. Get closer because the money is at the goal.
With the video review, the referee did everything right except that he did not look at all the camera angles on the initial review. He did not give himself the best chance to succeed.
After he initially waved off the goal, the captain came over and after another minute, the Referee had enough courage and doubt about his call to go back in and look at a second camera view. Now it's a goal.
Was the decision process pretty? NO! Would we advocate this in our games? NO!
After the game, I gave the referee a good pat on the back for getting the right call. The advice I gave him was especially on goals, TAKE YOUR TIME, RELAX and USE ALL OF THE TOOLS TO HELP YOURSELF.
This Official deeply cared that he had screwed up. I thought he might have wanted to jump off the nearest bridge.
I think this Official has promise but he need strength work for his legs and positioning coaching AND he needs to learn how to speak English in order to deal with non-Russian players and coaches.
He's got potential but needs coaching and work on strength and positioning.
LINESMEN
Two very keen and efficient linesmen. They each did well in the game on icings, offsides and faceoff protocols. Size and strength will be their challenge as they move forward. Each skates well and age is on their side but at their present size, lining games in the KHL would be a tough task.
They both speak English and were very willing to learn. These two would greatly benefit from a master class on Officiating tips and techniques that I would love to see happen for young officials working in the VHL and KHL: Faceoff location after a tough penalty, positioning to sell the call on an icing or an offsides, how to get between and break up players..those are some of the tips that would help these two and their brother officials in the JR and minor leagues.
Give me two days with 40 of them and we will make them better.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
1) The rink was clean and neat. 2) The off-ice officials are experienced having worked in the KHL last season. 3) There was a good crowd with many people bringing their kids. With some local promotion, this franchise could be a building block cornerstone for the MHL providing players to the VHL and KHL for years to come. 4) The coaches certainly work at coaching their teams. 5) Overall, a good game to watch with lots of good plays and excitement to it.
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'EYE IN THE SKY' VIEW: VHL game in Penza, Russia
'EYE IN THE SKY' VIEW: MHL Jr. game in Tolyatti, Russia
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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, Stewart is an officiating and league discipline consultant for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and serves as director of hockey officiating for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
Stewart is currently working with a co-author on an autobiography.