I can't remember when I wasn't involved in hockey in some
way. I played house league in an outdoor rink in Toronto for 5 years
before moving north of Oshawa, to a town that actually had a roof over the
arena.
It was way back then, in 1970 as a 12 year old, that I had my first
experience as a referee. House league, 6am, on a Saturday
morning. I had to be crazy. I realized very early
that it was the one place I was truly comfortable. It was the one
thing I excelled at. It was the one place I loved to be more
then anywhere else.
I can remember giving up weekends away, just to be available to
officiate a hockey game or two.
Minor Hockey, and officiating got me through the teenage years. I
could not wait for the next game to be played, or the next
officiating assignment.
It pains me a little now to see the problems in minor hockey. The
constant verbal abuse makes it very difficult to maintain any type of
interest to pursue officiating through the teenage years.
There are great young officials out there, no question. My
concern is that if you are not a great official, merely an average
official who is looking for exercise and opportunity to give something
back to the game you grew up playing, you are not going to stand for
the verbal abuse.
What happens to Minor Hockey in ten years, when the "senior
guys" pack it in and there are not enough young officials to take
their place. What happens then. Half the teenagers that try
hockey officiating, quit after two years or less. Number one
reason... can't stand the abuse.
My experience on the ice tells me that half the coaches and 95% of
spectators do not know what an offside pass is, or when it is or isn't
offside. Yet, it is the one call that creates the most yelling and
screaming at any given time during the game. If they do not
understand this rule or application, how many other rules and or
penalties do they have no idea about. When was the last time most
parents actually read the Case Book / Rule Combination, cover to cover?
All 239 pages, all 85 rules with a half dozen or so situations
for most of them? When was the last time most parents read the
MANUAL OF OPERATIONS or the PROCEDURES MANUAL?
We, as officials, must read these books. We are tested on a
annual basis. We are graded and rated throughout the year. We
really know what we are doing out there. Surely I don't have to say
that with experience comes respect and management skills that younger
officials don't have. Surely I don't have to point out that the
commitment to be an official is huge. Surely I don't have to say
that if you think you can contribute to the staff, the door is alway open.
Or maybe I do.
I want to say that most of the parents and coaches are great hockey
fans, just like us. It is but a small minority that stand out at
every game. Until we can go upstairs to check the instant
replay, or go to the goal judge for a second opinion, we can
only rely on what we see on the ice as officials. Ironically, it is
probably the worst vantage point in most situations.
My 30 some-odd years as a minor hockey official have been great.
I feel it has kept me close to a game I truly enjoy. I hope
young inspiring officials see it through the first few years and
get as much out of it as I have.
We are the third team out there, and like the other two, want to, and
strive to do the best that we can.
See you at the rink.
Robert Vanden Kroonenberg
Newmarket, Ontario.
