Re: OWHA Provincials Referres

While I do appreciate a healthy discussion, now I see why people get so perturbed by you misconstruing their words. FOR THE THIRD TIME - I DO NOT CONDONE THE COACH'S BEHAVIOUR!!! Where did I say it was a good thing? Yes, I said the goalie was being run and the coach was concerned for her safety. Who is supposed to be protecting the players safety on the ice - THE REFS. That was not happening, in the coach's view - a valid concern though, the coach did voice it inappropriately. You know, it is possible for people to have valid issues and concerns and for them not to convey those issues/concerns in appropriate manners. It is also possible for people to agree with the premise of the concern without condoning the behaviour associated with it. Do I understand why the coach was upset, yes I do. Do I agree with how he conveyed this, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. Is that clear enough for you?

I absolutely agree that no ref deserves to be yelled at. However, given that the ref is paid to do the job, should a coach yell at the ref, it is the ref's responsibility to handle it in a professional manner and not to stoop to the coach's level. This means that the ref should be required to diffuse the situation without the use of swearing, or degrading the offending coach/player/parent. I liken the coach-ref relationship to a parent-child relationship. When the child (coach) throws a temper tantrum, does the parent (ref) get right down on the floor with them and get into it or, is the expectation that the parent (ref) will handle the situation in a mature and calm manner, handing out an appropriate punishment? While, the ref cannot control the coach's actions, he/she can control how he/she reacts to the situation.

While I have never reffed hockey, I have been an umpire for quite some time and have tossed a numnber of coaches, players and parents in my time. But, in doing so, I have never used profanity nor, degraded any coach, player or parent. And yes, I didn't deserve to be yelled at but, I also knew that it was inevitably going to happen. That is the risk that goes with the job and, any official of any competitive sport knows that.

It is unfortunate that the OWHA does not see a need to pay a premium for officiating at what is supposed to be viewed as the premier tournament of a team's season. Until this changes, I suspect we will see the, "same old, same old".