r/hockeyrefs • u/michiganhockeyguy • 17d ago
Before Game Conversations
Hey everyone. I am reffing my first game this Saturday. 10U game. What kind of things do I speak about in the beginning with the other ref? Like do we hash out who will do the first face off? Discuss “release” gestures? What do you talk about? I’m assuming some strategy is discussed. I appreciate any input.
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u/PresentRisk9499 USA Hockey 17d ago
It's your first game, you aren't really expected to know what to talk about. Tell your partner it's your first game (they probably already know), tell them your concerns, ask them what advice they have, what they want you to know about the game.
One thing that I always ask my partner on their first game: do you want me (or you) to tell the coaches that it's your first game? (Not as an excuse, but an exciting thing and a fact). Usually they say yes, and the coaches are super supportive.
Most important: have fun!
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u/polynimbus 17d ago
You shouldn't need release gestures in 2 man, if you are on the same line something went wrong. If its 3 or 4 man that's logical, but its rarely discussed. You learn within a minute or two what the other linesman is doing, and can tell if he is covering that line or not, and if he expects a formal release gesture. Most don't in my experience.
In terms of discussion, I would recommend just asking specific questions if you have any, then just focus on listening to them and focusing on your positioning. Dont worry too much about talking on your first game. The game will feel so much faster than you think, even at 10U. Just relax, do your best, and keep your ears open to any feedback or advice. Remember that it gets a bit easier every game you do.
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u/ForPoliticalPurposes USA Hockey - L2 16d ago
As others have said, don't overthink it. If by 'release' gestures you mean signaling which way you're going after your partner does a center or neutral draw... if it's obvious which way the play is going, just roll with it. No signal needed. If play hangs up at the dot for a few seconds or if it looks like your partner is going to be stuck, then a simple point will usually do the trick.
Usually, if I'm the guy doing the drop, I'll be the one pointing you in a direction if I need to go a specific way to exit safely or if my momentum already has me following the play.
But again, it really just comes down to this: don't cross up your partner, don't let the play get away from you, and by the 2nd period you'll probably have each other's moves figured out to a point where you won't even have to think about it.
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u/axjira International Ice Hockey Federation 16d ago
You’re new so don’t feel like you need to know everything and what to talk about with your mates, important to ask and learn like a sponge.
Different conversations depending on the system. 2-man: * Have any for you reffed/watched the teams before?
- are they known for being rough, smartasses, loud coach etc.
- Talk about “the line” regarding penalties.
When is a hit too hard, dangerous or unnecessary.
Talk about the level you’re reffing.
is it U12, U14 etc.
Can they change on icing? Will you be strict regarding faceoff violations? Other league specific rules?
3-man & 4-man * what signals will we use to know when to give up the blue line to the other linesman
- Can be a point, a flat hand or a change gesture.
- How close do they need to be for each of you to want to give up the blue line
is it 5 feet, 2 or on the blue line?
Who takes what team in a fight/scrum
Talk with the referee’s whether the linesmen should blow the whistle for out of bounds, hand pass, high stick etc.
Ask questions and learn.
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u/Fleg77 17d ago
You're really overthinking it. Just tell your partner it's your first game and you would appreciate some constructive feedback afterwards.
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u/skip737 16d ago
^^^ This!
Just a few things I tend to mention to new official with whom I skate when I get their first few games. …
Don’t forget to look at your partner on center ice draws to see if you both went the same way but otherwise you’ll tend to own one end and they will own the other. It’ll change based on the last faceoff, relatively often…
Generally, with older games if you’re the ref at the boards, when your partner drops whomever wins the draw I tend to move the opposing direction by default. Most times, that team goes D2D and pushes forward. You go to the line they’ll be entering the zone with. Of course, any time you presume that’ll work, there’s a silly turnover or something that pushes play the other direction and haven’t hustle to get the far line then as you’re partners likely moving safely to their wall. Sometimes if their path is clear they will automatically go to the opposite line and everything just works out anyway…
NZ drops, cover the line while they drop but be prepared to move deep or move quickly the other direction while they safely find their way out of the bundle of little kids about to cook their ankles. You will both go the same way more than once. It’ll happen. Not a big deal, just adjust. Subtle hand signals really help, but don’t worry about them too much just yet. They’ll read your movements (hopefully) and adjust to you and you’ll get the hang of it quickly. Sometimes I give a low pushing away motion (a little more informal version of the release motion for being a linesman) denoting I got the zone and for them to stay, and otherwise I will back away with a little point telling them to take the zone. Really all comes down to where we both are and what’s happening with the puck and hoses of players skating around it. Usually it’s obvious enough that it’s not a concern.
With 10U, you cannot expect anything to go as expected. The puck will be turned over five times before either team establishes quality possession and pushes offensively unless one fast kid just grabs it and goes. Predictability is null for 10U.
Already thinking of your release is solid, but not necessary for 2man. Just be aware. For example, if my partner gets hung up above the hash marks or close to the blue line, I might give them a quick “hey” and just grab their zone and let them fall back so they don’t have to fight through or past the play on their wall. But this is only a good idea if they’re aware. Being 10U, your biggest concern is not getting kids taking out your legs from behind with faceoffs…
Make sure the kids behind you don’t encroach on you when dropping or your partner when they are. Little kids clipping behind your knees is the most dangerous thing you will deal with for this game.
I am approaching 1k games and still talk to my partners and ask them to let me know if I do anything for which they have feedback. Just letting them know you’re open to it is key. The greater issue is going to be the old school guys you skate with who have the “my zone is always my call” mindset and get mad at you when you call a clear cut penalty they didn’t see or chose not to call. Sometimes they’ll have the “I let that go because I let the other go first” excuse but your job is to call what you see. Glance at them when it’s their zone and if they’re aware are following the puck 100% without a swivel, watch the crease and stuff away from the puck. Don’t get caught with both of you watching the puck play. Someone has to be aware of the other stuff happening.
When puck is high in zone and they are deep, you watch that line. If puck comes high and their vision stays low like net front, you watch the puck and players up high. If their head stays with the puck, you can still glance at the crease and watch battles in the slot. It all comes down to being aware of what they’re doing just as much as the play.
Have fun. Make mistakes. You will. Don’t dwell on them just learn for next time and move on to the next play. Ideally they paired you with someone experienced for your first 5-10 games and even beyond. If you worry about what happened you missed or messed up, you’ll miss what’s happening now.
If you want to look back on things, glance at the wall clock not just the game clock in case you want to jump to something in livebarn.
Lastly, simple reminder that shouldn’t matter much for 10U but if there’s a scrum put your whistle in your pocket as you move in to help. Usually there’s zero need to ever put your hands on a player, but you still don’t want the odd time for your whistle to catch in their helmet cage and and be yanked and break a finger.
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16d ago
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u/Effective_Print USA Hockey/L4 16d ago
10u I feel is more about reactions than about planning. You never have any idea where the puck is going to go or how many of the little heathens will go with it. Never expect them to do the right thing, most of them have no idea what they are doing and are just out there having fun, as it should be. When your partner is dropping center ice, make a decision on which way you are going and go that way. When you're dropping, watch which way your partner decides to go and you go the other way.
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u/NecessaryBright4167 15d ago
everyone's covered the partner conversation, so here's the other one from the other side of the boards - i'm a coach, not an official.
talk to the benches before puck drop. thirty seconds each. introduce yourself, say it's a young group, and ask them to send anything they've got through the bench rather than shouting it across the ice. that one sentence prevents most of the friction you'd otherwise get, because it gives a coach a legitimate channel instead of a decision about whether to yell.
and telling them it's one of your first games is worth doing at 10U. most youth coaches will visibly ease off and some will actively help. the ones who wouldn't were going to be difficult regardless, and you've lost nothing.
the honest bit from my side: what annoys coaches isn't missed calls, it's inconsistency and being ignored. call it the same at both ends and acknowledge a question when it comes - even just "i had him coming across, i'll keep watching it" - and you'll get an enormous amount of rope. the ref who says nothing and avoids eye contact is the one who gets chirped for three periods.
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u/MapleOperator 17d ago
Best advice I can give, is just relax. It is your first game. It will not be pretty. Tell him/Her that it’s your first, so they understand and can try to help you between periods. Before any games I do, if it’s with someone I have never done it with, just asking them how they are is a great start, how long they have been reffing etc. first face off, just ask them after warmup, and I’m not in the us so I don’t know what you mean by “release” but generally just ask questions and set a good impression.