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Even Officials Have Off Days Once In a
While |
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| The following comment was made by one of our readers. Greg
Snyder offers an answer to the reader in one of his editorials below: |
"Every referee reads from
the same rule book. If referees would simply call by the book and
show more consistency, players and coaches would be required to
accept that standard and abide by it. I think that until all
referees think and act the same way and administer the rule book the
way it was intended, we will continue to see problems on the ice, on
the bench and in the stands. Nothing in this world is consistent any
more. We don't need to see this on the ice."
Sam: from Newmarket, Ontario |
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Sam,
please excuse my sarcasm but perhaps we could start cloning Marty
Kirwan, Paul Stewart or Kerry Fraser would that help? We do
all read the same rulebook but unfortunately we are all human and we
interpret some rules differently from province to province, city to
city and even referee to referee. With 86 rules and approximately 355
subparagraphs (I was bored one night) you will never ever get different
referees to call the same penalty on different situations. Game management
has alot to do with it. I find this is a term that most coaches and
parents have never even heard of.
Notwithstanding
this we are expected to arrive at the rink and have our best game night
in and night out. I will tell you a little story: The other night I was
refing a Midget playoff game. I am in the military and I still had my
uniform on when I got to the rink, I just finished a 12 hour day. I was
in a pissy mood. Was my game consistent from the night before? No way. Was
I consistent throughout the game? Yes I was. Everytime I called a
penalty and the players voiced their opinion going to box I gave them
another Minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. I did this about 4-5
times. You would have thought they would have gotten the message after
the first two times but I guess not. My point is, players go in
slumps and have a bad game because there girlfriend broke up with them
before the game or whatever the reason. Officials have lives,
careers and spouses, we have off games. Believe me you do not have to
remind me when I am off because I know it well before the fans. Thanks
you.
Greg
Snyder
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