Jan 03, 2018 | Jon Thompson | 921 views
HELP WANTED
To err is human; to forgive, divine. Alexander Pope
Some of the most interesting chatter in minor hockey circles revolves around the on ice official (s). Too many times it is that of blame. Very little it is that of responsibility. And almost never it is that of THANKS.
Across this great Country we lose almost 40% of its officials each year. What is alarming is that most of the turnover is due to officials getting sick and tired of receiving abuse from teams and parents. In other words, the officials have decided that it just isn't worth the money to have their self-esteem battered night after night. Especially the younger, level one and two officials, they basically just decide that it's not for them and that it's a terrible part-time job.
Glen Hurley, the head of officiating at Hockey New Brunswick, said he's losing 400 referees and linesmen every year because of the verbal harassment they receive. Hurley said local minor hockey associations must do more to support officials by keeping abusers away from the referees, because appeals to the public are not enough. "Most people who go to a minor hockey game just sit back and enjoy the game and that's it," Hurley said. "It's that 10 per cent that cause the problem."
Most hockey organizations invest four or five years of development time in officials. During that time the official gains experience and rises through the ranks to arrive at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels where the situation gets extremely volatile. By then, many of them have had enough and quit.If the trend continues - what parents and hockey organizations will face is a drastic escalation of the rates which are paid to officials.
If the "job" is becoming more difficult, it will require a much higher level of remuneration in order to make it worthwhile to do the work.
Being a referee is truly a thankless job. No matter what you do, someone is not happy. Referees are human. They are a husband or a daughter or a brother to someone. So next time you get a chance THANK a REF!! Better yet, become one and see the game differently.
RESUMES ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.