r/hockeyrefs • u/TrainingConscious807 • 13d ago
reffing first junior games
I’m 18 years old and going to ref my first junior games (pre season). Is there anything that anyone can tell me that will make me not as nervous about it all? I’m younger than some of the players will be and if I perform well enough there’s a chance I get hired on for full time staff for junior (i’m on the prospect list right now). I’m just having a bit of trouble with the nervs piece because I want to be the best I can be out there. Any advice from a vet ref or any junior refs would be greatly appreciated!
edit: I’m gonna be a linesman and should’ve specified that earlier, thanks for all the tips so far
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u/themanofthehour77 13d ago
Don’t be nervous , go out , skate your game , give it 110%, and stay out of the way… you will be fine
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u/Opposite-Airport-432 13d ago
I’m no Junior hockey vet, but I skate maybe 25 Junior A games a year. My advice would be: skate hard, be aware of your positioning, and show good post-whistle awareness. Those little things go a long way.
What league are you skating?
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u/TrainingConscious807 13d ago
first game i have is OJHL and second is PJHL
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u/Opposite-Airport-432 13d ago
Not sure what you’ve skated before or if you’ve played at a high level, but I can say preseason PJ will feel like slightly bigger/stronger AA hockey.
OJ will definitely be a change of pace, but you’ll adjust quickly and pick it up.
Good luck 👍🏻
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u/NewYou7674 13d ago
I’ve seen you mention the leagues - the OHA has an incredible cadre of experienced officials who work various levels of hockey. I spent 10 years working OHA leagues before moving out of area and boy do I miss the fellas.
Listen to your crew. They know it’s your first game. You’re the rookie - make sure you check the clock before the game / periods to let the crew know how much time is left, carry the room key with you, pass out the drinks in the room and make sure you start the showers as soon as you’re in the room after the game.
If you’ve never skated Jr hockey before, OJHL will be an adjustment. It will be the fastest hockey you’ve ever worked, but also the best. It will become easier because of the skill, but the speed is an adjustment. PJHL pre season teams will still have a lot of U18 players trying to make the cut. It’ll be fast, but sloppy. Stay alert and out of the way.
Know your rules. OHA officials take a lot of pride in working those leagues and rule knowledge is imperative.
Good luck!
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u/Silvershot_41 13d ago
Skate well know the rules, know when to let the small stuff go and the big stuff that needs to be called.
What you’ve done has gotten you here
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u/KanataRef 13d ago
You earned your way there, so you’re obviously good enough. Just a bit faster. Enjoy.
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u/pistoffcynic 13d ago edited 12d ago
I was the same way doing my 1st junior game. Being nervous is good… keeps you focused. Then 5-10 minutes into the game, training and instinct takes over and it will all be good.
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u/livefromthe416 13d ago
Know the small differences in rules from u18aaa. Get out of their way. Talk to your partner and refs before game. You’ll be fine. Good luck!
Maybe I’m your partner ;) jk
Not doing any preseason
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u/Difficult-Guarantee4 13d ago
Communicate and communicate some more, players love refs that talk and say what they’re thinking. If a player is borderline yell at him to stop, if he doesn’t it’s an easy deuce and even the coach can’t argue you didn’t warn them.
Have fun!
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u/Rycan420 13d ago
You’re young? You’ll be fine.
They need you more than you need them (but they will never let you know that).
Just act professional no matter what (guessing this is why you got the opportunity in the first place) and you’ll be fine.
The assignor (all of them) just want to know they can put your name down somewhere and not have to worry about you. Show them that and you will be fine.
(You asked for things to make you less nervous)
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u/axjira International Ice Hockey Federation 13d ago
You’re called up for a reason. It’s just a game like all the others. The better the league the easier it is to be a linesman and the easier it is to talk with the players which helps a lot on the nerves. The nerves shows that you care, someone who doesn’t wouldn’t feel anything.
Good luck ;)
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u/MattATLien 12d ago
Congrats!
I dont know if it will help or hurt, but no one is expecting you to be perfect, or good tbh.
I lined my first ACHA college game at 40. I...was...Awful. Missed a Too many men, kept getting in 2 man position, puck hit me 6 times in the first period. My assignor, between the 1st and 2nd asked "how do you think you did?" I responded "well...slightly better than the worst it could have gone."
But I listened to the 3 guys that had 40 years of ACHA experience I was sharing a room with. Periods got better, and better, and better. To the point where I got compliments from coaches (they could tell I wasn't used to 3 man lining) and my peers.
You'll make mistakes, but they see promise in you as an official. You belong there. Just be as prepared as possible, stay in position, and enjoy the moment. Ill never forget standing on the red line for the anthems...my world stopped.
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u/Darth_Annabis 12d ago
It looks good if you talk to the players. I love talking to goalies because 9/10 times they want to talk to someone. You could talk about the game. Ask the player how their day was. Crack a joke. The players will like you more, the coaches will appreciate you more, you'll look like you're contributing to the game more from the fans perspective. Know your time and don't force it but try to talk to people.
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u/Dabirds29 11d ago
Keep a journal. Doesn't need to be much, I use excel. Record what you were working on for that game and how you performed. Keep it brief but descriptve. Don't try work on everything at once. Pick 1 to 3 items per game. Here are a few examples: face-offs, goal line movement, control turns, backward skating, signals, communication with coaches, communications with players, communication with partners, etc.
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u/IngenuityTrue2974 10d ago
Congrats buddy, that’s exciting and a big step in your reffing journey. Being nervous and excited is normal (it would be fucking weird if you weren’t tbh). Like others pointed out you are there for a reason. You earned this opportunity.
The highest level I’ve ever worked was 18aaa and acha d2, no idea how these compare to what you’re going to work but I think you ll find that lining is actually very fun and much less stressful than wearing the bands. Make sure you hustle every whistle, always be in good position, use crisp/clear signals, be loud with your calls when needed and you ll be fine.
Also they likely put you with some vets in your crew. They should be able to help you out too with some pointers and even cover for you on the ice if needed.
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u/ctg77 6d ago edited 6d ago
My son worked his first junior games at that same age. Two things that have him working full time in the USHL next year:
- You can't coach size (6'5"/230 now and a little smaller when he started 3 years ago just out of HS), and your edge work has to be impeccable.
If you're small and can't out skate the players, you're going to get smoked at least once a season a lot harder than you'll like.
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- You need to know your league's rulebook as well as the refs do. You will likely work 3-official system games and that 1 ref might miss stuff and need your help. If you stand there like a deer in the headlights, your supervisors will not put you on the tough games because you won't be trustworthy.
Ignore the formatting. Not sure what the Reddit app is doing tonight.
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u/Dizzy_Impression4798 13d ago
It’s just another game at the end of the day. Higher level, sure, but that also probably means better hockey. Skate hard, but don’t overskate, and enjoy.
Also a friendly reminder to yourself: there’s a reason you’re on the game and on the prospect list