Imagine stepping onto the ice for a game of hockey and, as the puck drops, instantly hitting the center ice button on your remote control. As the action unfolds before your eyes, you’ll be able to follow the game and make critical calls as easily as turning on Netflix to watch the latest episode of House of Cards.
It would be the perfect world. And it could very well happen, thanks to new technology that is making it easier than ever for officials to follow the action remotely and make calls on the fly.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that this article does not contain any explicit hockey information. What it does contain, however, is rules governing ice hockey that can be used to understand and follow the game more easily.
Table of Contents
Ice Hockey Rules
The first and most important rule of ice hockey is to have fun. It’s about time your life became more exciting than just working hard and playing hard, although those are definitely necessary. After a hard day at work, the last thing you want to do is go out on the ice and frustrate yourself with bad ice hockey practices. That will cause you more harm than good.
The second and most important rule of ice hockey is to follow the rules. They vary from league to league, but generally speaking, they are designed to ensure that every game is played fairly and the outcome is determinable by the rules. This rule especially applies to minor leagues and recreational leagues because the outcomes of the games are not always predictable, especially in today’s world of advanced analytics and sophisticated scouting reports.
The third rule of ice hockey is to keep the puck in the center of the ice. This rule prevents the game from becoming too physical and potentially dangerous. There have been cases where a player has been hurt badly enough due to getting hit with a puck that it required surgery. While this is a rare occurrence, it is something that you want to avoid at all costs.
How To Ref In A Different Country
If you’ve ever stepped on a hockey rink somewhere other than your home country, you’ll know that the climate can be a bit different. You might be used to the cold, but the snow and the ice certainly are a new experience for you.
When you visit another country, you need to follow a few simple customs. First off, you must shake hands with your counterpart once the game has ended. This is not a ceremonial courtesy shake but a true, functional one. It is also a way of keeping score and adding an element of respect to the already competitive game. If this is a regular occurrence for you and the other officials, then you can bet that it will become a regular habit for your players as well.
How To Ref In A Different Language
If you’ve ever watched a game of hockey and been unable to follow what was happening, you’ll know that it can be frustrating. For example, maybe you’re in Italy and the game is in French. You’ll have no idea what is being said and you’ll have a hard time keeping track of the action. This can make it difficult to offer good officiating. Sometimes, you might end up saying something in French that isn’t exactly appropriate. Like calling a player dirty or offering an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for boarding.
To avoid this, learn the language. If you’re going to be in a country where a language you don’t speak is spoken, it’s your obligation to at least try and learn what is being said. In a similar way, knowing a second language allows you to read lips and understand what is being said even when the game is in a different language than you’re accustomed to. This will make you a more valuable official and ensure that everyone, including your players, will be able to understand what is going on.
How To Improve Your Awareness Of The Game
If you’ve ever watched a hockey game and been completely engrossed in the action, you’ll know how difficult it can be to take a break from the action and focus on other things. It’s not that you don’t want to, it’s just that your brain automatically focuses on the game, even when there’s something else that you’re supposed to be doing. This is why it’s important to have a break from the game sometimes. Even though you’re following the rules and calling the shots correctly, your players can still go out there and have some fun, even if it’s just for a little bit. This will help them stay fresh and ready for action, while also giving you time to process what you’ve seen and called.