At the risk of sounding like an old grandfather, who always reminisces about the "good ol' days" I am going to talk about the mid 1990's...get a little nostalgic for you and talk about history, tradition, and culture.
For those of you who may have heard this before, I speak about a group of officials that I came up through the ranks with. It was a time when there was a serious camaraderie and culture of not necessarily excellence, BUT A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE (you see, we were all a little green, and had many lessons to learn, but we committed to each other).
This "TEAM O
F OFFICIALS" was led by the likes of Teddy Olson. In 1995, many members of this "TEAM OF OFFICIALS" went to Western Regional Camp and kicked ass and took names. From that group there has been an NHL linesmen, 5 WCHA officials, numerous IIHF assignments, and numerous USA Hockey National Championship assignments.It was a "Commitment to Excellence". (Do you like the Raiders? Me, I am a Vikings guy...poor me. And, no, I don't want Brett Favre around. I would like a real quarterback, but I don't want him.)
This was the culture that was created. Have you ever belonged to something special in your life. A group that was truly unique? Other than this time in the mid 1990's, I would seriously have to go all the back to my first years in PeeWees and Bantams. Maybe my freshman year of football. That's about it -- maybe you don't have any such memory. Would you like to start a new memory?
LET'S FAST FORWARD TO ABOUT 2004 -- No more culture...no more commitment to anything. Sure, our "team" from the mid 1990's was out rockin' and doing things in our own referee careers, but nobody was following us. The former Minnkota district was allowed 8 slots at the Western Regional Camp, based upon the number of registered officials we have. Only 4 guys went. Our "team" went from kicking ass and taking names to not even being able to fulfill a quota. Now that sucks.
Time to do something about it...
Fast forward to 2009 - there is a great group of guys going to Western Regional Camp this year. The quota is filled! With quality, not just quantity. There are some great guys going to MHOA Camp and the Minnkota Camp. National Camp has some quality representation. There is a change in the air. Ultimate Officials invites all who want to be a part of a "Commitment to Excellence".
Someone asked me, "What's the ideal person for this team?" My answer was, "I am looking for the C+ type guy who is hungry as hell. The local guy who wants to be his best and work the Bantam championship game. They may be 22 years old, or the may be 46 years old. But they have GOT to have that hunger. And they have GOT to want it bad."
SNEEZERS
I have talked about Sneezers before, too. [Sneezers] send things through the air, too. They are the ones who REALLY make things happen.
Who are the Sneezers in your midst who can help you out?
After all, it is more about associations than anything else that can REALLY move your career forward [Read here].
To put this part plain and simple, last night I was at the Velocity Hockey Center with 8 gentlemen who have a "Commitment to Excellence". They are part of a new culture here who are hungry and want it bad. Whether they realize it or not, they are also a placing themselves amongst some Sneezers...there is the head trainer at the center named Kevin Ziegler. He has trained and does train NHL players. He has been asking for awhile (unknown to me) that a group of USHL refs come train there. He has wanted referees to come in, get off their butt, and take their game to the next level. Well, Bubba, he's got them now.
Do you think there will be talk? About the fact that 8 referees are now going to be showing up on a regular basis to train? Oh yeah...
There are Sneezers in your midst who make things happen, and you never know who they may be. Guess what?? I'll tell you.
Better tell you friends. Because there's something in the air...
1 comment:
Although I am not well known in the Minnesota area, I am known in the North Dakota area along with my dad and brother. I can tell you having a dad that is kind of like the Buzz Olson of North Dakota, that I too have had some help but mostly insight on what is available. I know what the supervisors look for and mostly, listen for. My dad has said that when he is reffing a game with a guy on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of June that can be a shit bowl game, it isn't always the first place anybody wants to be. He can accept that most would rather be golfing. However, you are a referee and you signed up for that game and you are there to better yourself on the off-season too. Personally, I take the amount of games in the summer tournaments that I feel will give me a good workout, without making me lazy or just do a half-ass job. Mike Schmidt has warned of this issue for the Fargo referees with the summer Pepsi Classic. We are usually short of officials and they need us to do multiple games. I do my part by taking no more than 6 games a weekend, but unlike other guys, I will ref every weekend when the others are tired out after the first weekend of 15 games. Know your limits, but also test your limits and get uncomfortable at times. I have found that when I am more stressed my level of officiating goes down and that is when I start making errors. The biggest mistake guys make is to not ref to your potential especially when a supervisor is working the game with you! I know this seems basic but guys don't do it! Then, January comes around and these guys are the first to complain for not getting a regional or state play-off spot. My dad takes things like attitude and remembers those things. It isn't always just one mistake it is usually a series of events. These supervisors understand that we have good games and bad but they also know that we should be doing our best no matter what! So remember that there is always someone watching and listening. In the lockerroom, we tend to vent and said what is on our mind, be sure to be careful how you address things about the game you are doing or just completed. And never put down another official. Word travels fast and you are wrecking your chances as well as the others by doing so. What goes around comes around in all aspects of life.
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