Web 2.0 meet Ref 2.0

Ultimate Officials is a personal training and hockey referee
mentoring program that teaches, promotes, and evaluates
primarily on the web and through video.

Just staying with the times. See this:

This is Cool...Can't Wait Until February

Even these guys wear the "STOP" patch!:

This is Funny (the link) and True - Where do you fit in?

This guy, Justin Bourne, is a good, funny, interesting writer. One of the things I like about his blog is that he is just removed from being a hockey player. The guy used to play for University of Alaska-Anchorage, which means that I worked the ice for a number of his games in college (which I feel some type of personal connection to him, whether there is one or not).

See his latest post [HERE].

The game is a changing. The way you prepare as an official is changing. What to do???? Hope you keep up? ( you can wish in one hand and crap in the other...see which one fills up first). You can take two weeks off and then quit.

Or...

You can "Bring It". Imagine if you had an off ice workout plan that was hockey-referee specific. Imagine if you had one that created more power. Imagine if you had an off ice workout that made you faster. Imagine if you had a workout that could do some of the following:

"I have lost 13 pounds and have been eating very healthy and dring lost of water and no pop. So far so good. My wife is glad I am sticking to it and is amazed that I can."

"I got my skating times to top 25% at the camp, shaved what I believe to be nearly ½ a second of my 40yard forward sprint (down to under 5!) got my backward time down as well and added 1.5 laps to the hell-on-ice “3:00 drill.”"

"I am down almost 2.5 inches in the waist and over 6 pounds in 3 weeks!"

"I have lost 1.5 inches off my waist, yet I have still gained 4 pounds overall. This is exactly what I set out to do. While a majority of people may be looking to lose weight, I am actually hoping to gain weight through muscle mass and gaining definition and strength. So far, so good.
It also goes without saying that my strength gains have been incredible. "

I am looking for you if want this stuff. Serious inquiries only. Check this out:

I've Been Spotting More Lean and Mean Refs Out There

This says it all:

Get You Faster. Period.

This is one example of the video analysis we will do with you. See the videos below:

In fact, we offer this analysis FREE of CHARGE!

What do I need to get started?

1. Video Camera: This service is being provided 100% online. Thus, the only way that I can see your swing is using video. (If you are looking at purchasing a new video camera, I would highly recommend any of the Sony HD video cameras.)

2. Camera Set Up: Ideally, we get a shot of you coming at the camera from the FRONT, a shot of you going away from the camera from the BACK, and a shot from the side.

3. Video of Skating: Take a couple of shots (a) skating forwards, (b) skating backwards.

4. Send Swings: Once you have video taped your swings, send them to info@ultimateofficials.com. You should receive an email from me within 48 hours confirming I have received your information. You may be asked to fill out a short survey. If you are, please fill it out quickly and thoroughly.

5. Coaching Tips/Training Tips: I will edit and produce a video clip, much like the ones you see here, and a workout plan will be included. There will be specific information on exercises to make your stride more powerful, quicker, faster "first-step speed", and with greater agility.

(NOTE: These training tips are not included in the video. These are techniques I have learned from teaching hundreds of skaters over 15 years, and I only save those for the hockey referees who are SERIOUS).

Why I Love the C+ Guys with Heart

Infatuation may be too strong of a word when it comes to my admiration of Chris Chelios as a player. Why do I like him so much? Why did I like Wes Walz so much? Why do I like Owen Nolan so much?

Because they have heart.

I get asked by people all the time "who is the type of hockey referee you are looking to work with?" I tell them, it is certainly not the hot-shots. I can't stand those guys. You know who I am talking about...they have ALL the answers, they know-it-all, they are UN-coachable (I saw a lot of those dudes in the JODP -- uggh, just because you're working junior games don't mean jack squat).

I am looking for the guys who are the C+ skill level and play WAYYYY above their talent by using heart. Chris Chelios may have been a "straight A" player at one point in his career, but he has worked his ass off to continue to play well into his 40's.

I seriously doubt Wes Walz scored high on any battery of tests, but there was no one who could touch him when it came to heart power. I see the same in Owen Nolan now.

And, I saw a lot of that this past weekend in the Ultimate Officials Training Camp during the MN Blades tourney. I see that every week in the guys who are busting some serious butt at the treadmill sessions and in the morning skates, and in the training times when NOBODY IS WATCHING (yikes...that's the key to developing more heart power).

Here's my boy:

It Was 5 Years Ago Now...

That I lost my mother to cancer. She was 56 years old. Too young.

It was that fall, 2oo4, when a good friend of mine, Brian Thul, who had lost his father to cancer the year before, and I decided to play a golf game and take all of our bets and donate them to the American Cancer Society.

There were six golfers that year:

Brian Thul*
Jeff Beckers*
Brian Johnson
Brad Albers
Lisa Albers
myself*

And we donated $240 to ACS. In about 9 hours, 55 people will tee off for the 6th Annual Zebra Open - Take a Swing at Cancer. Over the years we have raised over $8,500. That's awesome. I am proud to run this tournament and I can't wait to see all of my good friends at the golf course.

Hockey people are the best kind of people in the world. And hockey referees are the best of the hockey people. I am glad to call them all friends.

(*) Have been present at every single Zebra Open

Here's a commercial from last year:

OK...So, I am NOT this INTO Twitter!

Those on the SWAT Team know that I am all about using Twitter for accountability purposes. The psychological effects of answering to someone that "you are doing what you said you were going to do" is highly effective.

In fact here are some "tweets" I received yesterday (my comments in Blue):

"Had a good weekend at camp, I made the program passed level 4 skating exam so I thought it was a good weekend gotta get back to work"

(This guy is referring to the Jr. Officials Development Program Camp that was held in South St. Paul this past weekend. One step towards his ultimate goal(s). The guy has been busting his butt, wants it bad, and puts his accountability on the line. How about you??).

"Invited to pool party hit chest back and biceps first. Going to stick to the meal plan as best as I can. ps no booze"

(The PGA Championship just wrapped up this past weekend in Minnesota. Even though Tiger Woods lost on the Final Day for the first time in his career at a Major, he definitely impressed the home crowd with his work ethic. This ref is keeping his nose to the grindstone = payoff in the future).

"Seriously my best session of Kenpo yet. True DNA removal. To date, I have an X on every workout on my calendar. BRING IT!"

(An X on everyday. I love it! Who's keeping up with this guy?? That's commitment. That's raising the bar high! That's building a reputation. My favorite quote = 'You don't build a reputation on what you are GOING to do.")

"Hey thanks for everything......i made the junior program....all the hard work is paying off."

(Don't you find it hard to work so hard for something that might not pay off until some time down the road? The problem with immediate gratification is that it takes too long. Another favorite quote: "It takes 15 years to build an overnight success." By the way, this guy is bringing serious heat!)


On the lighter side of sports and twitter, here's Kenny Mayne:

Where are the Referees???

In my lifetime of hockey, there have been some INCREDIBLE changes in coaching, training, specialization, and musculo-skeletal development.

In fact...that's not just in hockey, it is apparent in every sport.

Where is the Referee coaching, training, specialization, and development models to keep pace??

There are none...Until NOW!

The SWAT Team I work with are doing some intense, wicked stuff. It's about getting results - both physically and mentally - that pays dividends in Bigger and Better Games.

To join an elite type of training where you will receive "Hockey Referee Specific Training" (the players in this video are building muscles because they body check, they dig in the corners, they battle in front of the net, etc. (refs don't do that...unless they are breaking up a fight)...

click here for more

Girls Kick Butt - installment no. 2

From the latest USA Hockey Magazine [Women's Team Climbing Mountains]

I read stuff all the time. The Sport's Page of the newspaper...Sports Illustrated...The Hockey News...all kinds of hockey blogs...OK, OK...

It's not all Sports/Sports/Sports (Dan "The Common Man" Cole reference, for those who know what I'm talking about).

I do read about World War II, the Apollo Space Program, autobiographies of super successful people. The book I am reading right now is "Feel for the Game" by Ben Crenshaw. I bought it at a church fundraiser for $3. I find bits and pieces of motivation there.

You want some good motivation? Go to: www.twitter.com/UND_WIH

Follow Brian Idalski, the women's coach at University of North Dakota Hockey Team, and then make sure you have your twitter account set up to receive "mobile alerts" so the updates are sent by text to your phone. Here are a couple of gems I received over the weekend from Brian:

"Give me 100%. You can't make up for poor effort today by giving 110% tomorrow. U don't have 110% U only have 100% & I want it from U now!"

John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach of the Universe

"If you want to take the island, then burn your boats. With absolute commitment come the insights that create real victory"-Robbins

I get an update on my phone (I get updates of those who are participating in the 12 Week Transformation, too, and, funny enough, the ones who are doing the most are the one's who are updating the most.

The guys I never hear from...well, they aren't doing 'jack squat'.

So...I love getting updates from guys via twitter who are kicking butt and taking names. Who would have thunk? Twitter an accountability piece! That's how I use it.

These updates give me motivation to get to work myself.

Social aptitude...you're a part of a great event!

Join in...push yourself...seriously...I have refs kicking butt and taking names.

(Just look at my "tweets" on the right hand side of this blog)

The Evidence is There

Training...you want to be a Better Referee, with Bigger Games?

You can do a few things to help:

1. Train better
2. Train smarter
3. Do what works.
4. Do what is Proven to Work

Here's some results (these are real, not made up, and anonymous, because I want to respect each person's anonymity...mine is the first one, though :):

Case Study #1. Lost 10 lbs, added two inches to chest size, 1/2 inch to arms, one inch to legs, dropped 2 inches from waist

Case Study #2. "Success: Today I decided it was time to do a skate. It is a nice morning, sure I did PlyoX until 11PM last night, but psshhhh I'll be alright, and besides, I didn't really feel like doing the Vinasas from the CardioX vid. So I strapped em up and hit the pavement. And after 5 weeks of P90X I have replaced 4 months of skate training. Today I skated my St Cloud Loop in 43:09:00. Not only does that blow away my pathetic attempt in May, it beats my best time around that loop by nearly 2 minutes, after all of 10 hours after PlyoX.

What did I learn:

Number 1: It's working, no longer need to search for motivation.
Number 2: My cardiovascular strength is better today than it was on Marathon Day
last fall.
Number 3: I recover... REALLY fast.  What used to take a minute to go from gassed
to ready is now about 15 seconds.
Number 4: For the first time in my life, my lungs outlasted my legs.  I need to
really start to bring it with my legs.
Number 5: I need to take in more nutrition.  I am bonking a little in spots and
need to make sure to take in enough high quality proteins and calories. "

Case Study #3:
"I am up 2 pounds (to a steady 155 from 153) with drinking 24 oz 2% Milk
with 60g of protien immediately following my workout each day. My goal was
15 in 90 days, but I would be satisifed with 12. I have never felt so good
being so sore. I feel muscle groups being used and worked that I havent
used before. I havent noticed any gain in size, muscle definition, or
skating ability, but I wont start looking for those until week 8 or so.

Hopefully this will gives others confidence, or let them know they arent
the only ones struggling through the first couple weeks."

Case Study #4:
"I'll come clean to all of you that I
have not been as dedicated as I need to.
I have done 1 1/2 P90X work-outs and my overall schedule hasn't worked for me to get
back on it.  No excuses - I just haven't done it. 
P90X is the answer and I WILL get on it or all of you b*stards are going to kick
my *ss out there - and I don't want that! "



(someone told me I am the billboard - here goes):

Video "Fire Side Chat"

The fireside chats were a series of thirty evening radio speechges give by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt. The time was 1933-1944.

This was a term that R.H. "Bob" Peters, former coach of Bemidji State University hockey, used when he would have "heart to heart" sit down with one of his players in his office.


Well, I'm bringing the "fireside chat" to Ultimate Officials. This is a monthly feature that will start on Tuesday August 4th at 7:30pm and continue once a month going forward.

Anyone and everyone is invited to my house to review a series of actual games that highlight referee mechanics, positioning, strategy, and discussion. A 'war story' or two may break out as well.

Below I have included a small sample of what we will use...this is NHL game footage and the topic is "Goal Line Positioning".

I look forward to "chatting with you". RSVP to let me know you'll be attending. This is another complimentary event that I look forward to sharing with all of the great referees out there. Portions of the "chat" will be video taped and made available upon request.

THANKS!

R. H. "Bob" Peters

Peters the first coach to win 700 or more games at a single school; 13 small-college national championships; and still-standing national collegiate records for most wins in an unbeaten season (31-0-0 in 1983-’84) and longest unbeaten streak (43 games from Nov. 8, 1983 to Jan. 1, 1985). Today, only one coach in the sport — Michigan State’s Ron Mason — has won more games at the collegiate level.

email: info@ultimateofficials.com

say, "I'll Chat on Tue Aug 4!"

It's a Great Day for Hockey

Just had to put this up, because...well...it's pretty cool: