Favre, Babe Ruth, and USA Hockey

I am pumped to talk about these three seemingly unrelated topics - Brett Favre, Babe Ruth, and USA Hockey - and the main reason I am pumped is because it just might have to do with you.

Let's talk about USA Hockey first...

The Winter Olympics are coming up in a few weeks.  I love the Olympics.  I love the hockey tradition of the Olympics.  If you were to ask me about the strongest memories of anything hockey related from when I was a young kid in the early 1980's, I definitely list: (a) East Grand Forks' Section 8 Champion Teams and State Tourney Participants in 1980 and 1982 (damn...didn't the State Tourney seem so totally magical back in those days?!?) - never mind that both teams went "O-fer"...(b) the 1980 and 1982 National Championship UND Sioux teams (damn...I loved Howard Walker), and, of course, the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

Wow...those early 1980's....seemed like all of the teams I cheered for and loved...they were all champions.  Everybody was a winner!  I remember me and all my buddies would pretend to be those guys, playing boot hockey at recess.  We had Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, et. al.  It was my slice of Americana...my "Normal Rockwell" times.

The USA Hockey team was prepared, determined, and outworked their competition.  And they were highly trained by the master, Herb Brooks.


Next, let's talk about Brett Favre

The guy has one of his best seasons as a 40 year old!  The guy is a trained assasin!  He's a cold-blooded killer!  And I mean all of that in a good way!  He has to be included in the arguments of one the best all time clutch players.  He has something mentally that pushes him to deliver over and over and over and over again.

Prior to this football season, I was a luke-warm Favre guy.  When the Vikings made themselves look like fools, falling all over him to sign him, I was still luke warm.  It wasn't until he destroyed his Green Bay buddies that I really fell in love with the guy.  His competitive nature, that is.

Favre and the 1980 USA Hockey team and training and competition.  Both good things in my eyes.



Lastly, let's talk about Babe Ruth...

Babe Ruth baseball, that is.  I played organized ball all the way through my freshman year.  Back in little ol' East Grand Forks, we never had Varsity baseball (still don't), we just had summer ball.  I played every summer until I got into high school.  I stopped because of an ACL injury and wanting to get a summer job.

That last year of playing Babe Ruth, we had the District tournament in Red Lake Falls, MN (for those of you who watch my videos on UO Teaching Videos, may know that Red Lake Falls played "The Final Countdown" by Europe).  And they played it at that tournament...over...and over...and over again.

Anyway, I played for the EGF A's, which was the best 15 year olds and a couple 14 year olds.  There was one more Babe Ruth team from EGF, which was the EGF Blue Jays, which was the best 14 year olds and a few 15 year olds.  The very last game of organized baseball I ever played was my A's team against the Blue Jays, and the Blue Jays beat us (doh!).  Knocked us out of double elimination.

• They beat us because they had more focus.
• They beat us because they had great coaching (we did, too).
• They beat us because they played with more heart that day.
  

• They beat us because their heart, focus, and coaching put Jason Hearn in centerfield, where he normally played infield, and the mother-effer ran down every bomb we hit into the outfield, including three of mine.  I mean, the only reason I had three fly outs is because Hearn ran down all three of my line drives like a gazelle (the guy was an athlete and played like a champ).  The only reason he didn't snag my fourth hit is because I hit the outfield fence in mid-air, thus limiting me to a 1 for 4 performance.

What does Jason Hearn, Favre, and the 1980 USA Hockey team have in common?

1. Training
2. Competition
3. The Heart of a Champion

And that's exactly what the camp participants form the [Ultimate Officials Early Season Referee Camp] have in common.  I could go on and on, but I think results speak for themselves:

• Helped produce a National Tournament participant and State Tournament participants
  

• Introduced some guys to influential members within the hockey referee world...established contacts and got a few guys on the "radar" (otherwise, they would be the best officials nobody knew about).
  

• Helped get some other referees Bigger and Better games (isn't that what it's all about?!?)...quality regular season games.

• Helped some of them make great gains [physically and mentally!]

• Helped coach some guys to make improvements through video and collaboration be actually watching their games, giving them honest feedback, and mapping out a plan for them.

• And, on a satisfying note for me...started to break the "Good Old Boys Club" (see Good Bye 'Old Boy Network' on the right hand side of this page).
  

 Are You Ready for Success?  Want to be trained for Success?  Want to be in a Competitive Environment that Promotes Success?  Want to have the Heart of a Champion?

The 2010 Ultimate Officials Late Season Referee Camp

(click on the above link)

Or email me: info@ultimateofficials.com -- say, "More Info for Feb Camp!"

"Like an Assassin"?

Mental Toughness to the Extreme...good? bad? unhealthy? what's your take?

Being a Vikings fan, I watched with more interest than usual for Monday night's MNF game featuring Favre vs. the Packers.  Of course, the Minneapolis area has been buzzing about this match up all week, if not since #4 signed with the Purple.

So, on my drive home from teaching school on Monday, I hear the local sports station interview Mike Ditka, and ask him how much of a revenge factor is going through Favre's head.  Ditka said it wouldn't be like that at all, it's all about the will to win and treating the game like that (or something or other).  "Yeah right," I thought, "this guy is gonna wanna rip through the Pack to make a statement, maybe his biggest statement to wrap up his career.

So, I am then watching the pre-game show on ESPN, which has Ditka, Boomer, Keyshawn, Cris Carter, and Tom Jackson.  Once again, the topic comes up about "whether this game is a revenge game for Favre or not."  Ditka gives his same answer that he gave KFAN earlier in the day on the radio - "Brett is more focused about winning.  It's not about revenge."

The other guys laughed at that one...

Cris Carter -- Cris was let go by the Philadelphia Eagles and Coach, Buddy Ryan, who said, "All he does is catch touchdowns."  When he was picked up by the Vikings and they played the Eagles, he wanted nothing more than to DESTROY them.  Final result: 6 receptions for 151 yards and a 78 yard TD on MNF.

Tom Jackson -- He said that he "made stuff up" about the opposing team, just so he could get into a 'revenge-type' mindset (WOW!).

They all commented on Michael Jordan's Basketball Hall of Fame speech, where he called all kinds of people out, really surprising the entire crowd, and turning many of them off [Story Here].  A former assistant coach of his on the Chicago Bulls said that Jordan is "like an assassin", meaning he's a cold-blooded killer, approached the game that way, and, therefore, dominated the game.

It got me thinking about an interview that Tiger Woods did with Barbara Walters on 20/20, and she asked something like, "Do you go into each tournament expecting to win."  His response was something like, "I don't even know why the others bother showing up. (DOUBLE WOW!).

All of this gets me thinking about referees.  In 2007, I did a Thesis project on "The Mental Apsects of Officiating."  One of the 5 common characteristics among elite level hockey refs is that they possess the "Mindset of a Champion."  Well...I'd hate to tell you and others who get squemish about such things, but these people who think like champions do wonder why others show up.  They are arrogant in some regards (most never act so outwardly -- it would diminsh their character -- but believe so inwardly.  They are obsessed with winning and do what it takes.

So, the question finally comes down to: "How bad do you want it?"  Really bad?  Or only if it is easy?  Referees aren't playing to win or lose.  But many do play for keeps.  It's a unique world where a hockey ref is in a brotherhood that is constantly in competition with each other.  There are [percentages that are always present] in the hockey referee world...where does your mindset, competitive streak, and drive fall on that percentage?

Are you "like an assassin"?  I know I am. I know that Favre played like one on Monday. (One more WOW!).

[SWAT Team]

9/11 - We Remember - We Learn?

It was just this past May when I talked about Mark Bavis [see here], but I wanted to do so again, on this Sept. 11, 8 years after the tragic event.

See my video...

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Girls Kick Butt! -- The Goals You Have Determine the Work to Get There

You Want Bigger and Better Games...


Right?

That's my assumption. I highly doubt that you are sitting around at your house, or you woke up this morning, and said, "I wish someone would ask me to join a Fitness Contest today!"

I highly doubt that you are that much into physical fitness that would be wanting such a thing. That's my other assumption (you know what they say about people who assume???).

However, permit me the opportunity to work with you and I will help you get those bigger and better games. Here is just a small sampling of what others have said about the programs:

"JB i have started my workout process... I am putting it on the line hear, i will be transformed into a great official... I am going to put forward every effort on this, like i stated in a different email... I will stay in touch and u do the same, Thanks again JB for helping me on this."

Brandon G.

"JB, Thank you so much, that is great news!!! I plan on being apart of the new challenge.

You just made my day!! Thank you so much, I won't disappoint...Thank you for getting my name out
there, now I'll have to do the rest!!"

Shane P.

"I have seen quite a few power skating instructors in my life and JB was by far the most dynamic in his delivery; giving a wide variety of instructional methods and being able to demo them to a tee. You can tell that his passion for the game reflects in his instruction."

Chris Allman

Why do they push themselves? Why do they seek instruction and guidance? For the exact same reason that I choose to push myself = I want to experience the "high" of working in front of 19,500 fans again...I want to experience the satisfaction of receiving the email that you have been selected to work the semi-finals...I want to experience the feeling of "doing my best" and "a job well done."

It's not about the exercise. It's not about the supplements. It's not about the plan. It's about what it can get me. That's the same reason there are (2) girls up at Grand Forks, ND kicking butt on all the guys up there...they want [bigger and better things].


email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

say, "I want In!"

and become a part of something Bigger and Better for you!!!

#24 for Detroit - Is He Done???

Chris Chelios is my new idol for one reason and one reason only -- I will be the Chris Chelios of referees. If a writer like John Buccigross can have an obsession with Hakan Loob, then I can have my Chelios and his [Hour of Power] workout! He is still in the league at age 47 (to put that into some kind of referee years - that would be some kind of equivilant like reffing the NHL at age 77). Well...I'm 37, so I have a lot of [butt-kickin'] years to go!

E.J. Radek for espn.com just listed his Top Ten for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2009. Here was number 10:

"Detroit ageless warrior Chris Chelios, playing in what might have been his last NHL game (he didn't dress during the Cup finals, but isn't ready to retire), made an overtime rush in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Blackhawks at the Joe Louis Arena. The 47-year-old American hockey icon moved the puck from his own zone to the far blue line before passing it to a teammate on the right wing. He then continued to the net and nearly batted a rebound past Hawks goalie Cristobal Huet. That would have been quite a way for Chelios to go out. Of course, we're not sure he's done yet."

Lastly, I thank him for being the poster boy for hard work and determination. I love it!

Facing Your Fears - I Mean Really Facing Them

No...I mean really...define them...face them...get those sorry sonsabitches out of the way!

We just celebrated the anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in the history of this planet. One Hundred Fifty Thousand men stormed the beach that day. Think they were scared? Damn straight. But two things should be noted here:

1. Courage is not the absence of fear. It's having fear and acting anyways.

2. These men trained over and over and over -- in fact all military operations are that way -- so there is no hesitation. It is automatic.

Watch this video before going on:
(turn your speakers up)



I find this concept to be fascinating the more and more I consider it (if you don't "get it" right away, that's OK. Maybe take a look at it again and again, and THEN it will sink in). It's fascinating to me because I have always been about focusing on your goals -- what you want, where you want to go, how success would look. I have never focused on the fears. I just tried to ignore those...

BUT...

Ignoring them for me didn't make them go away. It just made it less painful maybe? I did things that wouldn't expose me to great pains -OR - as Tim Ferris is pointing out in this video, the perceived pains I MIGHT encounter...

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."

Epictetus

Trust me boys and girls, I have made decisions that would make most men mess their pants. I had a real estate business to up [see here]. I have had that same business crash and burn. Real friggin' hard. I have had cancer...had my Mom die from cancer...had my Dad have a stroke. I've seen the fearful side up close and personal. I just kept doing things that brought me closer to those goals I wanted, though. I knew life was short (see cancer-see stroke), and I wanted the most. I never really defined my fears, though (a fringe benefit from having a failed business and health threatened is that I know you will survive and live to tell about it another day).

I also know that I am fearful of be thought of as foolish and stupid. So, in an act to inoculate myself, here goes defining my fears about creating Ultimate Officials, the SWAT Team -- basically Ref 2.0 -the personal training and hockey referee mentoring program that teaches, promotes, and evaluates primarily on the web and through video.

Worst-Case Scenarios That Could Happen

• Others make fun of me
• Supervisors get pissed that I am working with officials in "their territory"
• The "Old Guard" gets pissed because I am asking for a subscription fee, when everything in the past has always been done on a volunteer basis (kind of - and I can actually argue this one 'till I'm blue in the face.

Things I could do to Minimize the Negatives

• Always act with integrity
• Offer a service that delivers
• Coach others up to a 100% effort level
• Improve officials, which makes a supervisors job MUCH, MUCH easier.

Actions I Can Take

• Follow my original business plan that I proposed back in 2007 to USA Hockey.
• Things included in the plan are:

1. Monthly newsletter, blog, paper newsletter, email updates, articles (done!)
2. Put on monthly FREE Seminars, focusing on skating, fitness, referee development
   
3. Have an "Interview of the Month" available to members
4. Run a Physical Fitness Contest with Prizes
5. Set up an online forum, workout sharing site, and resource center
6. Promote, teach, and develop referees from my book (that's reference #2 - I'm getting better already :).
   

Just like in the video, what would be my POSSIBLE pain from the first list? About a 5. What would be my potential gain if I minimized the POSSIBLE negatives and took action? Definitely an 10.

Stay tuned for many exciting, new, and, most definitely, different things from Ultimate Officials and the SWAT Team.

Game 7 - Slump Busters - and Talent

Did you watch game 6 last night? If not, look [here - click on that spinning play button circle]. If so, you saw a heck of a game by the Penguins, Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Wings! Being biased of course, I'd also say that the referees, Bill McCreary and Marc Joannette were great (personally, I like them more than the other tandem - although the other tandem does include an American and Paul Devorski, who is Mr. Big Nuts #2, behind McCreary).

Back to last night's game...The Pens win 2-1 and both of their goals were scored by whom??? Nobody named Crosby or Malkin (I'm not a big fan of Malkin, by the way, read the above link or the Game 5 notes). Who scored? Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy - two 3rd liners. Sweet!

I love lunch bucket guys!

Generally, I really can't stand prima-donnas. Allow the opportunity to explain the difference between a prima-donna and an all-star guy -- Wayne Gretzky was NOT a prima-donna, Mario Lemiux was NOT a prima-donna, and Joe Thornton is NOT a primma-donna. They are all incredibly talented guys who work their butts off. On the flip side, Marian Gaborik is a primma-donna -- not a whole lot of guts in that game...

Why do I love lunch bucket guys so much? Because I am one of them. I have never been overly talented...at anything. I have had to bring a whole lot of piss and vinegar to EVERYTHING I've done. That's why I enjoyed this article so much:

Justin Bourne, former U-Alaska Anchorage star

"I went through stretches of great success in college and pro hockey, tying together point streaks of double digit games on multiple occasions. As you may have guessed, I also went through stretches of great misery, tying together streaks of wall-punching and pulling my hair out at the root for double-digit games…on multiple occasions.

The standard song and dance about slump breaking is, in my opinion, what prolongs them.

“Keep it simple. Shoot from everywhere.”

Garbage.

Nothing twists the knife in your already-stabbed confidence like a goalie casually gloving down your shot from left field that you only took because technically, that spot by the boards at the blueline fell under the category of “everywhere.”

The only known antidote for the slump sickness, of course, is to work so hard Rod Brind’Amour looks lazy.

It takes a couple games of driving the net, hovering around the crease and generally playing violently before a shot from the point redirects off the bridge of your nose and goes in for you to get back to normal."

See the whole blog [here].

I've had the distinct pleaure of working out with some lunch bucket guys at Velocity Hockey Center, doing some gut-busting work on the skating treadmill.

I have had the VERY DISTINCT PLEASURE of working with some guys on some of the BEST and MOST EFFECTIVE and MOST REFEREE-SPECIFIC off-ice workouts out there.

All is sweet when the lunch bucket guy gets his...

p.s. Want any of the lunch bucket action? Contact me: info@ultimateofficials.com

Say, "I've got my lunch bucket"

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Here are the two artcile links mentioned in the video:

1. All-around stars
2. Early Recruiting for Basketball (this is a video)




Got Daily Discipline to Kick Butt and Take Names???

Email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

Superstitious or Not?

This is a link-o-rama to the Penguins Eastern Finals victory. I like the move by Crosby -- gutsy, not afraid, take the bull by the horns kind of attitude.

"We didn't touch the trophy last year, and obviously we didn't have the result we wanted," Crosby said. "We figured we'd touch it this year. Although we haven't accomplished exactly what we want, we still accomplished something here. You know, we can still enjoy it." -- Sidney Crosby on his decision to forget tradition and touch the Prince of Wales Trophy

Do you have superstitions or routines? I wouldn't necessarily say I am superstitious, but I do have a routine that gets my mind "game ready". Over the years I have found this helpful to ALWAYS be "on". That's one of the main differences I see between inexperienced guys and the solid veterans in hockey refereeing = the vets turn it on ALL THE TIME.

The closest I probably came to a superstition was when I played I changed shirts every period...even after warm ups. That's four shirts a game. I used to do that reffing, too. Decided that was too much laundry.

Here's the Kid defying superstition:

Why Hockey Refs Do What They Do...

Oft asked question to me...

Q: Why do you do it? I would never take all that abuse and stuff.

A: Rather than answering that, let's allow Ed Hochuli, NFL referee explain why:

"It's like having a main line of adrenaline running in your vein for three hours on Sunday night. It's like standing on a cliff."

This is a really, really good article [read here]. Thanks, Darren for sharing it with me!

ENJOY!

MMA and Hockey -- SWAT Team and DU Team

I was surfing the web, checking out some of my favorite blogs to read and I came across an article about the fact that the Denver University Hockey Team is going to train using Mixed Martial Arts training [Read post here].

These are exactly the types of exercises that I have been personally using and the one's that the SWAT Team for Ultimate Officials will be using as well.

Here are a few reasons why MMA training is beneficial for the game of hockey AND hockey officials:

1. emphasis on quickness, speed, and power

2. teaches you to master your body weight, and officials are never battling with someone else, so mastering your body weight is more specific than pushing on some resistance. (However, any resistance that does happen is when linesmen are "grappling" with some combatants. Therefore, I would rather be Royce Gracie than Bryant McKinnie).

3. MMA training is anaerobic training. You do these workouts, YOU WILL BE GASPING FOR AIR. Running sucks. Plain and simple. Tell me how running two miles helps you train for hockey. I haven't had anyone convince me yet.

If you want to know more than that, you'd better sign up for our SWAT Team. I know of some guys who are SERIOUSLY Bringing It! And they are fighting for the same spots in the same big games you are!

email me -- info@ultimateofficials.com ---- say "I Want In"

Who's Got More Grit? Owen Nolan of Jarome Iginla?

I love them both. Tough, gritty, team players, wear-their-heart-on-their-sleeve kind of guys. True embodiment of the game.

Definitely throw back, too. I could see these two playing along side Maurice Richard in the old days of the Original Six.

The game last night was entertaining in a more pure hockey playoff way -- no shenanigans like Game 3. Gotta love the skill, determination, and grit being displayed in the greatest game on earth.

My comment about last night's game is stolen from Pierre McGuire (I think he's great, too). Pierre talked about the fact that in the "old standard", a team like Chicago never would have been able to come back from a 4-1 deficit. A team like the Flames would have slowed the game down to a miserable crawl. That's why I love NHL hockey. It drives me absolutely nuts when I hear people cry and moan about tighter penalty standards, ESPECIALLY THAT INVOLVE OPEN ICE SKILL-TYPE PLAY, like you heard at the beginning of this WCHA. Now...I can't prove it, but I would say that a main reason you saw such great hockey action in this year's NCAA Tournament is because of the new standard.

Don't people realize what a great product that college hockey, high school hockey, youth, and NHL could have if we let the skilled players play and penalize the guys who want to clutch, grab, and make it the slowest game on earth?

Game 5 is gonna be a treat as well. I know my tivo is set!

Rant - Get Over Yourself - No Soup fo YOU!

Pathetic...

That's what I thought about the attitude of the two guys I was working with yesterday. I was working a game in the MJHL. It was a Sunday game and there were maybe 100 people at the game. (note: the Bantam A game between Bloomington Jefferson and Minnetonka before had a larger attendence)

My partners did not want to be there...

Made me ask a few questions:

Q: Why did you take the game in the first place? (btw, these are all rhetorical questions)

A: They wouldn't dream of turning down a game assignment, because they want to do whatever it takes to work a USHL game (well...they almost want to do whatever...they'll take whatever game assignment comes along, but they won't use the opportunity to work on their skill...they'd rather 'phone it in'.)

Q: What makes you so good that you are above this game?:

A: They'd rather complain about the assignment, about having the poor, unfortunate opportunity to work Jr. hockey in Minnesota, than look at themself in the mirror, bust their butt, and do something for the love of the game. Of all the officials I have known throughout the years, I have know a fair amount who have thought they were above the game -- and NOT one of them was ever an elite level official.

Q: (this is the question they asked me, when they heard I was going to Japan to work my 5th international assignment for USA Hockey) -- How do you get chosen to do that?

A: Not doing what you're doing...complaining, half-heartedly working, going through the motions. You see, I got these opportunities because I was worked hard, put myself into places where I would get noticed and recognition, and had some luck along the way.

To further prove my point, I want to reflect on the games I worked with past weekend:

Friday - NAHL game at Albert Lea -- Referee was young, ambitious, works his butt off, I've never heard him complain...AND...SUPRISE...gets the quality Jr. hockey games that everyone wants. The linesman was young, energetic, hard worker, looking to be the best he can be, and has had a good first year in Jr. hockey!

Saturday - High School JV and Varsity at Richfield - My JV partner and the linesman in the varsity game worked hard, was enthusiastic, was there to do the best he could, gave his best effort...AND...SUPRISE...has been rewarded for his efforts this year with some good high school games for being a first year guy. The referee in the varsity game worked hard, did his best, was happy to be working with me, and did a great job...AND...SUPRISE...is working the Boy's State HS Tournament this year.

MJHL at Hudson - Referee is a first year guy, works hard, cares about his performance, and is happy just to be working Jr. hockey full time. The other linesman was somewhat into it, did a good job (not a great job), worked about 95% of the time...AND...hasn't really gotten the opportunities he thought he should get yet. That's because he's not in the 5% club...gotta work a lot harder to get and STAY in that club.

Sunday - MJHL at Bloomington - both partners didn't want to be there, worked pretty hard, complained between periods, whined about the players' behavior, complained about their games earlier in the weekend...AND...NO SUPRISE HERE...are wondering when they are going to get their turn to work the big games, like the USHL.

Keep wondering...I'll keep looking for the guys who have pride in their work, attitude, and bring "it" to the arena every time.

ALERT!!! Danger!!! You May Be in the 95%

When I was coming up through the "ranks" as an official, there was a group of us officials who really pushed each other. We brought out the best in each other. We were discovering so innocently (sometimes not-so-innocently) and sweetly the secret of officiating:

Being a hockey official is at the same time the greatest group for camaraderie and competition. You work in an environment where (almost) everyone cheers for you, pushes you up, and also wants your job!


That meant competition. We competed in everything...how many miles you could drive to work a game, the number of games, the quality of games, the number of playoff games, the assignment for the finals or the championship game...even who could race the fastest to the net when the whistle blew. Heck, when I was younger and cockier, any time a linesman would cover for me while I was reffing a 1-2 game, I tried to beat him to the net!! And I did a few times! There was NO WAY anybody was going to show me up.

Loved it...loved the competition.

That's how you get in the 5% club -- The top 5% of your field.

Here's what I sadly see when I am at the arena most nights...

Referee "A" is coasting around, taking 30 seconds on every line change, just sauntering up the ice after an icing.

Referee "B" is reluctant to get in around the net (that's what it looks like when I watch him), is sloppy with his signals, and does just enough to get by.

I hate the "just get by" crowd. I don't want to hang around them too long, because they might be contagious.

Here's how it goes:

• nearly 100% say they want to get better
• only 50% will do something if it involves work, the other 50% want it for free and handed to them on a silver platter
• only half of the 50% who do something, will do something truly extraordinary (so we are in the top 25th percentile now
• only 5% will always do what is necessary, have the intestinal fortitude, and the "stones" to make themselves truly exceptional

Those who sit by and wait, ponder, "chew things over," or use excuses like lack of time, are those who are NOT in the 5% club. True champions take action, do it now, don't wait for someone to do it for them, and step up to the plate.

I am looking for someone to take action. I have a few spots left for those who want some really intense personal training. These people will get:

** Physical Training, on and off the ice, which will grow your stamina, strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, speed, balance, agility, accuracy, and flexibility.

** Personal Assessment Profile -- Individualized training to help identify mental roadblocks and remove them permanently, so you can perform like a true champion.

** Communication Skill Training - Learn how to use the correct words, communication styles, and how to diffuse situations as if you are a 15 year official, who has had the experience of working 5 years of minor pro hockey and refereed a world championship in front of 19,000 screaming fans!

Please reply if interested. Only few spots remaining. I am opening this up to all officials.

ejmo02@msn.com

Thanks,

JB Olson

Which Pack Do You Run With?

I sometimes think I am nuts. I lay awake at night and think about the following:

* how can we better train hockey officials???

* how can we shorten the learning curve, so a 25 year old, all full of piss and vinegar, can referee like a 35 year old or 45 year old, with all the experience, wisdom, rink savvy, and know-how???

* how can an elite level referee BEST transfer his knowledge to an up-and-coming official???

* is our method of instruction currently the best practice of teaching and developing???

I do know this...31 young men stepped forward to say, "I want to prove I take hockey fitness seriously!"

Based on past experience, half of those young men won't do diddly-squat. They don't have the intestinal fortitude, the drive, or the discipline to be the best...

There are only 5% in the top 5%...no room for anymore.

What percent are you in? Seriously?!? Where do you fall???

(remember, a reputation is built upon what you have done, NOT by what you are going to do)

Do you agree?

5 Things a Referee Can Teach You About Life

1. Relationships matter -

explanation: The greatest "circle of friends" I have is referees. All of my great friends are referees, and when I am old and in a rocking chair, whittling some wood, and gumming the few teeth left in my mouth, I will remember the camaraderie of the guys I worked hockey with.

Treat those relationships special. I found an interesting study online recently that looked into the saying, "Money can't buy you happiness." The researchers tried to assess if that was true and whether or not there was something out there that did, indeed, create consistent happiness. Results? They found that money doesn't buy happiness, and the greatest correlation they could find between anything was the number of times you meet with friends and family. So...if you want more happiness in your life...break bread with family and friend more often! Because relationships matter.

2. Do you deal with problems or challenges?

explanation: Semantics? Word-smithing? Play on words? Or attitude?

The great ones love a challenge. Do you love a challenge? Challenges are things to overcome. Problems on the other hand...

The best officials handle difficult situations in hockey games differently than the average ones. When things blow out of proportion (like this situation) the best ones rise above the situation and act in a cool, calm, and commanding fashion. It's a challenge, not a problem. The average ones? They get all bent out of shape, get frazzled, and handle the situation poorly. The difference may be due to experience, but it may have a larger part to do with attitude.

3. From the results of failure come the seeds of greatness -

explanation: In business, life, and hockey, the best ones are willing to experiment, take risks, and if they encounter a setback they learn from it. I have heard this being called, "failing forward fast."

The opposite is the guy who doesn't want to make any type of mistake and he does his best to not stick out. To me, this is the number one reason referees who don't like to call penalties act the way they do -- it's better to "remain on the couch and do nothing versus getting up and risking the chance of falling down." Sitting on the couch can be mastered by just about everyone.

Lastly, on of the best sayings I have heard about judgment goes like this -- "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment."

4. To the swift go the spoils -

explanation: See the "remaining on the couch" line in the previous explanation. The same could be said about "the entitlement age." I can guarantee you that every official you see working the highest levels of hockey DID NOT have it handed to them on a silver platter. They went out and worked for it. They paid their dues by working whatever games necessary to get where they belong. They did not look for it to be handed to them. They are all "go-getters." You want some? GO GET IT.

5. Strength is in the team -

explanation: There are a number of character traits that are rewarded in the hockey arena and in the business world, among those: problem solving, creativity, hard work, perseverance, and independence. However, that independence thing is the tricky part.

Businesses and associations want self-starters, people who can work without having to be baby-sat. At the same time, the leaders who are looking for great people want TEAM PLAYERS.

Ever played a sport and/or game with someone who is NOT a team player? I remember my high school hockey team had a player who was extremely talented, but was also extremely selfish. I think he hurt the team more than he helped the team.

Do you have any experiences with selfish players or poor team players?

5 Things a Referee Can Teach You About Life

1. There's no excuse for not knowing your numbers

explanation: Does anyone remember Randy Moss? If you watched the New England Patriots this past year, you should know who he is. If you ever were a Minnesota Vikings fan (proof that God has a sense of humor), you know what his character is like. I would be willing to bet you, though, that Randy Moss knows his numbers/stats. I bet he knows the numbers/stats of all the leading wide receivers in the NFL. He knows his trade. The same could be said about any professional athlete. Heck, it could be said about any serious athlete.

What does this have to do with you? If you are in business, I guarantee you that you should know your numbers. If you are a referee, you must know your numbers, which are the rules. No excuse. None whatsoever.

2. The great one's see it before they achieve it.

explanation: Man alive, I tell you, Wayne Gretzky was a heckuva player. The guy broke 61 different NHL records (which are all still intact to this day). No one else has ever scored 200 or more points in an NHL season, and he averaged over 200 points for 5 seasons.

Do you know what one skill Gretzky did better than all the rest?

He was one to two steps ahead of play. He saw plays unfold before they happened. The same holds true for officials -- they see plays happen before they happen. They have ESP ( while some just have ESPN).

The same holds true for your beliefs -- most will believe it when they see it...the great ones, they believe it because they see it. Good things happen to them because they believe in themselves, their abilities, their confidence, and their ability to problem solve.

If you are struggling in this area, go here: See It Before You Achieve It

3. Like attracts like.

explanation: "Don't be a sh*# magnate"

I have been told that I quoted that one time. Well, whether I said it or not, it's true. Let me explain it this way...when I was a teacher, I learned to avoid the teacher's lounge. Why? Because it was full of people bichin' and complaining. It's easy to get sucked into that negativity. I am fully convinced that those people who complain the most are the one's who get the worst luck. They are the one's who are always sick, they are the one's who are always broke, and they are the one's who don't get the referee assignments, the big games, because the assignor is picking on them.

Good teams make their own luck.

There's a term out there called, "Social Aptitude". Here's what I basically know about it -- social aptitude has to deal with the people you hang out with and their influence upon you. If you hang out with a lot of success-minded individuals, you will improve your performance in whatever it is you are doing -- golf, hockey, officiating, weightlifting. For example, people who participate in a powerlifting club that meets at a gym on a regular basis will have greater success with their lifts and will push themselves harder. Playing golf with great players will improve your score much more quicker than playing with a bunch of hacks. Like attracts like.


4. There's no excuse for poor physical fitness.

explanation: This is a no-brainer in officiating. I have discovered that it's not the diets or workout plans that don't work, it's the people that don't work. There are two ways you can improve this: (1) change your attitude (and I say the only people who like change are babies with wet diapers), or (2) find a better program.

Ultimate Officials has the "Five-Fifteen Plan." You work out 15 minutes a day and eat 5 nutritious/delicious meals a day. Easy to do and easy to lose the weight or gain the muscle you want.

To learn more, go to: Referee Specific Training Program

5. There is no substitute for pure HUSTLE.

explanation: I am just going to use a quote from Woody Hayes, the former Ohio State Buckeyes football coach:

"You may be smarter than me, you may be stronger than me, but you will never outwork me."


* Have you ever experienced any type of "Social Aptitude" either positive or negative? We would love to hear your comments!