Who Did You Draw?

A certain thought came across my mind as I was taking in 5 hockey games over this past Thanksgiving weekend (4 of which were NCAA Div. 1 games, and 1 Bantam A game)...

Out of the 8 hockey officials working the Subway Classic in Grand Forks, ND at The Ralph , 6 of them were from Minnesota.  If you include the UND Women's series that was going on that weekend, too, of the 12 hockey referees, 9 of them were from Minnesota (and 6 of those 9 are from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area).

And that led me to think -- "Who is your competition?"

If you are striving for a spot in a league, or for playoffs, or for the postseason, you need to have a good idea who your competition is out there.  You don't need to dwell on it too long, but have an idea what you are up against.

I remember a conversation I had with former Fargo South High School Coach, Dean Wilson.  He was one of the first one's to really point out to me that it can always depend on who you draw whether or not you get a job.  Back in 1989, he applied for the vacant coaching job in Roseau, MN.  He felt he was fully qualified (and knowing his coaching ability AND his stellar record at Fargo South, I'd agree), but he didn't get the job.  Dean Blais got the job.  "So, Wils, who did you draw?"  He drew Dean Blais (two-time national championship coach at University of North Dakota -- future Gopher coach...hehehe).

So who did you draw?  Getting back to the referees from this weekend, the cold hard facts are that 6 out of 12 officials were from the Twin Cities (tough row to hoe, if you're from the Twin Cities).  In fact, out of the referees (not linesman) in the WCHA on the Men's side, 11 of the 22 on staff are from the Twin Cities.  So, the fact is...if you are from the Twin Cities, and you want to ref the WCHA...well...it's a long line.

How can we best sum this up?  Sometimes you are the "Right Guy in the Right Place at the Wrong Time."  There are a lot of factors that come into play on whether you get the opportunities you want:

• is there an opening (to get into the WCHA, one of these guys needs to quit/retire)?
• who else is waiting with you?
• are you in your prime, past your prime, or not quite 'prime time'
• AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE YOU DONE EVERYTHING TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE TIME THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF? (Luck = when preparation meets opportunity).

To best prepare yourself. [go here], register ASAP (because others are getting in line ahead of you! hehehe).

I Don't Doubt it One Bit

I read this in the paper the other day, and then looked into it further with an online research of "Associated Press Basketball Refs".  I found this [article] and this quote:

"We'd like them to have no memory and strictly call what's going on on the court," Anderson said. "But part of this is, if I'm a ref, I want everyone to think I'm fair and if I call 10 fouls on one team and two on the other, people are going to think something's going on here. It's sort of subconscious. And it points out one of the biggest problems with basketball is that it's a very hard game to officiate."


Why don't I doubt this one bit?  Because I think it's true and it's real.  I ask you to do some homework throughout this season.  When you read the box scores in the paper for NHL games, take a look at the power plays.  It will be real easy to read.  Let's look at some from this past week (Power Play Goals/Power Play Opportunities -- the home team is listed second):

1. 0 for 1, 0 for 2
2. 2 for 3, 1 for 4
3. 0 for 4, 1 for 6
4. 0 for 0, 0 for 4
5. 0 for 2, 1 for 6
6. 0 for 3, 0 for 4
7. 1 for 3, 0 for 1
8. 1 for 4, 0 for 5
9. 0 for 3, 1 for 2
10. 1 for 2, 1 for 5

Average for 10 most recent games:


Visitor = 2.5 power plays per game (averaging 1/2 goals per game on PP)


Home = 3.9 power plays per game (averaging 1/2 goals per game on PP!, despite more opportunities)


Well...so what?!  Huh???


How about this...

• the marbles are usually always very even
• the home team usually gets more power plays than the visitors
• the refs are really good at making this a reality for game to game, season to season

I realize that I have sampled a whopping 10 ten games here, hardly a representative sample.  I don't really want to crunch numbers beyond that.  I don't want to do that because (a) I want you to watch the power plays throughout the rest of this season, and (b) I know from my own experience that the "keep the marbles even" is true.


All I am going to say any further is this...good coaches know this.  They know that if a series of three or four penalties are called against their team, that chances are the next call will go in their favor.  They also know that in the end, everything usually evens out.  You see, whenever I have "rung a team up for a bunch in a row" and I have some coach just come "un-glued" with me, deep down I really feel like saying, "Just wait, Buddy.  Things will work out in the end."  [Really want to see more thoughts about this? - click here].


Where did I first learn this?  From one of my mentors.  


Do you want to argue with me?  Send me an email at: info@ultimateofficials.com


I've got loads of data and research to support my points.  I'll just use that data to ensure there is a fair and equitable playing field (wouldn't want to tip the scales in favor of one side or the other, eh? -- After all, there's two teams!!).

This is About Practicing EXCELLENCE!

July 31 is the deadline to get in on our Fitness Contest. For the past 4 weeks I have been presenting this opportunity for referees and, true to form, the percentages have followed this contest as well.

What percentages???

Life is a Bell Curve. Here's how it goes...

The bottom 50% are just along for the ride, and some of them want a free ride (those people won't even get up off the couch, put down their remote, and do something -- I asked 75 referees to be a part of this...only 30 raised their hand, so that puts the "non-hand raisers" in the bottom 60% = OUCH!!).

Of the top 40% "hand raisers", only 15 have actually TOOK ACTION and stepped forward to get those Bigger and Better games ( so the ACTION people are in the top 20%).

Of the 15 people, I asked them to send in a before and after photo, measurements, and set up a plan. We have now sorted everyone down to 8 people...they are in the top 10%.

Here's the 10% Club = Neil Missling, Kevin Cassidy, Jim Jarvis, Mike Diebold, Phil Stodgell, Nick Bradshaw, Cameron Voss, and Nick Dornfeld (there are two guys in Duluth, MN rocking it, too!)

You know what...these guys are working their butts off. I LOVE IT!!!

Here's what these guys understand about practicing EXCELLENCE...this is a part of an article written by Dan Kennedy, that I have copied for you. Pay close attention to the part about ASSOCIATIONS (not ref associations, but the "crowd" you hang out with):

"EVERY population divides roughly into 1%, 4%, 15%, 40% and 40% groups. Many more at the bottom than at the top...

YOU may choose to move from one group [in life - in our case, a league, level, or playoffs] to another by "moving" your ambition, thinking, acquisition and use of information, initiative, effort. But regardless of your choices, the fact that the majority of your peers are dead-wrong won't change a whit. For the most part, where a particular person gets to in this continuum from the top 1% to the bottom 40% has much less to do with differences in genetics, upbringing, education, opportunity or luck than it does decisions. Associations matter a lot, but they are or can be chosen. The first critical decision for upward movement is ALWAYS distrust the majority. It's not an easy decision to make. It's even harder to stick to. To see a majority stampeding north and stubbornly turn south. Not easy at all. To remember that whatever "everybody" is infatuated with you should spurn, a damnably difficult task."

The top 1% of ALL officials refereeing hockey in the United States are in the NHL, AHL, ECHL and NCAA Div 1 College. That's about 260 refs out of 26,000.

This isn't about getting you to the Pro's or College. This is about practicing EXCELLENCE.



email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

tell me, "I want in!"

Lead the Field

I have always been a reader. I love to read the sports page, Sports Illustrated, The Hockey News, anything about World War II, the Space Program, and any personal development material. I am going to share a classic with you that I have dug out, dusted off, and have jumped into once again -- "Lead the Field" by Earl Nightengale.

I actually came back to this in a round-a-bout way. Those who have been following this blog know that I really, really like the author Dan Kennedy. It was the other night, reading one of his books, that I came across this section AND IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT IT APPLIES TO REFEREES:

The very first "success education" that I was ever exposed to was a set of recordings by Earl Nightengale titled Lead the Field, that I listened to when I was in my early teens. In those tapes, Nightengale gave me badly needed permission to violate the norms I saw around me, with his dramatic statement:

If you have no successful example to follow in whatever endeavor you choose, you may simply look at what everyone else around is doing and do the opposite, because -- THE MAJORITY IS ALWAYS WRONG.

Dan Kennedy, No B.S.

Wow...the majority is always wrong. Well, I'd better do just the opposite then, because I refuse to be lumped in with the majority.

Actually, there are successful examples to follow...the challenge is that they are not always within your midst. For example, on any given night I will work with guys in USA Hockey or high school, and KEEP IN MIND I DEARLY LOVE MY BROTHERS IN THE REFEREE WORLD, I wouldn't consider them a role model for me. They may be out of shape...they may not hustle on the ice...they may have poor communication skillss...they may just be there for the money. And, unfortunately, this is pretty much the majority. Thanks, but no thanks majority. I will do the opposite.

Soooo, the opposite will not:

• work out like I want to
• eat healthy like I want to
• pay attention to perfecting the little things like I want to
• work on being a better skater like I want to
• pursue more education (about hockey) like I want to

Another smart guy I had the pleasure of knowing told me this advice:

"Avoid being the smartest person in the room."

At first that didn't make sense to me. Then he explained how you should always strive to be with those

• who are smarter than you, (and in this case, the hockey referee world),
  
• are in better shape than you are,
• push themselves harder than you do,
• work better games than you do.

This way you will always be RAISING YOUR BAR.

Go out and do it! If you want what the best have, then you have to do what the best do. If you want what the best have, I've got an invitation for you:

Click on this link, download the "Tretiak Mailer" document.

I look forward to your response...JBO

Airing My Dirty Laundry

Want to see my dirty underpants?? Sorry, I don't think they are in this video. However, an offer is in this video..

MAYBE EVEN FOR YOU????



info@ultimateofficials.com

The Frist SWAT Proposal

"This is an evolution, NOT a revolution."

J.B. Olson

Below is the EXACT letter I wrote to USA Hockey in May of 2007. Compare that to this link: New USA Hockey Proposal

Dear Leader,

There are many courses available on self-improvement, personal development, goal setting and peak performance training. There is also an excellent education and training program through USA Hockey’s Officiating Education Program, including annual seminar training for Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, evaluation and mentoring programs, all the way up to the national development camps of Regional, National, and the Officiating Program of Merit. My proposal is to mend the two areas together. My proposal is to address the needs of all involved in the USA Hockey Officiating Program, in order to give provide an even higher level of training and consultation.

PROPOSAL: Establish a year round training, consultation, and information marketing business to supplement the training and education of the USA Hockey program.

This program is called the S.W.A.T. Team Development for Ice Hockey Officials.

S.W.A.T. = Special Weapons and Tactics

Mission Statement for S.W.A.T. = The S.W.A.T. Team is dedicated to continual personal development and advanced training of the ice hockey official. We do this by offering continual training in all aspects of ice hockey officiating through seminars, reports, manuals, coaching, consultation and monthly development tools. The S.W.A.T. Team will promote, recruit, and maintain personal relationships in the local communities to grow the number of ice hockey and inline officials through marketing and fundraising events.

The S.W.A.T. Team, which will remain independent of USA Hockey and is a non-profit institution, is dedicated to USA Hockey and all that it promotes. The S.W.A.T. Team in no way or manner wishes to replace or compete with USA Hockey Officiating Program. Let me put it this way – I love USA Hockey, what it has done for me and my family, and I look to give back to the program in time, talent, effort, and money. I have tasted the “sweet stuff” that USA Hockey has offered and I will always keep that in mind.

Sincerely,

J.B. Olson

The S.W.A.T. Team President, Speaker and Author

*************************************************************************************

"The times they are a changin'..."

Bob Dylan

More come soon....

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

Full Extension and Full Recovery

Life and hockey are intermingled. You can learn about one to be better in the other.

From time to time I will link to other stories/blogs/interesting tidbits.

Today's link is to a newsletter I receive called "The NO B.S Newsletter" by Bill Glazer and Dan Kennedy. Here is a link to a paragraph written by Dan Kennedy:

"Into every day a little rain...rushing past me, leaving the SuperConference, the managing partner of the Renegade Cattle Company, Gold+ Luxury Member Jill Wolforth said, "Hi. Gotta run. One of your cows died." There is nothing worse in the livestock business than the news the some of your livestock is no longer alive. And I wasn't even invited to the barbeque. But I'm very big on dealing with bad news straight up, without spoonful of sugar added. One of my favorite writers about entrepreneurship, Carter Henderson, makes the observation that business is about confronting an endless parade of problems...disappointments...people bearing bad news. If you're not up to that, you may very well need to exit stage left. RESILIENCY is the numero uno characteristic required: take a hit, re-focus fast, and get on with the fixing or firing or fleeing or forgetting or whatever other productive response may be possible. When I was talking with George Ross off-stage, he seconded what Apprentice winner Bill Rancic and runner-up Kristi Frank had already told me: the majority can't handle the PRESSURE TO PERFORM, especially when confronted with adversity. And superior education, superior intellect, superior talent all wash away and prove irrelevant if in possession of someone who can't handle the pressure. Every resource that can be marshaled should be marshaled, but ultimately achievement reflects character more than aptitude or advantage. Every time I'm at an event like the one held last month, and around leaders like Gene Simmons and George Ross, I come away with reinforced certainty that modeling behavior is the key of keys, and wondering whether most people are too obsessed with collecting tactics and techniques, too little focused on collecting behavioral characteristics."


How does this apply to officiating?

A. Refereeing is a lot like business in that you have to deal with disappointments, setbacks, road blocks, hurdles, assignors, politics, (d) all of the above...Do you have the wherewithall to handle this?

B. Whose behavior are you modelling? Anybody's???

C. Can you handle the PRESSURE TO PERFORM?

Ultimate Officials is a personal training program with a high degree of mental training mixed in with physical training.

TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE: ATTACHE LE TUQUE