The UO Blog Has Been Resurrected!

"Bring Back to Life.  Raise from the Dead."

That's what resurrected means.  And that's what I am going to do.

I had 14 posts in 2012.

I had 56 posts in 2011.

I had 95 posts in 2010.

I had 176 posts in 2009!!

And I had 28 posts in 2008, when I got the thing started.

To date, in 2013, this is post number 1.

Why even bother?  Well, I think and hope it is a good thing, because it is a "library" of good, and sometimes lame, but sometimes funny, kind of thing.

I am going to use this for video from here on out.  Which will be sometimes good, sometimes lame, and sometimes funny.

It is going to be "Lo Def/Lo Ref" TV.

Lo Def = because I won't get too stressed about video quality, lighting, etc.

Lo Ref = because some people might not be impressed with the message, either.

That's OK...I have thick skin.  I am a ref, after all...

Monday Power Skating Camps

2012 Spring Treadmill No. 2 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

What: Treadmill Session (plus Video review session for all MDM guys at 8:30pm)

When: Monday Nov 5, 2012 -- 9:15pm to 10:00pm

Future dates: Every Monday from Nov 5 through Dec 17

Where: Bloomington Ice Gardens Rink 3 (video session will be in conference room in Rink 2)

Cost: $25

Please RSVP if coming.  To date, the following have committed:

1. Mike Diebold

2. Jesse Langer

3. Sam Shikowsky

4. Clayton Smith
5. Eric Thom
6. Tim Ferrel
7. Scott Roth

8. JBO

** You know one of the ways I can tell if I'm doing the right things for referee development or not?  I ask myself, "When I was up-and-coming as a hockey ref, I would have given my left nut for such an opportunity."  That's my testimonial. The only way that I would miss out on such opportunities is if I had to work or had class.  I wouldn't view it as, "That's one more night away at the rink, when I could be home instead."  I would view it as a chance to get "One less night of working so-so hockey, and push myself to get the bigger and better games.  Not more games, but bigger and better ones."  This is a means to an end, boys.

email me for information: refsk8er@gmail.com

Check out the New Ultimate Officials Camp, the MDM: www.UOmdm.com

New Things from UO!

Check out the updated website, with more camps and teaching: www.UltimateOfficials.com

Discipline

      Issue No. 2

What Discipline Gets You (and you may not like it)

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(Typos are free.  They are my gift to you.)

Mailbag
The following are responses from previous parts of this series.  I make every effort to keep the sender anonymous (the only exception is when I want the sender to get some credit for good stuff), and I do this to encourage people to respond, without fear of being embarrassed, “preachy”, or if they share personal triumphs and/or tragedies.

I know that I've finally reached the point in my career where I want to be remarkable and I have lived up to it this off season, I've never trained harder and it hasn't gone unoticed...I've found in order to stand out being elite at something is key to that success and being an elite skater has helped me standout. Also being a guy who goes about his business and doesn't complain had also been beneficial. Just go work hard is the mentality that I have and not worrying about the guy next to me is doing but just worry about what I can do. I've been working out 6 days a week and have put on 10 pounds since I began training in mid May. This is dedication that I will continue with because being disciplined turns into habit and that's where I am at now. My goals are much different then they use to be ...I have art for myself can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

My response: I really like the line where he says, “just go work hard is the mentality that I have”.  It is all too easy to get wrapped in what others are getting for games and assignments.  Knowing this guy, I feel it could have been easy for him to say, “Forget it...I worked hard and it didn’t work out.”  Life is like an NFL game.  Just because you lose yardage on some plays, doesn’t mean you quit and give up.  Keep moving the ball downfield until the final buzzer.
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I was very excited to get the new newsletter yesterday.  I, like you love to have motivation posters, quotes, etc. to keep me on task.  I think we all need things like this to keep us moving in the right direction. It really goes to the accountability of the group. I've had to work hard with diet and workouts in the off season. The workout groups were great, as I always knew I had to be accountable on diet and exercise.
My response: You want to know what the ulterior motive for me to put together treadmill groups, “Biggest Loser” fitness contests, and write newsletters is????  To ensure that I continue to push myself.  Discipline does not come by easy or naturally.  It is too easy to sit on the couch and eat Doritos vs. working out and staying fit.  I hope that all of you put things into your life to start and STAY MOTIVATED.
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I'm like this new series already.  If I'm honest with myself I would say I've made that turning point from not committing at all to at least putting some thought into committing and getting the ball rolling.  The difficult thing with reffing is it can be hard to fully commit year-round.  It seems like so many other things I like to do start coming into play, especially in the summer time that it gets hard to stay completely focused on off-season training, etc.  Once the season gets rolling I'm all in on hockey, but after this past season between work and reffing, it got to be a bit much so I'm still taking some time off this summer.  In the long run I think it will be a good break even though it seems like I'm falling behind at the immediate moment.

My response: Balance in life.  I love it! Should it be hockey 24/7, 365 days a year? I hope not.  It isn’t that way for me (but it is close because I love the game so much).  My advice: skip working “checkbook” hockey in the off-season and only take advantage of developmental opportunites (like by UO 2-1 Camps, USA Hockey Camps, etc) and go out and find another passions.  Something that drives you.  I love the outdoors, and use the summer to camp, go to the lake, and even my new outdoor interests in photography and sailing.  Do something that will make you better.  I don’t necessarily think playing softball and drinking beer all summer will make you better, unless you are really applying yourself to be a better athlete.  Above all else, I do think off season is for training.  The previous email response was from a guy who is getting into triathalons.  Perfect!

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Thought-Provoking Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wRkzCW5qI

I am picking a bunch of different movie quotes/scenes to get your all pumped up…

Why? Because in order for me to maintain the “straight and narrow”, I have got to continually put motivational stuff in front of me.  I strongly suggest the same for you, too.

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What Discipline Gets You (and you may not like it)

So what does discipline get you?  The next big game?  Hired for a new league? The loss of fat and gains in muscle?  Maybe.  Maybe not, and that’s the difficult reality -- discipline gets you a whole lot of discomfort.

Discipline causes pain.  Not the pain I am talking about getting from an injury.  I am talking about discomfort.  

It doesn’t get you respite on the couch.  It doesn’t get you the most tasty and delightful food.  It doesn’t get you rich.  It doesn’t get you more acceptance from your family and peers.  It gets you just the opposite.  That’s why people don’t like it.  It doesn’t get you immediate gratification.

“You know what the biggest problem with immediate gratification is?  

It takes too long.”

I am going to tell you a story that is non-hockey related, but definitely applicable here.  I graduated from college with a teaching degree.  I taught full-time in a public school setting.  Being a motivated guy, I wanted to go as far and as high as I could in teaching, and, to me at the time, that seemed like it was a move into administration.  I took all the required courses for an adminstration license, to be a principal, etc., and even entered into an intern position for being a principal....

You want to join?  Go to: www.ultimateofficials.com and click subscribe.

On a related note, UO will be having a Facebook page with many videos, teaching, and sharing, available only to current members.

You can check out other FREE postings and resources at:

www.twitter.com/jonlybonly

www.uoteach.blogspot.com

Discipline Newsletter no. 1

I will be sharing a "taste" of what we are doing in Ultimate Officials here from now on.

You want to join?  Go to: www.ultimateofficials.com and click subscribe.

On a related note, UO will be having a Facebook page with many videos, teaching, and sharing, available only to current members.

You can check out other FREE postings and resources at:

www.twitter.com/jonlybonly

www.uoteach.blogspot.com

Discipline

      Issue No. 1

Where Does Discipline Come From?

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(Typos are free.  They are my gift to you.)

How this 12 part curriculum series works:

Each section will include a specific topic (this week is about defining some aspects of discipline).  There will be a summary of what is covered in the full-length DVD’s that accompany the series (NOTE: ONLY Minnesota Development Model members will receive the DVD’s.  These are guys who pay $25 a month.  These are guys who live in Minnesota and get supervised/videotapted games.  Those who pay $10 a month get the newsletter series ONLY.  You want to join to get full benefits?  Go to: www.UOmdm.com , read the info, and click on any “Subscribe” button).*

Each section of this 12 part series will have a “Realities of the Business” section, which points out very real and very important parts of officiating.  Ignore this section at your own peril, because there are MANY refs out there who don’t understand the full picture of what it takes to “get ahead”.  Quite simply, many of those refs haven’t been told.  You will be told the “how to” in this 12 part series.

The 12 parts are going to be somewhat “fluid”.  I have designed the first three parts already:

1. Where Does Discipline Come From?
2. What Discipline Gets You (and you may not like it)
3. Off Season Discipline Part 1

I do have another 9 parts laid out, but I am going to adjust them based upon feedback from the members.  In the past, I have set all 12 parts of a curriculum and stuck with that model.  However, I have noticed that the feedback from members brought about some great observations and insights, as well as good questions that needed answering.  So...GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK AND WE’LL KEEP THIS THING ROLLING ALONG FOR 12 WEEKS (or so)!

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Thought-Provoking Video Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIbBz0OCfYg

I am picking a bunch of different movie quotes/scenes to get your all pumped up…

Why?

Because in order for me to maintain the “straight and narrow”, I have got to continually put motivational stuff in front of me.  I strongly suggest the same for you, too.

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Where Does Discipline Come From?

Back Story: During the hockey season of 2007-08, I set about to do my own thesis on the “mental aspects of officiating”.  What I wanted to do was to interview as many high level, mid-level, and beginning-level referees as possible and determine if there are any common characteristics.  My initial study determined the following common traits amongst high level referees:

1.   Mindset of a Champion

2.   Great Communicators

3.   Physically fit and skilled

4.   Had a trusted mentor who took them under their wing

5.   Had an influential person help open doors for them

The following season, I added two more traits, based upon even further interviews and studies:

**FOR MORE OF THE STORY, GO TO www.UltimateOfficials.com and Subscribe.

I'm Back and I Remember!

I Love Spending Non-Hockey Time in the Woods

After taking a few months off to (a) run and coach a bunch of hockey camps and referee camps (8 camps down for 2012, and one more to go, plus seminar season), (b) start my pursuit, and (c) hang out in the woods, I am ready to educate, pontificate, comment on hockey & life, and, hopefully, entertain.

KEEP COMING BACK, CUZ THERE'LL BE MORE!

11 Years Ago Today...Surreal

HOW 9/11 REALLY HIT HOME FOR ME(my annual 9/11 post)

I have posted a number of times about this, and I will repeat everything here:

Personal side note: In August 2001, I went to Lake Placid, NY to attend the Elite Officiating Experience. This was the week that Team USA picks their World Jr. Team, and I was working the games that week. Well, it was one of the first night's, and I had it off, so I was watching USA play Finland (other side note -- Mikko Koivu was Finland's captain), and while I was watching the game I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mark Bavis.

Mark was the amateur scout for the L.A. Kings. I had met Mark a few years earlier in St. Cloud at the National Select 15 Festival. Brian Thul and I shared a couple of beers at D.B. Searle's, downtown St. Cloud after a game. He was coaching the Massachusetts team at the Select 15 Festival. I had also seen him on the bench with Boston University at a tournament in Duluth, when they were playing University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Mark and I chatted during the whole game at the Elite Experience in Lake Placid, NY. He was there to see David Steckel, who was a King draftee, whom Mark had scouted. 

One month later Mark died in 9/11. Now that REALLY hit home for me, knowing that I knew someone personally on one of those planes. Gulp.

Sorry, No Posts...Been in the Gym

2012 Spring Treadmill Camp from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

2012 Spring Treadmill No. 2 from J.B. Olson on Vimeo.

See You at the Next Treadmill Camp (August 6, 2012)?: http://ultimateofficials.com/on-iceoff-ice-camps.html

August 6, 2012