District 3 2010 Seminars on Referees' Crease

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Who We AreMission Statement
 

Tri-County Referee Association (TCRA) welcomes you to the 2009-2010 hockey season. TCRA  is regarded as the premier Referee Association in providing officials for youth, adult, and High School hockey. TCRA has been identified as having a dynamic approach in developing officials by top hockey associations as well as high schools in the Tri-County area.

 

TCRA looks forward to assigning officials at the following venues:

  • Great Lakes Sports City, Fraser, MI, USA
  • Mount Clemens Ice Arena, Mount Clemens, MI, USA
  • Troy Sports Center, Troy, MI, USA
  • Onyx Rochester Ice Arena, Rochester, MI, USA
  • Suburban Ice, Macomb, MI, USA
  • Viking Arena, Hazel Park, MI, USA
  • Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI, USA
  • Southfield Sports Arena, Southfield, MI, USA

       

 

 

                       

                 

 

 

The Tri-County Referee Association consistently strives to be the leader of officiating excellence, performance, and development of new and veteran officials in the dynamic sport of amateur ice hockey. Each TCRA member is encouraged to pursue excellence in every aspect of the game. TCRA members are held to a strict level of integrity in order to promote a positive environment, sportsmanship and professionalism in amateur hockey. Success depends upon these core values as well as the pursuit of excellence, commitment and integrity. TCRA is here to serve and assist all officials, players, coaches, teams and parents in attaining these core values.

The Official's Code of Ethics:

  • Place the safety and welfare of the participants above all else

  • Accept responsibility for all actions taken

  • Be impartial

  • Avoid any situation which may lead to a conflict of interest

  • Be courteous, respectful and open to discussion and interaction

  • Seek continual self improvement through study, performance evaluation, and regular renewing of certifications

  • Be a positive role model for both the participants and younger officials in your behavior and personal appearance

  • Refrain from any form of personal abuse towards participants

  • Refrain from any form of sexual harassment towards participants

  • Show concern and caution towards sick and injured participants

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What is the avenue to file a complaint when officials lose control of the game? What is the hierarchy for filing a protest for poor officiating?

there are some officials who do not use good judgment and assess the appropriate penalties, there are also situations where people are emotionally attached to the outcome of the game and may see things through rose-colored glasses.

The USA Hockey Officiating Program does have a mechanism in place, through our local volunteers (Local Supervisor of Officials and District Referees-in-Chief), to investigate improper behavior by officials and take the appropriate action. Concerns regarding officiating should be submitted in writing to the Local Supervisor of Officials for that area. If unsure as to who that may be, you can find the necessary contact information in the Directory in the Officials Zone on USAHockey.com. The Local Supervisor of Officials can investigate your concerns and take the appropriate action. This action may include scheduling a formal evaluation or even disciplinary action, if the actions of the officials were deemed inappropriate.

However, I am also going to take this opportunity to make a point that is important to the overall well being of our game. An official's role is to enforce the rules to the best of his/her ability. It is not to control the game or the actions of the players. Regardless as to the caliber of officiating, each player must still be held responsible for his/her actions and the coach is held accountable for the actions of his/her team. When we receive complaints saying the officials lost control of the game and there were numerous cheap shots, the first question that comes to mind is what actions did the coaches take to control their players? As an example, if a player is tripped in the neutral zone, regardless as to whether a penalty is called or not, that player does not have the right to hit their opponent over the head with his/her stick. When a player commits a violent infraction, doesn't the coach have an obligation to address the action of the player? Whether a penalty was assessed or not? The on-ice officials cannot prevent a player from committing a violent infraction, they can only enforce the rules and assess the appropriate penalties after the fact. However, the coaches and parents have the ability to influence the players on a daily basis through practice and discipline to perform in a sportsmanlike and fair manner. Until all factions of the USA Hockey family come together and take an active role in creating a positive playing environment for all participants, we will not be able to make the strides necessary to improve our game. It is reasonable to expect the officials to enforce the rules to the best of their ability, but it is not realistic, nor fair, to expect them to shoulder the responsibility for the actions of the players.

As far as protests go, there really is no avenue to protest a game based on what is perceived by one team to be inadequate officiating. Unless a blatant misapplication of the rule took place or ineligible players were used, protests are seldom heard by local governing bodies. These issues are all handled at the local level, so you will need to inquire through your local league or governing body to find out about their policies regarding protests of game outcomes.

 

When did hockey become a game of perception?


Whether you’re a coach, player or parent, everyone involved in youth hockey has fallen victim to perception. It serves as a timeless ‘X’ factor that exists in all competitive sports; however, hockey families seem to be allowing their perception to weigh heavily on their level of enjoyment during the current season.

No matter how one may be involved in the game, there is always a feeling of anxiety or intimidation when you’re playing a team that you perceive to be the better team. You might be playing a team that’s faster than you. Maybe the team is bigger. Perhaps the team has scored 110 goals in the first dozen games of their season; letting up only five goals (Even I would be intimidated!).

However, maybe the anxiety comes solely from someone else’s opinion. How one “ranks” their team compared to another may be based on nothing more than something they read, with no credibility or statistical information to justify the assumption. In other words, how much of a team’s “rank” is produced in our head? Furthermore, why is it so important?

We’re slowly, but surely, moving above and beyond the simple boundaries of friendly competition, and Michigan’s youth hockey is moving into a new realm that may be unhealthy for the sport. Emphasis on skill development, fun and friendships are being pushed aside for the sake of maintaining a winning stature. In fact, these days it appears that even winning is not enough. In order to truly be successful, some believe that a team needs to be perceived as a winning team.

Need proof? It’s what everyone is talking about. Type in the word “ranking” in the search area of the MLive youth hockey forum and observe the lengthy list of posts available, covering nearly every age division at every level. Those who look closely can read about the teams that have a permanent place in the “top standings,” while others are labeled as unworthy even after having a winning team, leaving even more teams to be written off as “weak.”

 

If that wasn’t enough, hockey families may now pay $9.95 per month to receive a “national” report that ranks their team compared to others, in the same age group, across the country.

The extent to which members of our youth hockey community will go, in order to enhance the competitive nature of our favorite sport, is nothing short of fascinating. And while it appears to satisfy the craving that many adults have for the thrill of competition, the sweet smell of victory and the agony of defeat, I can’t imagine that we’re sending the right message to the kids playing the team. In fact, the pressure that results from this behavior is destructive to the enjoyment of the kids.

Bottom line, let the kids play the games. If they win, they win. If they lose, they lose. There’s value in the lessons that come from both wins and losses, and it shouldn’t be perceived that one is so much more important than the other. Everyone pays their hard-earned so their children can play the game, and that puts everyone on an even level of stature. Let’s not try to make something more of it – let the kids make the most of it. We, as adults, should just sit back and enjoy the show.

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