Lesson #13: Skater concerns and official reviews ================================================ *by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil* `Watch this lesson on YouTube `_ Last updated: January 9, 2019 Skater (coach, etc.) concerns ----------------------------- - If a skater has a fast question or concern between jams, help as time allows. - Answering skater questions is a low priority task. If you’re busy, say so. - Any question that requires more than a five word answer is probably too long. - Call an official timeout as concerns warrant (ie: track damage presenting a safety hazard) - Don’t lose control of the conversation. As soon as a skater asks you to rehash the last jam, suggest their team seek an official review to discuss the matter. - If the team uses a Team Timeout, they can “buy” the head referee’s time for a minute. - This is only to hear out their concern(s); it is not a free official review. Official reviews ---------------- - Each team receives one official review per period. - This is their time to spend as they wish. It warrants your full attention and respect. - If you cannot be of assistance during a review, you may be asked to return to your duties. - The subject of the review must be about the prior jam, the lineup for the prior jam, or a scoring issue from two jams prior updated on the scoreboard during the prior jam. - Official reviews must be requested by the Captain or Alternate - They must be wearing a visible “C” or “A”. - They may not be inside the penalty box or on their way to it. - Successfully violating this procedure warrants a delay of game penalty to the captain. - Outside pack referees should skate to the inside whenever a team requests an official review. - Officiating issues from the prior jam should be resolved prior to the beginning of the review. - A team has the option of exchanging their review for a 60-second “timeout”. - This may not be changed to a “normal” review once significant time has elapsed. - If a team’s first official review of a period results in a finding of officiating error, the team’s official review is “refunded” and may be used again. This may happen to each team once per half. - There is no standard practice for official reviews. - Every head referee has their own style. Some are quite different from others. - If you are new to working with a head referee, ask how they conduct official reviews - The head referee has control during an official review. Even if you believe you can solve an issue, do not interrupt the head referee or team captains. - Asking a clarifying question of the team captains is usually acceptable. - The head referee will try to establish a consensus regarding the review. - The head referee makes the final decision. - The head referee notifies the team captains as to the verdict. - It is good form to notify the announcers as to the nature and result of the review. - You will make bad calls that will be overturned. - Learn from your mistakes. - You will make good calls that will be overturned. - Sometimes the overturning is correct, sometimes it isn’t. - Remember that your perspective is but one view of an event. It is not the entire truth. - It is not appropriate for referees to publicly air grievances regarding official reviews. - Don’t let an overturned call affect your focus or professionalism.