7 – REFEREE-IN-CHIEF – EDDIE™ – 5 Powerful Ways to Mentor a New Hockey Referee

Referee-in-Chief Eddie™ · 

Who this lesson helps: Experienced officials supporting beginners.

Referee mentoring works best when a beginner receives a clear task and a reliable person to ask. A long lecture after a stressful game can overwhelm rather than develop. Match the feedback to the official’s current experience.

A Situation You May Recognize

A mentor lists every flaw in a rookie’s first assignment. The rookie leaves believing nothing went well. A better review would acknowledge a strength, identify a priority, and explain how to practice it.

Referee mentoring: Practical Steps

Agree on a learning focus before the game. Observe specific behavior, give a concrete example, and ask the official to explain their decision. Finish with one achievable improvement and a follow-up date.

Avoid This Common Trap

Do not use humiliation as a teaching method or confuse loud criticism with high standards. However, a mentor must address serious safety or readiness concerns directly. Encouragement and accountability should reinforce each other.

Your Next Development Step

Observe the same skill in two assignments. Compare the official’s behavior rather than your general impression. Ask whether the instruction produced the intended change and adjust the teaching if it did not.

A Short Video Script for Eddie

Proposed spoken script for this lesson; the matching video has not yet been recorded.

A new referee needs a clear lesson and a person they can trust. Identify one strength, teach one improvement, and follow up. Good mentoring gives encouragement a practical direction.

Use the Right Rules for Your Assignment

This is original development guidance from The Hockey Resource™. Confirm requirements with your Referee-in-Chief or assignor. Game rules, certification, reporting, and permitted procedures depend on the governing body and competition; the age of an official is separate from the age division of the Players.

For Canadian assignments, use the Hockey Canada officiating resources and your Member’s instructions. For USA Hockey assignments, consult the official rules and casebook. These resources support verification; THR lessons do not replace required training.

Continue with Eddie’s advice for new Hockey referees. Bring one question from this lesson to a qualified mentor and agree on one action for your next assignment.

DISAGREE WITH THE CALL. RESPECT THE PERSON.

The Hockey Resource™ · WE MAKE BETTER HOCKEY PEOPLE.™