INNISFAIL – Ensuring the rules of the game are justly followed can be just as important as the final score.
The Innisfail Minor Hockey Association (IMHA) is preparing for the upcoming season and held the first of two referee clinics at the Innisfail Arena on Sept. 23.
The daylong clinic was presented by Hockey Alberta officials and included both classroom and on-ice sessions.
“This year we are holding two clinics again. One in September and one in October,” said Len Istace, referee-in-chief with the IMHA.
The IMHA holds two clinics every year. All referees, both new and experienced, must be registered every season, he added.
With several games a weekend during hockey season, it’s often a challenge to fill those referee spots, said Istace, adding they had about 60 referees last year and are anticipating about the same number this year.
About 30 individuals signed up for the clinic on Sunday (Sept. 23), with several more experienced referees expected to join this season.
“With both ice rinks going during the weekend you could have up to six referees going at once on the two different ice surfaces,” said Istace, adding that referees must be 12 years of age or older.
Clinics teach a variety of skills, techniques, rules and regulations, both in the classroom and on the ice.
“Positioning is a huge factor for officials,” he said. “If you’ve played hockey growing up you understand what an icing call is, what an offside call is, but you might not know where to stand, when to put your arm up or when to blow your whistle,” explained Istace. “Those are things that we’ll work on, especially with the younger officials.
“Your understanding grows,” he added. “You come out and officiate and it will open up a different view for you on how everything works on the ice.”
The IMHA uses a three-man system on the ice from the atom level and up, noted Istace, with one referee and two linesmen.
Linesmen are trained the same as referees with the same knowledge, he added.
This season will focus on mentoring.
“(We want) to get our older, more experienced officials working with our younger officials during games,” said Istace. “To help groom them and build them so we can have a reputation of having high quality officials.
“Innisfail minor hockey is trying to make a push to have some of the best officials in all of Central Alberta and this is one of our strategies to do it,” Istace concluded.
