The following is a reprint(slightly editing) of a post I sent around the Jan. 31
or Feb. 1.  It did not receive must response then, but the subject seems to be
getting a lot of discussion now.
 
 
As an official who has worked both systems(1 ref in Junior A & B and 2 refs in
High School) and who aspires to officiate in the CCHA, I would like to add my 2
cents worth on why 2 refs are not better than 1.
 
The intent of the NCAA when it instituted the 2 referee system in the 1992-93
season was to eliminate interference and impeding fouls as well as any
infractions behind the play.  While the 2 referee system may very well cut down
on infractions behind the play, it does not always allow the front referee to
concentrate of the play around the puck because of his responsibility for
calling the play at the blue line(sometimes even missing obvious infraction
right in front him).  However, the biggest problem is that you have two
officials with equal power to call penalties, and inevitably these two officials
do not have the same penalty standard.  The result is an inconsistently called
game where the players are guessing what will and will not be called.
 
This season, the CCHA coaches(!) unanimously voted to return to the 1 referee
system.  However, the CCHA has added a new twist to the traditional system by
allowing the linesmen to call penalties(and stop play just like the referee)
that occur behind the play unobserved by the referee.
 
This system satisfies all of the goals of the two ref system.  The cheap stuff
behind the play is eliminated because the linesmen can call those penalties(this
also serves as a deterrent).  The referee can concentrate fully on interference
type infractions because he no longer has to worry about action behind the
play(as in the past) or about line calls(as in the 2 ref system).  And, the main
advantage that makes the system better is that, with 1 referee calling the vast
majority of the penalties, you will have a more consistently called hockey
game(which is why the coaches wanted it).
 
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Patrick Bracco
[log in to unmask]
Vector Research, Inc.
Ann Arbor, MI  48106
 
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