Since there has been much discussion on the issue of officiating lately, I want
to throw my two cents worth in on one aspect that has only been glazed over: one
referee vs. two referees.  As an official who has worked both systems(1 ref in
Junior A & B and 2 refs in High School), maybe I can shed some (new) light on
why 2 refs are not necessarily better than 1.
 
The intent of the NCAA when 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 inconsistenly 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 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(which also
serves as a deterrent).  The referee can concentrate more 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).
 
If this topic has been discussed at length before, I apologize, I have only been
on the list for ~2 months.
 
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Patrick Bracco
[log in to unmask]
Vector Research, Inc.
Ann Arbor, MI  48106
 
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