Refereeing procedures at the Olympics

Today was my second game of the tournament and it was between the host nation Russia, and Sweden.  I cannot post anything about the game beyond saying that I really enjoyed it.  The atmosphere in the building was amazing and it is clear that Russian fans are really passionate about the game of hockey.  It was an honour to be on the ice for the game and certainly the noise generated by the Russians fans is above and beyond anything I have experienced before.

Flying the British flag on TV

Lots of people have asked me what it feels like to referee at the Olympics and whether it is just another game once the puck drops.  To a large extent I have found myself very nervous up until the puck drop and then once the game gets underway it does just become a hockey game and I react and respond in the way I have been trained to do as a referee.

There are however a number of nuances and differences that I and my colleagues need to be aware of when refereeing at the Olympics.  The game is about so much more than application of the rules and game management. 

This is the Olympics and the hockey game we are refereeing is part of something much wider.  Therefore it is impossible for the game to happen without some alterations to procedures and influence from the wider environment. 

Precious pucks

Official photograph from IIHF of Russia v Sweden game

I already mentioned the need to have frozen pucks for the games in order to facilitate faster games.  It has been proven that a frozen puck moves 43% faster on the ice than a warm puck and so after a puck has been in play for a few minutes, at the next stoppage of play the linesman are required to change the puck for a fresh frozen puck.  This doesn’t sound difficult to remember but in practice this is one more thing for the linesman to be aware of and to get done without disrupting the natural flow of the game too much.

Beyond changing the pucks we are also guardians of the pucks to an extent.  An Olympic puck is very precious and there are only a certain amount made with the Olympic logo on for use during the games.  Most of the time as a referee getting a couple of pucks from a tournament at home or from a team is relatively easy.  At the end of a period we can generally take the puck without it causing anyone too much distress.  However at the Olympics it is quite different.  The pucks are counted in and out and we are required to hand the puck directly to the puck keeper straight after each period.  They need to ensure we do not run out of the official pucks before the tournament is over because there is a limited supply.  In addition at the Olympics many of the pucks are kept and marked up for display at the hockey hall of fame.  This means getting a puck as a souvenir or keep sake is just not possible.

We have to make sure we do not take any pucks throughout the game and if one of the players picks up the puck as a keepsake for themselves we need to be aware of this so we don’t get wrongly accused of taking the pucks.

Video Review

View from net camera of Russia v Sweden

Many of us work a number of games back in our own countries where we do not have the luxury of being able to use video review for goal situations.  Now we are at the Olympics we have the opportunity to call upstairs for various scenarios and so this becomes one more procedure that we need to be aware of and think about.  We have to know the 7 situations that we can call upstairs for a video review and be mindful that these are the only situations that can be reviewed.

1. To determine if the puck crossed the goal-line
2. To determine if the puck crossed the goal-line prior to or after the expiration of time at the end of a period
3. To establish the correct time on the clock when the puck crossed the goal-line
4. To establish if the puck crossed the goal-line prior to the goal frame being dislodged
5. To determine if the puck entered the net directly off of a game official
6. To determine if the puck was directed into the net by hand or kicked into the net
7. To determine if the puck was struck by a high-stick above the height of the cross-bar by an attacking player prior to entering the net

Knowing the situations that can be reviewed is an important part of refereeing at an Olympics.

Ice Cleaning breaks

During games at the Olympics there is an ice cleaning service which happens twice every period.  At the first stoppage of player after the 14 minute mark and the 8 minute mark in each period there is an ice-cleaning break.  For an ice cleaning break there is a red light in the score-keepers box which comes on and the stoppage last for 70 seconds.  During the 70 seconds players go to their respective benches and several ice marshals come onto the ice to scrap away snow from around the goal crease area at both end of the rink, to clean the snow from the bench area and to wipe the glass in-front of the cameras.

From a referee perspective this means having a heightened sense of awareness to when these breaks may be and making sure that players are ready to resume the game as soon as the 70 seconds is complete and the ice marshals have left the ice.

This is very similar procedurally to the TV commercial breaks that happen in the NHL and so the NHL referees are very used to this procedure.  Again for many of the female referees this is an additional procedure to our usual games back home where sometimes we are lucky to get an ice re-surface at the end of each period let alone a special ice cleaning break during the period.

Close play reviews

During an Olympics there is the ability for all close-plays around the net to be reviewed by the video goal judge.  Hockey is a fast game and it is possible for the puck to go in and out of the net so quickly that it is not detected during normal play.

Each close play near the net is reviewed by the video goal-judge and if the play is being reviewed then at the next stoppage of play a yellow light at the score-keepers bench will go on.  As a referee when we see the yellow-light we need to wait for it to go off to confirm the on-ice decision and if needed there will be a call down to ice level for us to take during the review.

Being aware of the close plays and the yellow light again is something that many of us to do not have luxury of at home but need to think about while we are at the Olympics.

Goal replays

After each goal at the Olympics there is a 45 second delay which allows three things to happen: the teams to celebrate; the goal situation to be reviewed and confirmed by the video goal judge; and the TV and big screen replays to run through.   As a referee there is the need to be aware of this time delay to allow the replays to run through.  This ensure that when the TV feed re-joins the game it is at the puck drop instead of missing the first few seconds of play.

Again being aware this is happening is important whereas at home many of us don’t have games with TV replays or jumbo screens running replays of everything.

The Olympic feel

All of the additional procedures help to make the game feel part of the Olympics.  Refereeing at the Olympics is an honour and a privilege and I am enjoying every minute of every game I get.

My friend's daughter playing point to Joy on the TV!

The real challenge however is to balance enjoying the Olympic experience with the need to stay focussed on game days.  With so much going on around us it is easy to get excited by NHL player sightings and medal wins in other sports.  However when it is game time for us we need to focus down and ensure the teams get the best refereeing in the world.  This is the challenge I am enjoying the most!