The Inner Game - The Six Inches Between Your Ears
Over the 2007-2008 hockey season, I conducted my own personal thesis. The advice and instruction in this thesis is the result of doing a year long, intensive study of what makes an elite official “tick”. The advice is not of the “P.C.” nature, and if that offends you, I apologize to a small degree, only because the game of hockey is very un-P.C. at times. If you want to thrive in the industry of refereeing hockey, you need to deal with all aspects of the business.
The author of this thesis also intends to teach officials to the “ultimate” degree, and the sole purpose is transfer of knowledge. That’s what it is – a manual to make other ref’s better. Period. If that bothers you, the author is not concerned about that because the author wants to improve everyone who is willing to listen. The thesis results are not intended for everyone.
The author of this thesis also intends to teach officials to the “ultimate” degree, and the sole purpose is transfer of knowledge. That’s what it is – a manual to make other ref’s better. Period. If that bothers you, the author is not concerned about that because the author wants to improve everyone who is willing to listen. The thesis results are not intended for everyone.
INTRODUCTION
You are an official and you are familiar with the reality of the business that there are controversial calls in some hockey games. You are familiar, too, that a referee’s judgment is used throughout each and every game. You may also be familiar that judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. This is a short story about judgment.
Even though the motivation for this Thesis began more than 10 years ago, the story really takes place in March of 2005. There were two events that month that shaped my life going forward: the 2005 Minnesota Boys High School Championship Game and the WCHA Final Five Conference Tournament.
Q: Have there been moments that have shaped your life? Moments of success, or challenge, or vulnerability? Have they shaped you into a better person, or a bitter person?
In the high school championship game on March 5, 2005 I waved off a goal, ruling it was knocked in with a high stick. There was no instant replay at that time. It wasn’t an option. There is now, and the reason is a direct result of this controversial play. I have watched that replay many times over and someone has yet to prove it is anything more than inconclusive. And, keep in mind, this replay is from a camera that is not at ice level. Let’s just sum this event up this way – I can still look in the mirror and feel no shame. In my opinion, that is having “balls.” To give you the full impact of the call, there was a proposal in the legislation that year that the State Senate mandate that the Minnesota High School League institute instant replay at the State Tournament.
That wasn’t the event that shaped my life. It was a defining moment in my life, but did not lead me to where I am now. You see, if I would have still stood by my convictions I would have been better off in the future. The future was two weeks later in the same arena. The event was the WCHA Final Five. It was there that I was officiating a game where a player broke his neck. I lost my “balls” somewhere in those two weeks. It was that event that led me here with you.
Allow me the permission to ask a few more questions:
* Do you take pride in your officiating?
* Do you feel in reffing that there is more for you out there?
* Do you feel that with a few improvements you could reach your potential?
* Do you now want those secrets and answers revealed to you?
* Do you want it bad?
* How bad?
This is a thesis for you, if you answered “YES” to all of the questions.
This thesis is for you if you answered, “I want it so bad I can taste it!”
NOW let’s look at when you choose to take this new direction in your life, you’ll discover the following benefits:
* how to identify AND eliminate the “mental road blocks” holding you back
* how to have more creative problem solving skills that allow you to make correct decisions at a split second
* the ability to think calmly and coolly under fire
* the ability to use your mind as a finely-tuned machine to achieve your highest potential
We are shaping our lives by are choices and actions all of the time. The choice to do nothing is an action, too. It takes a concerted effort. That’s what happened to me in the game where the player broke his neck, I chose not to act. Ever made a tough call in a game? Ever make a tough call in a big game? Ever second-guessed yourself? Did you learn from that situation? Or did make the same mistake again?
*********************************************************
"I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there. I just despise to lose, and that has taken a man of mediocre ability and made a pretty good coach out of him."
Woody Hayes, Ohio State Football
*********************************************************
Would you like to know the secrets of high level officials and what they do to stay at the top of their game? After all, this is about being the best, and to be the best you need to know what the best do time and time again. I have studied the best of the best for the past ten years, and I have done a year-long thesis study on what it takes mentally to be the best official. Through hours of interviews, assessments, observations, and conversations, I have nailed these secrets down to the (5) five common characteristics that all high level officials possess.
And now I am passing this information on to you. I mean, this is stuff that the elite officials I interviewed don’t even know how to explain it, let alone teach it! This situation is similar to the superstar salesman. He has trouble explaining why he is so good…he just knows that he is! He is intuitive and does things instinctively. The same can be said about the high level official – they just do things instinctively. That’s geat for the high level guy, but you want the information on how to achieve that level. Do you see how this would benefit you? If so...
If You Would Like to Read the Entire Paper (the "Un-PC" Version) Fill Out Form Below
You are an official and you are familiar with the reality of the business that there are controversial calls in some hockey games. You are familiar, too, that a referee’s judgment is used throughout each and every game. You may also be familiar that judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. This is a short story about judgment.
Even though the motivation for this Thesis began more than 10 years ago, the story really takes place in March of 2005. There were two events that month that shaped my life going forward: the 2005 Minnesota Boys High School Championship Game and the WCHA Final Five Conference Tournament.
Q: Have there been moments that have shaped your life? Moments of success, or challenge, or vulnerability? Have they shaped you into a better person, or a bitter person?
In the high school championship game on March 5, 2005 I waved off a goal, ruling it was knocked in with a high stick. There was no instant replay at that time. It wasn’t an option. There is now, and the reason is a direct result of this controversial play. I have watched that replay many times over and someone has yet to prove it is anything more than inconclusive. And, keep in mind, this replay is from a camera that is not at ice level. Let’s just sum this event up this way – I can still look in the mirror and feel no shame. In my opinion, that is having “balls.” To give you the full impact of the call, there was a proposal in the legislation that year that the State Senate mandate that the Minnesota High School League institute instant replay at the State Tournament.
That wasn’t the event that shaped my life. It was a defining moment in my life, but did not lead me to where I am now. You see, if I would have still stood by my convictions I would have been better off in the future. The future was two weeks later in the same arena. The event was the WCHA Final Five. It was there that I was officiating a game where a player broke his neck. I lost my “balls” somewhere in those two weeks. It was that event that led me here with you.
Allow me the permission to ask a few more questions:
* Do you take pride in your officiating?
* Do you feel in reffing that there is more for you out there?
* Do you feel that with a few improvements you could reach your potential?
* Do you now want those secrets and answers revealed to you?
* Do you want it bad?
* How bad?
This is a thesis for you, if you answered “YES” to all of the questions.
This thesis is for you if you answered, “I want it so bad I can taste it!”
NOW let’s look at when you choose to take this new direction in your life, you’ll discover the following benefits:
* how to identify AND eliminate the “mental road blocks” holding you back
* how to have more creative problem solving skills that allow you to make correct decisions at a split second
* the ability to think calmly and coolly under fire
* the ability to use your mind as a finely-tuned machine to achieve your highest potential
We are shaping our lives by are choices and actions all of the time. The choice to do nothing is an action, too. It takes a concerted effort. That’s what happened to me in the game where the player broke his neck, I chose not to act. Ever made a tough call in a game? Ever make a tough call in a big game? Ever second-guessed yourself? Did you learn from that situation? Or did make the same mistake again?
*********************************************************
"I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there. I just despise to lose, and that has taken a man of mediocre ability and made a pretty good coach out of him."
Woody Hayes, Ohio State Football
*********************************************************
Would you like to know the secrets of high level officials and what they do to stay at the top of their game? After all, this is about being the best, and to be the best you need to know what the best do time and time again. I have studied the best of the best for the past ten years, and I have done a year-long thesis study on what it takes mentally to be the best official. Through hours of interviews, assessments, observations, and conversations, I have nailed these secrets down to the (5) five common characteristics that all high level officials possess.
And now I am passing this information on to you. I mean, this is stuff that the elite officials I interviewed don’t even know how to explain it, let alone teach it! This situation is similar to the superstar salesman. He has trouble explaining why he is so good…he just knows that he is! He is intuitive and does things instinctively. The same can be said about the high level official – they just do things instinctively. That’s geat for the high level guy, but you want the information on how to achieve that level. Do you see how this would benefit you? If so...
If You Would Like to Read the Entire Paper (the "Un-PC" Version) Fill Out Form Below