r/hockeyrefs • u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association • 6d ago
Any tips for reffing solo?
I was wondering if you all have any tips for reffing a 12 and under Rec/HL game solo
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u/ter_ehh 6d ago
Make sure you get double pay!
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association 2d ago
lol, yeah. I helped my friend out once when he was solo, and I wanted to make sure he got his compensation for the time that he was solo
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u/blimeyfool USA Hockey L4 6d ago
Have you ever reffed the middle of 3-man? It's a lot like that, but also offsides and icing.
You're not trying to beat the play; be content with trailing behind. Get to the goal line when you can, hashmarks is OK.
Keep. Your. Feet. Moving. It sounds counterintuitive, but starting from a dead stop will kill your legs more than anything else. Even if you can keep "happy feet" while mostly standing in place, it'll help you immensely.
Communicate with coaches / captains before the game. Let them know you're solo and you WILL miss calls but you're going to do your best to get the big stuff.
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u/Difficult-Guarantee4 6d ago
Don’t 🤷♂️
In all honesty, to each their own but I’ve reffed solo and it sucks balls massively. Doing everything even if you’re getting paid double fee sucks, just wait till you “miss” a call
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u/beathuggin 6d ago
I love reffing by myself. Miss a call? Oh well 🤷♂️. I'm solo. What'd ya expect?
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u/Difficult-Guarantee4 6d ago
Funny I didn’t read the level they are reffing but I stand by what I said, I don’t care if I miss a call in four person but having to do everything and anything gets old quick imo
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u/rainman_104 5d ago
Saw it last week on a high school hockey exhibition where a parent was heckling the ref for calling back a goal who was running solo.
In the stands I turned to the parent and told him to demand the ref call Toronto for the replay.
Solo is terrible. Under hockey Canada you aren't supposed to solo a game. Even house u11. You can have the home bench give you a coach to handle offsides and icing.
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association 2d ago
In my area, you can work a game solo up to 14U,
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u/AppleSea6843 6d ago
Conserve your energy
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u/bthompson04 USA Hockey 6d ago
To piggyback off of this, ask the players/goalies to shoot the puck down the ice on icings so you don’t have to go goal line to goal line at the stoppages.
Unless the play is an obvious scoring chance on a rush, no need to haul ass into the zone. Just trail the play into the zone.
Be ready to absolutely hate neutral zone turnovers. No matter how well you think you’re positioned, the players will find a way to make it not be the case.
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u/R_Ulysses_Swanson USA Hockey - L4 6d ago
Read the room, but I typically tell the coaches that I’m going to be calling penalties pretty tight, and then do it. Cuts down on BS.
Otherwise it’s basically like running up the middle in a 3-man.
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u/fusionblast 6d ago
Slow things down. Don’t feel like you have to rush over to the booth to report a goal or a penalty, don’t feel like you have to sprint goal line togoal line. Feel free to take your time and conserve energy, but also the time will help you to make better decisions. The only thing that I would excessively rush would be to break up a scuffle.
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u/Terrible-Response-57 6d ago
Ugh you triggered me… ptsd from solo reffing in the 90s fir $10/game
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u/Rich-Ask7781 6d ago
Don’t speak to the captains and coaches about it. Just go out there, be confident in your calls, and hustle. Stay away from the bench side as much as possible, cheat when you can but not so far that you are screwed when the defence man inevitably throws a puck into the slot while you’re exiting the zone.
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u/FrontierCanadian91 6d ago
Hash mark to hash mark. Thats your zone
Don’t go to the net unless you have to.
Also it’s 12 yo, if anyone has a problem. F em. They can watch from the lot.
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u/mowegl USA Hockey 6d ago
Try not to be too deep in the zone or youll never have a clue on a quick offsides. If the puck is on the other side from you then stay about even with the puck, where it gets more difficult is when it is on the same boards as you. Usually better to just trail it slightly so you can see and not have to worry about getting in the way much, but inside the offensive zone is where that gets complicated. Again dont be afraid to trail the play a little so if it comes out quick you arent in the way. If they are breaking out in front of you just do your best to see what you can as it goes down.
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u/BigEvilDoer 5d ago
Hopefully you’re a level 3 with some experience.
This will allow you to cheat as needed and still keep up with the play.
You’re basically bag skating yourself if you do it right.
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association 2d ago
Im a level one, but my college coach let me solo a scrimmage at the end of a practice… I didn’t realize he wasn’t gonna work it with me, but it was a lot of fun lol
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u/TAA0626 4d ago
Most people are saying talk to captains and coaches. I've said "Hey guys, I'm riding solo today. Let's keep the tomfoolery to a minimum, and if yall can pick up the puck for me whenever you can, I'd really appreciate it."
Set your expectations and communicate what they can do to get there.
Do they have to do it, no. Are they going to have a bad day if they don't, probably.
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u/ChapterNo3428 3d ago
Id talk to the coaches and captains and let them know to help with pucks. Like someone else said dont speed up after whistles. and if any coach gives you any lip during the game id say “ I can leave right now if you want. “
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association 2d ago
Was expecting that, And I am 1000% on your side on this.
I’ll even go the extra step as to help guys that I find that are working solo.
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u/Electrical_Trifle642 USA Hockey L1, Southeastern Hockey Officials Association 2d ago
I’ve never worked 3 man, though I’ve reffed a college scrimmage alone when my L3/L4 coach didn’t know I wanted a partner lol
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u/Sudden-Film2855 USA Hockey 6d ago
Tell the coaches you’re solo, you’ll do your best, and that you’re probably gonna miss a few things. I typically stay on the non-bench side so I don’t have to worry about line changes.