Being an official is not just something for people that can’t skate, or are afraid of hits. It’s not just a way to pass time for freshies and injured skaters. It is also not easy, and something you should be underestimating. What it is though is challenging, educational, helpful to your league, and FUN (even if not always shown by team no fun)!

With derby being as new as it is, it’s hard to pursue a career as both a player and an official. Travels and bootcamps cost time and money, and if you want to get places you have to choose. But that doesn’t mean that as a player you have zero opportunity to officiate, but it will depend on the size and location of your league.

Coming from both playing and refereeing a previous sport, I had no doubts in my mind I’d eventually get into officiating derby and quite enjoy it. At the point of writing this post, I’ve only covered two NSO positions and two referee positions, but I’ve already learned so much. Here is why officiating (even a little) is a part of my derby toolbox.

I get to see the game from a different perspective

As a referee especially, and as an NSO depending on position (as some require constant attention on specific things), I get a front seat to the action! Because frankly, as I sit in the audience, I might from time to time miss something because of checking that super important message on my phone. But as an official I need to pay close attention at all times. I notice the places to go as a jammer, and the ones to cover as a blocker. I get a close up view of fancy footwork, powerful hits, and subtle strategies, that i might have missed as a spectator, or even as another skater on track.

You also get the theoretical side of the game as you get to (as a referee) be a part of the official reviews. You learn which ones are worth taking, and which ones are often not.

I get a chance to practice my footwork

As a referee on the inside of the track you need to find your way around all the other referees, NSO’s, players getting hit to the inside, as well as staying in position and keeping an eye (but hopefully two) on the pack or your jammer. As an outside referee you have a longer way around the track, and need to perform quick speed changes to stay in a good position, be aware of track turns, players being hit out, as well as skaters going to or coming back from the box. Sometimes, you might not have a full safety zone, or there is funny business going on with small ramps because of floors on top of floors (Luleå I’m looking at you).

All this tests your footwork and skating skills, your awareness, and your peripheral vision. Its amazing.

I get to follow the process of statistics

I’m not very big on numbers. Up until derby I figured stats was something for very very high level sports and athletes. As I did my first run as a scorekeeper before even starting out as a freshie, I was stunned by the amount of information being collected. Who, what, when, why. All of these things being answered.

I am still not big on numbers, but I’ve realized just how much information there is available, and how it can help me develop as a skater. Yes, derby requires a fair amount of Non-Skating Officials, but the information they provide us as players and teams are fantastic! All NSOs are superheroes to me.

I gain a deeper understanding of the rules

As a player with a couple of games played you figure you have a fairly good understanding of the rules. But you might very probably have no idea about the subtle in and outs of all rules. At least I didn’t, and honestly still don’t, but its getting better!

It’s like in school, were you learn about things and it all seems pretty straight forward, a bit black and white. Then you come out into the real world and realize the massive grey area where most actions actually seem to occur, and you’re lost. Clever teams and skaters read up on rules as they develop new strategies, or look for loopholes, and when that happens you need to know the rules well enough to make a call, especially when something unexpected happens.

I’ve notice this being particularly helpful when getting a hang of the requirement of impact in relation to a penalty, both as a jammer and as a blocker. I won’t give it away here though. 😉

I learn about officials communication

Another thing that I wont get into in detail about, and that I did not expect when getting into officiating, was the communication between the officials. Previously I’ve only paid attention to whistles and weather or not its my colour and number being called. Recently however I’m finding myself hearing and watching the officials communicate, even as a skater. You’ll have to find this one out on your own though.

I gain a greater understanding of the work officials put into their training

Yea, as players naturally we’re happy that there are officials so that we can bout, but do we REALLY appreciate all that they do? I’ve heard too many stories of leagues appreciating the hell out of their officials as bouts are coming up, but in between they too often get far too little support in relation to the work they do. As a player, I have found myself gaining a greater appreciation of the officials around me, and the importance of coffee in the officials lounge. Everyone wins when the officials are happy and content.

I grow more understanding of, and less affected by, officiating calls and delays as a player

One of my worst situations starting out as a jammer was being totally ready for the 5 second call, and suddenly there’s an official time out. My heart would be speeding like hell and now I had to stand there indefinitely just waiting for the jam to start with an arousal level through the roof. After being a couple of officiating crews, I now have an idea of why they might need that time out. It means they spotted something that needs fixing, and they’re working on it to make sure the bout continues as it should. Maybe there is a newly trained scorekeeper who misunderstood the jammer referees signals and is now feeling all stressed about delaying the game. They shouldn’t be. But I can relate to that.

In the same way I might disagree with a call (or a no call), but I know how tricky it can be to be in the right position, and to make out weather that arm was just in front of the jammer or actively holding her back and should therefore be penalized. I get it.

It helps my mental game having this understanding. A lot.

I hope to set an example within my league

Being a skater that officiates I hope to debunk some of the beliefs that I mentioned at the start of this post. Not only to other players, but to refs. New refs might be struggling with skating skills, or officials in general might be feeling like their worth less in a league. By showing that you care about officials you send out a message to everyone that these are people to care for and have respect for.

This is how a league culture is created and can be the difference between it having officials that develop and thrive, and not having any officials at all.

I get to hang out with awesome people

I don’t know if you know this, but some of the most interesting, funny, and intelligent people I’ve ever met are officials. I cant explain why this is. Maybe it takes a particular type of person to get so involved into a role that pays nothing and does not involve competing (although I know there’s some internal competing among officials). These are people dedicated to help out others. To perfect their skills. That find pleasure in mastering new skills and that teach and include others to do the same. I feel truly blessed to have been included in this community and am getting to know more and more people in it, that previously went by almost unnoticed.

This becomes particularly striking when I’m somewhere as a player, and need to respect the neutral role of my officiating friends.

Thank you all for all that you’ve done for me!

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