Can we talk?

hat do referees and umpires have in common? The most obvious trait is that to excel, they both have to be good communicators.

Too often I've seen umpires or referees who have great potential, but they prefer to just let things happen and then hand out penalties and ejections when things get out of hand.

A quick "Don't do that," or "cut that out," or "play the puck," goes a long way in preventive officiating. It lets players know you've seen what they're doing and won't let them get away with it if they continue on that same path.

A good official — in hockey or baseball — practices preventive officiating, putting an end to unacceptable behavior before it gets out of hand.

In addition, especially in hockey, players are constantly coming over to the referee, either complaining about a perceived infraction or wondering about a rule. That happens in baseball but not as often.

Continued...