BUILDING A TEAM National Hockey League Officiating

Teamwork : : Simply stated, it is less me and more we

Building a Team  Why did we build a team?  Because the game demanded it. In order to serve the game at an optimum level we had to build a team  Building a team requires a number of key ingredients as well as a few good cooks. In other words you start with assembling the best team possible which includes all parts of the team, officials and management.  In 2005 NHL officiating began working to consciously build a team culture  We wanted to go from a ‘me’ to a ‘we’ culture  The following will take you through what we do to build our team and more importantly have success as a team…

What we do & have done to build our team:  Performance Standards  Team Building  Training Camp Hockey Tournament  Team Branding  Weekly Communication  Team Projects  Pre/Post Game Meetings  Team Covenant  A Changed Culture

Performance Standards

 It is important to distinguish that NHL officials are in fact held to two standards. The NHL Standard of officiating as well as a performance standard  At training camp in 2005 NHL officials brainstormed and helped build the standard of performance  The Standard of officiating is a league standard, one that we continually and consistently work to  In order to perform to these standards it was important to build a team Building a Team Performance Standards

SKATING ABILITY / POSITIONING NHL Standard Consists of: Strong forwards and backwards skating combined with agility and speed necessary to keep up with the pace of the NHL game. Positioning, based on reading and reacting to the play, and hustle to maintain maximum vision and sight lines to make the proper call. JUDGMENT / KNOWLEDGE NHL Standard Consists of: Calling and maintaining the NHL standard of enforcement on existing rules while being consistent and decisive on calls. Exercising sound judgment and having full rule knowledge. COMPORTMENT NHL Standard Consists of: Professional interaction with all participants within the NHL arena environment while remaining composed. Presence in the game by reacting under pressure while demonstrating confidence and assuredness in work throughout the game. Building a Team Performance Standards

Team Building

 Developing a common purpose shapes direction and builds momentum and commitment  Without it, groups perform as individuals  With it, they become an effective unit of collective performance The essence of a team is common commitment Building a Team Team Building

 The sincere promises we make to others and ourselves  Accountability arises from and reinforces the time, energy and action invested in figuring out what the team is trying to accomplish and how best to get it done  When people work towards a common objective, trust and commitment follow. Consequently, members hold themselves accountable, both as individuals and as a team for the team’s performance  Many crews, one standard No group becomes a team until it can hold itself accountable as a team Building a Team Team Building

Training Camp Hockey Tournament

Team Branding

For each hockey season we brand our team internally with a logo and a theme to ensure we are consistent in our goal  M:6:7 represented ‘Mission ’  – Represented that NOW was the time for change  – Sine Labore Nihil is Latin for ‘Nothing Without Work’ which represented that success does not come without hard word It Starts Now! Building a Team Team Branding

Building a Team Team Branding For each hockey season we brand our team internally with a logo and a theme to ensure we are consistent in our goal  Hockey F1rst represented the continued commitment to put the game first  – Strength: Inside & Out, represents our mental strength (inside) and our physical strength (outside) Hockey F1rst

Weekly Communication

addressed technical officiating matters as well as the team rules project addressed our team philosophy, team project as well as providing team rosters and game intelligence Monday Memo Friday Memo Building a Team Weekly Communication Communication structure used from 2006 – 2010:

Tuesday Memo Thurs Clips Building a Team Weekly Communication Current communication structure: addresses weekly team message, technical officiating matters, team project, suggested resources Video coaching clips will be used throughout the season as a teaching tool

Team Projects

 A rules quiz will be issued throughout the season in our Tuesday communication  This is the science of the game and works to keep our guys fresh on the rulebook  Becomes topic of conversation at lunch and in dressing room  Increases consistency in rule application  Evolution of an NHL Official project  Officiating elements (see next slide) Building a Team Team Projects

Building a Team Team Projects

Team Covenant

Our Team Covenant Summarized: Our team covenant is an unwritten set of norms or guidelines on how we should act towards each other within each game NHL officials are tasked with upholding the integrity of the game Communication is key Internal audit Being committed to staying on course by seeing and reacting to fouls regardless of the time and score in the game Building a Team Team Covenant

Pre/Post Game Meetings

Pre-game - Referee facilitating  Rules and standards review – official facilitating review the “rule of the day”  Support and Sight lines  Focus on protecting the goalies in the blue  Consistent application of the NHL standard of enforcement Pre-game - Linesmen facilitating  Face-off tendencies – centermen  Benches – line changes  Partners habits – leave line early, cross ice communication, procedure for entering fights. Building a Team Pre/Post Game Meetings

Team discussion topics  Building logistics/arena setup – clocks, team entrances, penalty boxes, benches that extend into the end zones, off-ice officials, video goal judge, etc.  Discuss procedure in relation to job descriptions  Review of the team lineups – style of play, tendencies  Off-ice officials Building a Team Pre/Post Game Meetings

Changed Culture

 We put the game first, the team second and ourselves third  Evolution of individual to collective mentality with common goals and common purpose to serve the game Building a Team Changed Culture

Less me, more we...…

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