Etiquette. 

Merriam-Webster defines etiquette as, “the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.”

Officiating incorporates etiquette. 

Look, I’m not referring to basic fundamentals of officiating etiquette like handing off to a lefty into his left palm and not simply assuming your partner is a righty. Or respecting the next game’s officiating crew by ensuring your game concludes on time. That’s basic stuff.

No, I’m referring to something that unfortunately occurs too often in the officials’ ranks.

The tardy referee.

I bring this up because the OS desk was recently emailed with a complaint from a veteran Level 3. It seems his partner appeared for the game in the middle of the second period. According to the vet, his partner’s tardiness resulted from a misread of the actual 12:25 starting time as 12:55. 

Fine. That happens. It’s never happened to OS after 27 years and nearly 6,000 games officiated, but it does happen.

Officiating etiquette. Emily Post on ice. What to do, Mr. OS?

Simple. The late ref makes an offer. An accord and satisfaction. One-third of the game fee per period missed. One-half should have been the offer in the aforementioned scenario.

But there was no offer. None at all. Advice?

Report the ref to the scheduler. 

Now, certain scenarios do require restraint. Ref got a speeding ticket? Forget about it. Ref’s previous game running late due to injury or rink scheduling issues? Let it slide. Vehicular accident? You know the answer.

But when it’s the ref’s negligence, what should happen? 

Answer: The late ref should immediately apologize and offer cash to the ref who officiated solo. Lots of us won’t even take it. Just the admission of guilt and remorse is enough.

About five years ago, I was victimized by the late ref. This guy was habitually late. If he arrived at the rink by the end of warm-ups, it was news. Well, this official shows up to a butcher league game in the middle of the second . He had no excuse. So I told him, “I think you owe me $20.” He laughed it off.

I reported him to the assigner. And I wasn’t the first to do so. Turns out, the guy wasn’t seen on the ice for several months afterwards. The $20 cost him around $750. Too bad.

Etiquette. It’s the right thing to do. Learn it. Do it.

A couple of bucks here can save a few hundred there.

Questions and comments can be sent to editor@letsplayhockey.com, via Twitter @OSpeaking or through the Let’s Play Hockey Facebook page.