If you ever drop in a local officiating association board meeting, the topic of moving the nets is always a sore point that never seems to get resolved.

I’m talking about the decades-old custom of the independent contractor referees being “forced” to move the nets for the employee Zamboni driver at the conclusion of a game.

Now, for those of us that hit the big times, this isn’t an issue. Big times, as in AHL, ACHA and City National Arena where the rink employees relocate the goals while the ice gets resurfaced.

But for the 99 percent of officiating brethren that aren’t in these scenarios, let me elucidate you on how to handle the post-game grind.

Look, there is absolutely no rule or provision requiring the on-ice officials to move the goals for the Zamboni guy. We do it as a courtesy. To keep things on time. To help out the hockey community. But in return, we expect the driver to enter the ice timely and get things moving

It’s all about etiquette. What this means is that if a rink wants us veteran independent contractors to assist them in this manual drudgery – so they don’t have to hire additional employees – we have to be respected. 

That translates into getting the Zam out immediately after the game and resurfacing without delay.

It does not mean lollygagging in the refrigeration room, fiddling with a hose and otherwise showing no consideration for the independent contractors in stripes.

Likewise, it does not mean allowing a team to congregate at center ice after the handshake while posing for several different camera angles. 

In fact, this very situation happened to OS yesterday morning when a team from El Paso suddenly halted near the rink exit door while awaiting several parents to enter the ice for photographic purposes.

OS was having none of it. What, us independent contractors are now supposed to wait an additional five minutes while several parents orchestrate different poses for the best angles? Not that there is anything inherently wrong with locking up memories, but certainly not at the expense of veteran officials.

Some Zam drivers would likewise object to this kind of delay, especially being cognizant of the disrespect to the referees. Those drivers would then start blowing the Zam horn like rush hour on West Flamingo Road. 

But this driver didn’t. So, in a quick display of incredible experience, OS skated by one of the coaches as he was directing his players for the pose, and instructed him to “Please move the nets for the Zamboni driver when you’re done with the pictures.” And then my partner and I hustled off the ice, hurried into the dressing room and hoped for the best.

In this case, everything worked out well. It’s called post-game management and experience, something OS excels at, and it clearly rubbed off well on my first-year partner, who saw how effortlessly and efficiently the issue was handled before it turned into a problem.

So rink managers, coaches and parents, remember that 60 seconds after the handshake concludes, the officials’ time ends. Any further delay is on you. With this being understood, hopefully the issue of moving the nets will at least have reasonable and objective parameters which will benefit all parties and further diffuse this decades-old issue.

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