What does a supervisor observe and assess during a game?

The Hockey Canada supervisor's handbook says on-ice supervision is aimed at developing officials through meaningful feedback, and that its guidelines give a standardized approach to evaluating officials. Its objectives are to improve officiating quality, develop consistency in assessment, provide instructional follow-up and coaching that reinforces clinic material, develop consistent officiating techniques (rule interpretation, enforcement, positioning and signalling), and give officials an incentive to perform at their best. Feedback should cover positive performance as well as areas to improve.

A supervisor is there to assist referees and linespersons to become better officials, which means coaching as well as evaluating. The supervisor must be prepared to spend time with each official evaluated and discuss each performance.

Supervisors assess two groups of things:

• Personal characteristics: appearance and presence, composure and maturity, and attitude.
• Competence: skating ability, positioning, signals, face-offs, application of rules, penalty calls, judgement, game control, reaction under pressure, and teamwork.

The supervisor's report is a permanent record of an individual's performance in a specific situation, so it must be complete, detailed and accurate. Associations use these reports to evaluate and rate their officiating staff. Supervisors must know the approved rules, procedures and techniques, and must report any official who does not follow them.

Source: Hockey Canada supervisor's handbook (Canadian Hockey Association, revised June 2001), Foreword, Role of the Supervisor and Assessment of Officials.