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Hockey fans are understandably concerned about one thing and one thing only: results. Did "my" team win? If yes, then all is well. If no, who is to blame?
Conversely, hockey coaches tend to heavily emphasize the process that's involved. Play the game the right way and the results may not always reflect it, but they will far more often than not. Get outworked and you may win a few games -- even in a playoff series -- but it will not be sustainable.
Coaching officials operates by the same principles. While fans and anyone else with a personal interest in who wins a game understandably focus only on the outcome of a call -- especially if it a missed call -- those of us involved on the coaching and management side are process-focused. Follow the right process and, in the long run, the right calls will be made far more often than not.
Inevitably, during the Stanley Cup playoffs in particular, my PM box and Twitter notifications are largely filled with people asking for my take on whether controversial calls in various games were the right call or wrong call. I am happy to answer without impugning the overall body of work of any particular official(s). Mostly, though, I seek to educate, explaining where and how things commonly go awry and how to maximize the chance at the right call on a similar play.
Whenever people ask me what I thought of a certain call -- whether it involved a penalty call or non-call, a goal or no goal ruling, etc. -- the last area I look at is the decision itself. The first area is the official's positioning and skating. It's a lot harder to defend a call (even the "right" ruling) if the official is out of position.
Every time I speak or write about this topic, I say "the money is at the net" and "positioning sells calls." If the referee skates and get to the net you will have the best sightlines and be able to judge infractions and goals. It is much easier to defend a close call when the referee is in the correct position rather than 15-30 feet away from the play.
One of my greatest ongoing frustrations with the NHL's current method of coaching officials is that we all know that plays at the net are the single most important ones to get right but officials are too often out of position to have the best shot at a correct call. So what happens? Every spring, without fail, there are controversies over goal/no goal and goaltender interference calls and non-calls (especially where incidental contact is involved).
Part of being a good official is self-critique and receptiveness to constructive criticism. Ours is a sport of mistakes and adjustments, not perfection. That does not mean we shouldn't strive for perfection, however.
Even Hall of Fame position players do not have "perfect" games where they make every read, every pass, every stick and body check, every shot in absolutely ideal fashion. Vezina Trophy caliber goalies, even if they post a shut out, will probably have a rebound somewhere along the way they're not happy, an angle on a missed shot they could have played better or a dump-in they could have stopped behind the net and it eluded them.
The same is true of officials. No one has perfect games. What we seek to do is find areas that can be corrected and, through good positioning and skating technique, minimize the chance of missing a call. When I use video to discuss officiating, it is designed solely as a teaching tool for all officials. I never use it to embarrass or single out a particular official for a mistake.
Likewise, if I was coaching players, video is useful in similar fashion to break down coverages, forechecking, gap control, etc. Think of officiating videos in a similar sense and then apply it to that aspect.
Those involved in the game in other ways -- playing, coaching, broadcasting, reporting or simply as fans -- start with the result ("right or wrong call") and work backwards. As officials, we must look at the process first before the result.
A hockey team that plays the game the right way isn't always going to win. Likewise, an official's good skating and proper positioning is not a guarantee of a right call. In both realms, however, the desired outcome will be achieved much more consistently when the process is sound.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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