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Ice hockey officiating camp in Harmar teaches refs to make the right call | TribLIVE.com
Allegheny

Ice hockey officiating camp in Harmar teaches refs to make the right call

Nate Smallwood
Nate Smallwood | Wednesday, May 24, 2017 3:36 p.m
PtrPEOC01052317
Nate Smallwood | Tribune-Review
A camp participant is pushed up against the glass during a training session during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

When the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp began in 2012 there were 12 participants.

Five years later, the camp designed to train students to be ice hockey referees has more than 100 traveling here from as far away as Alaska to take part in the camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar.

For Zach Roberts, the camp’s executive director, the hard work and preparation for the weekend pays off the moment the participants walk in the door to start.

“The moment camp begins is when I can finally take a breath,” Roberts said.

That’s when the preparation is done, and the fun and teaching can begin.

Camp participants get ready to take the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

The participants work tirelessly in the classroom where they study video, answer quiz questions and talk about making difficult calls on the ice. They also spend time in the rink where the refs run drills and make real calls during scrimmages.

The camp features three levels of camps for the participants who, this year, ranged in age from 14 to 56. With participants from more than 16 states, Roberts says one of the best parts is to see “how quickly they bonded, became a group and the walls started to break down.”

After the three days of studying and skating the campers returned home to continue to work on their passion for officiating.

Skates are stored inside of a room at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/giwsg94cz/Ptr-PEOC04-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants get ready to take the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/qhhr2qdsj/Ptr-PEOC05-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants practice skating and making calls during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/oqyq18w9f/Ptr-PEOC06-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants practice stopping during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/4xmm8jivn/Ptr-PEOC07-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants take to the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/gbdqxhis3/Ptr-PEOC08-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants look on as others practice officiating during a scrimmage during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/8jx0yxemr/Ptr-PEOC09-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants converse before getting onto the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/xr7wz6hqr/Ptr-PEOC10-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Operations Director, Dave Fryer, leads a presentation during a classroom session during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/d8d0u43tf/Ptr-PEOC11-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants text answers to a multiple choice question during a classroom session at the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/q114u1ff7/Ptr-PEOC12-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants practice skating and making calls during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/k1ddqdumr/Ptr-PEOC13-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants get direction from a coach during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/4txe612s3/Ptr-PEOC14-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants get training breaking up fights during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/5xhihznf7/Ptr-PEOC15-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants get ready to take the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

<img src=" https://s11.postimg.org/vub6ulr2r/Ptr-PEOC16-052317.jpg" width="100%"

Camp participants get ready to take the ice during the Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camp held at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmar on May 19, 2017.

Photo by Nate Smallwood

 

Nate Smallwood is a Tribune-Review photographer. You can contact Nate via Twitter .

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