Saskatchewan Hockey Association

Learn how SHA used SkillShark in their immediate post-game meetings

Background

The SHA is the governing body for all ice hockey in Saskatchewan, Canada and is a branch of Hockey Canada. Derek Bloski has been evaluating referees and officials for years and practices immediate post-game meetings to go over feedback. The old-school pen-and-paper method made these meetings difficult.

Derek came to know about SkillShark early on in its development through a friend. He quickly understood the benefits of the software, and how SkillShark could offer officials instant feedback in meetings as soon as they stepped off the ice.

Using SkillShark

The thing we like best about SkillShark is the fact that the feedback to the official is instant. “Post-game, we can sit down with athletes, we can go through some different things that happened during the game, assist them in those areas where they may have some shortfalls, but also show them those areas where they do things really, really well.”

Development of athletes and officials doesn’t happen overnight, and prior to SkillShark, it required a ton of effort to try to move this development along.

“Before SkillShark, we basically used pen and paper. We would have to go through those evaluations and coaching forms,” says Derek. “Now the fact that we have SkillShark, it allows us to come up with the right answer almost instantly!”

One of Derek’s favourite parts of SkillShark is the video recording aspect. It gave him the ability to show his officials where scores came from. “I really like the video. There are other apps where you can go in and give scores and that, but I haven’t seen anything else that allows you to get situations as they happen.”