Sydney Jacobs grew up immersed in hockey.
Growing up in a family where everyone played hockey, the sport was a central part of her childhood experience.
“I was constantly surrounded by it,” said Jacobs. “After school with the kids on the road, going to watch my brothers’ games, or my dad kissing us goodnight on Sunday nights before heading off to his weekly game.”
The same family connections that led Jacobs to hockey also inspired her to put on the stripes for the first time.
“My brother started officiating in high school as him and some friends took it on as a part time job,” Jacobs remembered. “I figured it would be an easy job for me to manage between my busy hockey schedule, so it was a no brainer to put the stripes on to begin my officiating career.”
Jacobs got the hang of things quickly, thanks not only to her experience in hockey, but also to her time spent as a figure skater. Jacobs credits the skills figure skating taught her as a crucial part of her development as a hockey player and official.
“As a referee now, that foundation as a figure skater has come in handy,” Jacobs explained. “My skating has always been very strong and I believe that’s from the basics that I learned before I put a stick in my hands on the ice.”
It didn’t take long for officiating to become more than just a part time job for Jacobs, who now thinks of the referee community as a second family.
“I enjoy the sense of community we have,” Jacobs said. “We all come from different backgrounds, ages, jobs… but when we put that jersey on, we are all the same.”
The welcoming and inclusive nature of the officiating community helped Jacobs find her footing on the ice, and has inspired her to pay it forward to the next generation of officials.
“Seeing people that have skated the Olympics treat me as an equal has been an eye-opening experience,” said Jacobs. “It has made me want to follow in their footsteps and ensure that we keep the referee community open and welcoming.”
In eight years of officiating, Jacobs has found her place in a community, with some of her closest friends being people she skates with. It hasn’t all been easy, however, especially as a young female trying to earn the respect of players and coaches.
“At times, my appearance as a young female will get in the way and coaches will undermine my ability as an official.” Jacobs explained. “Many other young officials that join the league will face the same thing, but being confident in myself and my ability as a referee has given me the strength and confidence in my calls even when I am being undermined or questioned.”
Dealing with the on-ice challenges has given Jacobs perspective on the role officials play in the game of hockey, and she reminds others to be conscious of the way they treat on-ice officials.
“The same way the players may make a mistake on the ice, we may make a mistake or miss a call,” Jacobs shared. “Remember there is an appropriate way to communicate with officials on the ice, and players will learn from how they see the adults around them communicating with or about officials.”
While there have been challenges, both on and off the ice, Jacobs encourages new and aspiring officials to stay confident through mistakes.
“Do not be afraid to make mistakes and own up to them,” said Jacobs. “If you mess up on an icing call, take the puck to centre ice, apologize to the coaches, take responsibility and keep going with the game. Don’t let that one call impact the rest of your game.”
Eight years into her officiating career, Jacobs is grateful for the community she has been able to find, and the opportunity it has given her to stay involved in the game of hockey.
“The people that I skate with have become some of my closest friends over the years,” said Jacobs. “It’s the feeling I missed from when I was a kid, that excitement to be done a school day and head to the rink to see my friends.”
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