Referee Ladislav Smetana: “I’m always delighted whenever I get to go to the ice rink”

How did you become a referee?
I basically grew up in hockey arenas and played hockey for a long time. One day, when I was about 24, a friend asked whether I’d like to look into officiating. So I went to a meeting — and I’ve been refereeing ever since. It was a good decision back then. I played until I was 24, then made the switch. I started small, but things developed quickly, and now I’ve been doing this for almost 25 years.

Was there anyone or anything that particularly influenced you on your path to becoming a referee?
We were actually two or three people who started together. Then there was, I think, Bernd Schneider in Germany — he motivated us and helped get us started. One day I moved to Austria, and I’ve been here ever since.

What motivates you to do your job as a referee every day anew?
That’s a good question. It’s awesome — I really love it. I always look forward to driving to the arena, and I hope I can keep doing this for another two or three years, if possible.

Were there also moments when you doubted your decision to become a referee?
If I’m honest, sometimes it’s exhausting when you’re away for too long. But I’ve never really regretted it. Still, it can be tiring, and that’s why I sometimes tell myself, like anyone in any job: “Yes, today I’d like a few free hours.”

On rule interpretation: the rulebook provides a framework. To what extent do experience and intuition decide?
That’s a great topic. The rulebook is written exactly as it’s written. However, in my opinion, not all rules are black and white. Over the years, you learn — I wouldn’t say to bend the rules — but to interpret them with some flexibility. Often, decisions depend more on experience or gut feeling.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for a referee?
That’s a difficult question, but I think, during the game, it’s sometimes really hard to stay focused for the full 60 minutes. If you lose focus, even briefly, lapses can happen — and that’s always a challenge.

Video interview (in German):