Keisha Sherbecoe Profile - Lady Zebra Home Ice

I've been officiating since 1998. I tried all levels but found the women's league and lower kids' level was the best place for me. Now, four years later, I feel much more confident with adult games and higher-level kids' games. Note to those just starting and interested: time helps everything. If you keep skating and officiating and seeing different circumstances, you'll get better and more confident. It will take some time, but you'll like the results.

Why did you become an ice hockey official?
I needed lots of time on skates, I needed to learn the rules and I needed more money to play more hockey.

What's the best thing about being an ice hockey official?
There are some really good people and good players at all levels of hockey. I've appreciated those good people- players, coaches, officials and fans that remember hockey is a game and we're all out to have fun. I like having the best seat in the house at the games, too.

What's the worst thing about being an ice hockey official?
The bad people. The people that are burnt out, angry, unhappy, unsatisfied, unreasonable, and not having a good time. I've seen too many players, coaches, and fans that aren't enjoying themselves, their teams, their time. I think taking a break is necessary sometimes, and wish others would realize it isn't a bad thing.

How do you think being a woman has affected your career, good or bad, as an official?
Being a woman has made me a little more careful, especially in the beginning. I wanted to be especially fair and even-tempered.

What are your goals as an official?
Goals? I'm just trying to stay safe and sane. I had hopes of being very good and very fast, but child-birth, a broken leg and my general ability is slowing me down... we could mention my age, too. [Note: see paragraph 1! :-) ] I'm having fun and trying to do the best I can - and getting better. My goal is to continue to learn and improve. I'm not going to make the NHL but I can be a strong "hometown" official.

Relate a memorable event you've had as an official.
I think my first game was the most memorable, ask Mary and Irene [Mary Owen and Irene LePage]. They were laughing at me the whole time. Pick something, I messed it up. I wish I had a picture of "Super Referee" that Mary and Irene described. I waved off icing with my arms way behind my body, like I was flying through the air. It was a good night!

Keisha, a woman of "indeterminate age," lives in Newark with husband Terry and daughter Joslyn. She currently plays in the Maroon Division of NCWHL and maintains the NCWHL web site.

She also has a personal web site, where you can see pictures of her family and learn more about her life away from hockey. It's at:
http://www.oocities.org/SouthBeach/Lights/3880

In the summer of 2000, with Laura White, Keisha attended the USA Hockey District Officiating seminar in Anchorage, Alaska. Why Alaska? Keisha wanted to visit her father, who lives there, and it was a perfect opportunity to do both at once.