Become a Hockey Official!
If you want to become a hockey official, here is all the info you need! Officiating hockey games is fun and a great way to use all the knowledge you have learned as a player. It's also a great way to make money, as rates average from $30-$45 per game with tournaments being an extra $10. You are able to schedule yourself so it is very flexible. Anyone that is 12 years of age before December 1st of this year can become an official.
If you want to stay in the loop with when seminars open, etc, please fill out this form to be added to the mailing list of current Officials within the DPYH and High School Voyageur teams:
How to Register
You must register with USA Hockey and WHOA at wihoa.org & complete all requirements before you can begin officiating. WHOA has very clear and easy to follow instructions to get you going. Click on the links below to get started.
Seminar Schedule
Once you have registered to become an official, you will need to attend a seminar to learn to ropes. Each year you will need to do this, whether you choose to stay at Level 1 or advance your career. Seminars typically open up on mid-July and have a capacity limit, so register as early as possible. The seminar link can be found below:
equipment needed
You will need to invest in some reffing equipment before your first seminar. Below is a list of what you will need:
- Black Helmet and 1/2 visor
- Neck laceration guard (if you are under 18)
- shin guards & elbow pads (old ones work great and it's nice to have an extra set in your bag so you don't forget them)
- Referee Shirt
- Black pants that will fit over shinguards*
- Whistle
- Skates
- Protective Cup (for boys)
- Duffel bag to carry gear in
*If you are not sure if you will like Officiating, I would recommend just using wide legged sweatpants that will fit over your shinguards for the first season, as they are cheaper than buying the "official" pants.
Here are a few links to where you can purchase "kits" to save some money..
Zebra's Club (Ships fast)
Ref Gear Bag: the Athletico Hockey Backpack is the perfect size for getting through hallways/storing in the smaller ref locker rooms during games. A larger duffel bag or a mite sized Bauer-type bag would also work if you want to save money starting out.
