OFFICIALS
WHY BE AN OFFICIAL?
Officials are an important part of every organized sporting event. Officials help provide a structured, safe environment and expectations of how the game is played by enforcing a set of defined rules.
Learning the rules helps you as a player, coach or spectator.
You get paid to attend hockey games.
You are giving back to the sport you love.
You get to have fun while staying active.
Important Information
Please find important information below related to the 2024-25 Officiating Membership season. The 2024-25 Membership season will include education content, modules, and playing rules exercises as a part of all classroom seminars.
USA Hockey is planning significant changes to the officiating education program, which will be implemented starting with the 2025-26 Membership season and onwards. The changes will include the following updated requirements:
- Online Education Video Modules
- Online Playing Rules Exercise
- Virtual Classroom Seminar Curriculum
Additionally, 2025-26 Membership will open earlier, with applications opening on April 1, 2025.
REGISTRATION STEPS
Thank you for your interest in the USA Hockey Officiating Program. Due to recent events we must preface our outline of the Registration process by mentioning that a few states have been experiencing conflicts with child labor laws. USA Hockey has no age restrictions for officiating; however in an effort to prevent people from registering and not being able to work due to labor laws we encourage you to contact your USA Hockey District Referee-in-Chief before registering with us. RIC contact information can be found using the appropriate links at the main Officiating Directory page under the Officials tab at USAHockey.com.
To completely register with USA Hockey as an official you need to complete five steps each year:
USA HOCKEY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (this step must be completed first):
Go to USAHockey.com. At the homepage you will click on “Become a Member” and submit your application as an Ice Official. This is where you will provide us with your personal information for our database and pay your annual membership fee (and local USA Hockey Affiliate Fee if applicable).
Once submitted, you will receive a registration confirmation email within 24-hours and new Level 1 officials will receive a copy of the USA Hockey Playing Rules & Casebook (all officials will receive a rulebook during rule change seasons) within a week along with some additional information to help you along with the registration process.
New Level 1 officials will also receive a second email giving them further membership instructions and will include your USA Hockey Officiating Number.
U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT TRAINING (if born in 2007 or earlier):
All officials who were born in 2007 (or earlier) by June 1 of the current year, must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport training program. This online based program trains coaches, officials, and key volunteers in detecting and preventing detrimental behavior (hazing, abuse, etc.) on and off the playing surface. Once core-fundamental training is completed, a brief recertification course is required each year. SafeSport training can be completed by using the SafeSport link under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.
USA HOCKEY BACKGROUND SCREEN
All officials who are 18 years-old (or older) by June 1 of the current year, must submit to a USA Hockey sanctioned Criminal Background Screen. More information regarding the screening process can be found here.
USA Hockey Background Screens are valid for two seasons, and no screening process performed by an outside entity will be accepted.
ONLINE EDUCATION VIDEO MODULES:
Online Education Module material will be included in the classroom seminar curriculum for the 2024-25 Membership season.
PLAYING RULES EXERCISE:
Playing Rules Exercises will be part of the classroom seminar curriculum with an emphasis on educating officials. There will be no Open Book Exam separate from the classroom seminar for the 2024-25 Membership season.
CLASSROOM SEMINAR:
All USA Hockey Officials must complete their USA Hockey Officiating classroom seminar requirements annually. To find seminar schedules, go to the Classroom Seminar page at the Officials section of USAHockey.com. You will need a USAH Courses System profile to complete registration for a seminar (completing Membership Registration does not automatically create a USAH Courses Profile).
Most seminars are scheduled between late August and early November (the schedules begin to appear online starting in July), and any questions about the seminars should be directed to your USA Hockey District Staff (following the links at the main Directory under Officials Materials). We strongly recommend you make sure you can attend a seminar before you begin the Membership Registration process (the fee is non-refundable), and do not wait long to register since some seminars do fill up very quickly.
Once you complete these steps, and the USA Hockey National Office receives your Registration Fee, Open Book Exam answers, and Seminar Attendance confirmation, you will receive your USA Hockey Officiating Card and Sweater Crest and you are ready to work games.
Important Note: Please be sure to record contact information for your local USA Hockey Supervisor of Officials and Local Assignor while at your seminar.
SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT:
Submit reimbursement form found below (send the reimbursement form and receipts to our treasurer)
Answers to other questions can be found in the Membership Information menu under the OFFICIALS tab at usahockey.com.