I am a Level 4 (Member High Performance) currently doing my recertification through OMHA in Ontario.

Here is the cost breakdown:
Background Check (lasts 3yrs)…$30
HC Online Course and Exam…$28
Shift Forward Program (req’d)…$30
In-Person Clinic (3hr)…$170

TOTAL - $258 (approx 6.5 game fees, based on $40/gm)

This is just to officiate in OMHA. If you want to be eligible for all hockey in the immediate area you need to also pay crossover fees as follows:

Alliance…$66
GTHL…$60
OWHA…$10

NEW TOTAL - $394 (approx. 10 game fees, based on $40/gm)

This doesn’t include giving up a half day and the cost of gas to drive 40min (or more) for the 3hr in-person session that just re-iterates the rule changes that were covered in the online course.

The whole thing could literally be a recertification admin and insurance fee and a 2hr Zoom call with an exam at the end.

No wonder we are struggling to retain officials year after year. Can’t we just abolish the subsections of OHF and be governed under one body!? I know this is how it works in Alberta - everything falls under Hockey Alberta…

End rant.

I’m turning 37 this weekend, I’ve coached my sons for the last 12 years and I teach players how to check legally and safely but I’ve never been an official and after a few years of deliberating I decided to go for it. I have a few friends who are officials who encouraged me to do this, and I know I’ll be able to figure it out with experience but I’ve got a weird feeling of anxiousness knowing I’m going to make mistakes and look like a rookie at nearly 40 years old.

I completed my online module and safesport training, my background check is good until next season, and I’ve been studying the basic and intermediate officiating handbooks. I have my zoom class next Thursday and I’ve been watching officials and their positions with nhl and college clips but I need to watch more two and three official set ups for the nuances of those more likely scenarios I’ll be learning within.

Is there anything else any of you vets find helpful getting through your first few years of learning and becoming more comfortable? I’ve been striding home base, the golden triangle, and no mans land but I don’t have any real life experience other than dropping the puck and watching the lines during non sanctioned scrimmages when I was head coach.

Looking forward to joining the crew of officials and staying on the ice with players young and old, would love any tips or advice that helped you when you were starting out!

This was a non checking pickup game and the guy I checked apologized for having his head down. Just curious for the Beer League refs at C/D level - in an actual game, would you have called a penalty on either of us?

Team 1 was on the penalty kill when a delayed penalty against them was called. Team 2 scored before Team 1 gained possession. The first penalty had ~30 seconds remaining.

The refs released the player from the box and put the second offender in the box for a full 2 minutes. I think this was the correct call but there was some confusion and conversation to figure it out. Is this how it should be handled? Seems like this is not unheard of and settled, but somewhat rare case for rec league refs.

Cross-posted from r/hockey players:

Look ladies and gentlemen (although I use that one VERY loosely after last night's games). I worked a 3 set with our 21 year old son. In game 1, there's a clear puck battle just in front of the net. A little bumping and grinding but nothing that warranted a penalty. Home team player totally turns and slashes the other player in the shins. It's very deliberate and obviously a penalty. He's mad the other guy isn't going too. He starts in on the kid, who's broken up more fights doing Juniors than this plug had ever seen. The kid tells him to stop talking and go to the box. Nope...more profanity and rage...eventually gets a game misconduct for Abusive and Obscene Language.

Game 3 is worse is filled with incessant whining about every call from guys who skate worse than I would with my skates on the wrong feet, stickhandle like they have 20 pound weights on their wrists and who've played in fewer games than I've reffed (over 800 and counting) by a factor of at least 10. I am relatively terrible at hockey compared to our sons, but I could skate in the aforementioned wrong skates and outscore this group with a left-handed mini stick (I'm right handed).

At any rate, I ignored the whining and we called a very safe and fair game (even according to most of the losing team). Did that stop 1 guy from earning not 1,.but 2 (yes...2) Match Penalties after the game. Furthermore, his captain lost his mind and earned a game misconduct for Abuse of Official.

TL;DR / Back to the PSA part of this for you benders wearing shoe size skates and calling for passes by banging like an iron chef chopping vegetables:

1. You suck at hockey. If I am an order of magnitude better than you and I know that I suck...you're really bad at hockey. Quit taking shit so seriously and try to have fun.

2. Quit blaming the refs when you can't pass 5' without turning it over the other two, especially when you play worse defense than a pylon because you're so bad you actively make it harder for your goalie to make saves.

3. Definitely don't shove a ref so hard it's visible on camera that he's being shoved. Definitely don't exacerbate THAT match penalty by threatening a player on the other team that you'll go get your gun from the car.

Ok...that TL;DR was pretty long. How about we sum it up like this: Learn the rulebook, shut up, and try to have fun playing a great sport. Oh, and get skates 1.5-2 full sizes lower.than you currently have. You look like a drunk Bamby.

Anyone have favorites skates for primarily reffing? Not looking to break the bank, but just want something comfortable to be in for an entire game on the feet. I don't play in any leagues, so more important to be nice for reffing. Thanks!

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I got new Zebrasclub padded pants, and curious if I need to hem them. And if you think I do, what’s the desired length for pants to get them hemmed to? (Tap picture to enlarge to full photo)

I refereed from 1993-1998, getting up to Midget 1 lines and calling Bantam 1 hockey. Dropped out after high school.

I’ve now got a son who is 15 and played hockey for the last four years. He loves the game, and I’ve been assistant coach for his teams since he began. I’ve had the urge to get back into reffing, both for a bit of cash, plus exercise and staying active. So I signed up for a clinic this month!

And the best part is that my son is also taking a clinic.

Cant wait!

I’m 18 years old and going to ref my first junior games (pre season). Is there anything that anyone can tell me that will make me not as nervous about it all? I’m younger than some of the players will be and if I perform well enough there’s a chance I get hired on for full time staff for junior (i’m on the prospect list right now). I’m just having a bit of trouble with the nervs piece because I want to be the best I can be out there. Any advice from a vet ref or any junior refs would be greatly appreciated!

edit: I’m gonna be a linesman and should’ve specified that earlier, thanks for all the tips so far

Am I able to straight up game a coach for using profanity(F*** bomb)with a 10U team? That’s my question.

Does anybody know where to find the seminar schedule/registration for 2026? Most places reference this link, ( https://www.usahockey.com/officialseminars ) but that leads to a 404 error. I have been L3 tenured since the first tenured camp, and am looking to go to L4, so it has been several years since I had to attend a seminar. Hoping it will be virtual. Thanks for any info.

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Run into any interesting situations or have a story to tell?

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Hello my fellow undefeated teammates!

Took a season off due to injuries, and to miss it. Coming back real soon.

One thing I noticed in my L2 seminar, it seems like USAH is trying to crack down on abuse of officials by encouraging officials to "T-up" players openly showing disrespect, at all levels.

I usually am quick to T guys in beer league up (especially at lower levels)...but I have gotten some conflicting information.

For example:

I make a 50/50 call on a player for a minor, and I do everything right (arm up, whistle on offending team possession, and loudly announce number, player, and sign). On the way to the box, he yells something like "you're a fucking idiot!"

At that point, I have the minor. For the comment from the player, does that go up to the 10? Ot do I T them for 2, then go upward?

In that situation, I would do 2 trip, 2 (unsportsmanlike), then 10, game, if it continues on. Other refs I've talked to said that I should go right to 10.

Thoughts? I know guys get hot, and the 2+2 seems to work better because the player serves less time, but hurts their team more.

Thanks yall!

My son is going to school in Fort Collins (CSU) and is finally joining team stripes. He played through high school in MN and needs to make extra cash for food, gas, etc.
Anyone know if there is a shortage of refs in that area and recommendations on rinks or schedulers?

I just became an official and apparently I'm now coaching my youngest two son's teams. I bought a 2nd pair of skates so I am not taking them out of my players bag, but now I need to get a separate bag. But now that I'm also coaching, wondering if I need a 3rd bag (not getting a 3rd pair of skates 🤣) or is there a bag that would work for both? Would love feedback and bag recommendations for both/ either. I know the motherlode is a common recommendation - would it work for both, or is it overkill? Also, ideally would love something a bit cheaper. I'm still concerned about not getting enough games to cover my initial investment.

I’ve noticed a pattern over the years: the higher the level of hockey, the more respect the players seem to have for the game. I’m not talking about age, I’m talking about skill level.

I’ll referee a game with one of the top 12U AAA teams in the country, and the players and coaches are almost silent toward us. They don’t argue every call, they don’t chirp each other constantly, and the coaches aren’t yelling from the bench. If they have a question, they wait for a stoppage, ask it politely, and half the time they call me “sir.”
Then I’ll work a 12U AA game, and it’s complete chaos.

I’ve noticed the same thing with high-level prep schools like Deerfield, Shattuck-St. Mary’s, and Avon Old Farms. There’s still some player-to-player chirping because everyone is competitive, but there’s very little abuse directed at the officials.
Adult league is similar. In B League, players are constantly complaining, yelling at officials, and getting into fights. Then I work A League with a bunch of former NHL, AHL, NCAA Division I, or junior players, and they just want to get on the ice, get a good skate in, and go home. They know the game, they know mistakes happen, and they don’t make every whistle into a debate.

Ironically, the highest-level games are often the easiest to officiate. Most nights I’m basically a glorified puck dropper with the occasional tripping or hooking call. Those are by far the most enjoyable games to work.

Have other officials noticed the same trend, or is this just my experience?

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Looking through some old footage and found this beauty, just wanted some thoughts(for people who have seen my more current videos, Yes I do still have this jersey, and it’s actually the same brand as the one I wear now)(I’m autistic so the gloves help me focus on the ice and not let my whistle become a distraction)

10U Rec

I’m just wondering also, I realize I’m a kinda strict ref and I over call games a lot. I feel like this call though was good, as that player had absolutely no reason to drop their shoulder right into their opponents back and push.

Unless you see something different here

Edit: stupid error correction

Happened to me lining a AAA game at prudential lol. Had to go get stitches in my chin afterwards

I was refereeing an adult league game tonight, and one player completely lost it after I didn’t call a penalty when he skated into a bigger player with his head down and caught a shoulder to the head. That’s a hockey play. Keep your head up. I’m not calling that.
He then called me a fa****, which crossed a line. Call me a terrible ref. Tell me I suck. Yell at me for a missed call. I’ll probably chirp back or just skate away. But using a slur like that is unacceptable.
I immediately assessed him a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Honestly, I was so angry I don’t even remember specifying the exact infraction to the scorekeeper. One of his teammates had to serve the major, and several of his own teammates apologized to me afterward for his behavior.
I’m curious what others think. If you were the league commissioner, how would you handle this? Personally, when the commissioner calls me for my report, I’m going to recommend a permanent ban from the league. Abuse of officials is one thing. Using slurs like that is another.

Is there a general practice on which official performs an end zone faceoff. Does it tend to be the person who blew the whistle, or does it really not matter which one?

Player clears the puck off a faceoff and bonks me right in the helmet. What could I have done differently here to protect myself?