r/hockeyrefs

My son just got his USA hockey officiating crest. He’s 14 - what’s the bare minimum to get started? I’d assume he will cut his teeth on mites (u8) and squirts (u10) games, and who knows how long he’ll do this, so - recommendations on used gear/where to buy/ what should he start with without going crazy? His player helmet is blue so we’ll need a helmet, visor, jersey, pants and whistle bare minimum.

Appreciate the insight!

Edit to add: understand that neck guards are required. The post is poorly worded but really just looking for recommendations on what you all think we shouldn’t skimp on (ref specific padded pants vs black nondescript warmup pants, etc) what do refs who have been doing this awhile think is the bare minimum vs the actual rule.

Ok all. What shin guards are we rockin this year? This is my second year, I used my player ones last year but they are a bit bulky. Plus I’m not keen on having to keep switching my equipment from player bag to ref bag. One of these times I’m gonna forget them 🙄 I’m not into spending a TON of money, as we don’t have a lot of hockey here so I can’t exactly make back the money in a weekend quickly.

Hello, returning ref here after a few years off. I believe that USA hockey changed it's registration process for attending seminars. How does one sign up for a seminar on USA Hockey? The website is not super intuitive.

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!

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.

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.

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!