Officials Clinic Scheduled
The Athens Youth Hockey Association will hold there annual Officials Clinic Sunday, September 12th. If your'e a current official or would like to become an official please see below.
In order to become a USA hockey certified official, one must:
1) Register at USA hockey
2) Attend a USA hockey seminar
3) Pass an open book exam
4) Proper referee attire
Registration to become a USA Hockey official is done online at the following link: http://www.usahockeyregistration.com/ You will follow the "Ice Officials" link from that site. The registration for 2010-11 season has officially begun. There is usually a small fee (around $35), which basically pays for insurance throughout the season. After you register, USA hockey will send a rulebook for the 2010-11 season. If anyone is under the age of 18, their parent or guardian will have to do it for them (in other words, you will have to do it).
I have talked with Steve Sammons, the Athens Youth Hockey Association (AYHA) president, as well as Don Lewis, our USA Hockey seminar instructor, and we have set a time for the 2010-11 USA Hockey seminar. The seminar will be on Sunday, September 12th, with ice time at Bird Arena from 8-9 am and classroom time from 9:15-3:15 pm. Lunch will be provided. The AYHA has graciously agreed to pay most of the seminar costs in advance.
The AYHA has had problems of officials attending the seminar and not officiating for the association, so everyone will be responsible for $10, and then reimbursed the $10 after they officiate their first game for the AYHA. In the end, it will be free if you officiate for the AYHA. It will be for level 1, 2, and 3 officials. It is scheduled 3 months in advance, so everyone can adjust their schedules accordingly. I cannot stress enough how important it is you attend this seminar. If you miss it, you will have to travel several hours as well as pay seminar fees, it's not fun.
Our USA Hockey instructor, Don Lewis, has registered our September 12, 2010, clinic online. You can register for the seminar at http://midamreferee.com/seminars.htm. Please register as soon as possible, so he can get an idea of preliminary numbers. Returning officials, please register for the next highest level (if you were a level one, register for level two). For perspective officials, you will register as a level one as well as check the "New Official" box. The easiest way to search for the clinic is to enter the zip code 45701, and it should pop up.
Once you register and receive the 2010-11 USA hockey rulebook, an official can take the open book exam online at the following link: http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=OF_01&ID=20068
The questions are tricky and it takes a while to go through the rulebook to find the answers. USA Hockey makes this difficult because it is an open book exam. If by chance, you don't pass (which happens all the time, not a big deal), please get in contact with me and I'll assist with the retake.
Finally, all officials are required to have the proper attire, which includes:
1) Black Helmet (half face shield recommended, cannot be full face mask)
2) Whistle
3) Black Pants
4) Referee Jersey
Official's Warehouse is the best place to purchase referee equipment. It can be found at the following link: http://www.officialswearhouse.com/ They have packages bundled together as well. If you play hockey, you can use your hockey skates, shin guards, elbow pads, cup, and helmet (just have to modify his mask when you officiate).
The question almost everyone wants to know is how much we get paid. Per year's past, we will have the following pay schedule:
Mite $10
Squirt $15
Pee Wee $20
Bantam $37.50
High School $60 Referee, $40 for Linesmen
Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks, Patrick Pepper C: 740-591-8944
