How to Become a Hockey Official

All Interior Alaska Hockey Officials (IAHOA) are registered USA Hockey referees. USA Hockey is the national governing body for amateur hockey in the United States and the only source of training for hockey officials at the grassroots level. Certification as a USA Hockey referee qualifies you to work all levels of amateur hockey including the Olympics and is a first step to becoming a professional referee.  To become registered with USA Hockey as an official you must complete a three-step process.

The Process

Step One

Attend a USA Hockey Officiating Seminar. The seminar schedule is now available. The  seminars are  held at the Friends Church, just off Lathrop on 30th.    Seminars are scheduled starting in August through November.  You will want to attend a Level One seminar. At the seminar you will have seven hours of classroom training and one hour of on-ice drills. Make sure you sign the seminar attendance form so you get credit for being there!

 At the seminar you will receive instruction in the basics of officiating. Classroom topics that will be covered include the rulebook, signals, positioning, equipment, and penalty calling procedures. On the ice you will learn how to conduct a face-off, and proper positioning. Continued study will be necessary and you will receive a Basic Officiating Manual to read at home.

Step Two

 We recommend using online registration at  USA Hockey registration  This will speed up the registration process. The training staff will collect completed registrations at the end of the seminar.  If you are over 18 or older a background check will be needed.   Minors will require the signature of a parent or guardian on the agreement between Interior Alaska Hockey Official and the member.

Step Three

Once your online registration fee is received by USA Hockey, you will be sent a rulebook and the required open book test can be completed online. New officials are required to answer the first fifty (50) questions on the 100 question test. The questions are designed to familiarize the new official with the rulebook. When you complete the open book test and submit it  to USA Hockey the results will be known immediately. 

Once all of these items have been completed, am I done yet?

Yes.  You have met the USA Hockey requirements, you are covered by USA Hockey insurance, and ready to officiate games. All Leagues are scheduled using online scheduling. This will be covered in more detail at the seminar.

Expected Costs

Day of the Seminar

No fees will need to be collected at the seminar unless online registration is not used.

If 18 or older, a mandatory background check will need to be done.  Alaska State Hockey has set up an online process for obtaining this.  Information will be passed out at the seminar.

Officiating Equipment

Day of Seminar

Game Day Gear

F.A.Q.

What is the Alaska Referee Developmental Fund Fee for?

This fee is part of the online registration. The Developmental Fund is to help share the costs of seminars and referee developmental programs statewide.  This fund is administered by Alaska State Hockey and the fees will be sent to them.

What is the Background check for?

USA Hockey is requiring any official 18 or older to have a criminal history check done.  ASHA (Alaska State Hockey Assn) has set up an online program so that, they will run a check that will be good for three years.  They will take care of all screening of results and will just give an approval or disapproval to the local association.

How Old Do I Have To Be?

You may start officiating at the age of ten, however you may only officiate games below your current age group. For example, if you are a Peewee you may only officiate games at the Squirt and Mite level. There is no maximum age. There are active USA Hockey officials 70 and older.

What Level Seminar Do I go to?

You can attend any seminar that states it will have training in the Level 1 category.

How many Levels Are There?

There are four. Level One or Basic through Level Four or Advanced. Everyone starts at level one, with the basics.

Do I Have To Join IAHOA?

IAHOA is the contracting agent for Adult, Youth, Comp and High School hockey in the Fairbanks area.  We also provide High School officials as far away as Delta or Healy and have provided officials for tournaments in Delta, Tok, Anchorage and Kenai.  As independent contractors you are not required to do or guaranteed a minimum number of games.