The warm welcome the Michigan hockey fans give their favorite players as soon as they set foot on the ice is a sure sign that the winter months haven’t quite gone yet. But if you’re looking for a way to escape the bitter cold and gain some extra cash, you might consider a career in hockey officiating.
Yes, hockey is more than a sport in the Upper Peninsula – it’s a way of life. And just like any other way of life, there are certain rituals that the fans engage in that help make the game more enjoyable. Some of these rituals involve the referees. So if you have a passion for hockey and a desire to make a difference in the game, you might consider a career in hockey officiating.
To do this, you’ll need to obtain a hockey referee license in Michigan. But if you’re wondering how to become a hockey referee in Michigan, here’s a guide to help you out.
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The Necessary Documents
Before you can begin applying for a hockey referee license in Tennessee, you’ll need to obtain a few documents. The first and most important of these is an American Citizenship Certificate. To get this, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re an American citizen by providing either:
- A naturalization certificate
- Or,
- A Certificate of Birth Abroad
- Which Outstanding Citizens Database (O.C.D.) Number You Are Using
You’ll also need to provide proof of your identity. To do this, you’ll need to provide either:
- A photo ID
- Or,
- A Passport
- And,
- If You’re Using An O.C.D. Number, Your Social Security Card
Then you’ll need to submit to an FBI fingerprint background check. Finally, you’ll need to pass a sound psychological evaluation conducted by a state-approved psychologist.
Obtaining these documents isn’t difficult. But it does require a little bit of time. Thankfully, you can get the documents you need from any US Post Office. Just make sure you have them somewhere near you before the application deadline.
The Application Process
Once you have all of your necessary documents in hand, it’s time to apply for a Michigan hockey referee license. You can do this by visiting the Michigan Registry of Sports Officials website and following the instructions there. You’ll need to complete a brief form and pay a $20 fee to begin the process. Once this is done, you can log in and begin entering the necessary information.
The form has you enter your name, address, and phone number. Then you’ll be asked to choose a password and confirm it. After entering this and clicking “submit,” you’ll be shown a message thanking you for expressing interest in being a hockey official. If you have a PayPal account, you can proceed to the next step and pay for your application.
If you don’t have a PayPal account, you’ll be asked to complete a paper check. After doing this, you can mail it to:
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
976 Government Drive
Lansing, MI 48909
You’ll then receive another email confirming that your application has been received.
After this, you can log in and start completing the application. You’ll need to enter your Social Security Number, driver license number, and answer a few questions about your identity. You’ll also need to select a username and password that you’ll use to access the site. After answering these questions, you can click the “submit” button to continue to the licensing part of the website. Here, you’ll need to provide information about your professional hockey experience. The more experience you have, the better. This will help you earn more money. When you’ve completed all of the necessary fields, click “submit” again.
After this, you’ll need to wait for a brief email confirming that your application has been submitted. If all goes well, within a few days, you should receive a letter via mail with a confirmation number that you must bring to your local sheriff’s department or clerk’s office for final approval.
This is when the process begins to get a little bit tricky. Because we don’t want anyone to cheat the system and apply for this license just to receive it, the officials have to go through a background check. So you’ll need to make sure that you actually go to an office with a clerical employee or a sheriff’s deputy to get this document approved. Don’t try to rush this part of the process as it can take some time.
Becoming A Hockey Referee In Michigan
Once you have the necessary documents and have had them officially approved, it’s time to celebrate! You’ll need to provide proof of this to your employer (and keep that documentation for at least the next three years.) So, go ahead and join the Michigan Hockey Referees Association. This will provide you with a verifiable record of your employment while allowing you to continue working as a hockey official without violating any rules. This also means that you can continue to use your Hockey Referee ID card as well as your PayPal account to purchase hockey equipment and travel to games if you want to. To become a member of the association, visit their website and click “Join Now.”
To find more information about the association or to become a referee, visit their website at http://www.mhria.com/. You can also contact them by phone at (989) 262-6774 or by email at [email protected].
Once you have this documentation, it’s time to start applying for jobs. You can use the resources on the association’s website to find the best jobs near you. And don’t be afraid to put “Hockey Referee” in the subject line or the email body. You’ll receive many offers. Just be sure to negotiate the pay and make sure that you’re not being fooled by anyone trying to cheat the system.