If you are living in Ontario, Canada and have ever dreamed of becoming a hockey referee, then this article is for you. We will discuss the steps you need to take to become a Hockey Referee in Ontario. It is not as easy as it may seem at first glance, but with dedication and a little bit of luck, you can become just what you dream of being.
Table of Contents
Study The Craft
The first requirement for being a hockey referee is to study the craft. You will not be able to become a highly qualified and skilled person if you do not invest the time and effort into learning the rules and regulations governing the sport. There are several accredited hockey refereeing schools in Ontario, Canada that can help you get started on the right foot. With a degree in Sports Officiating from a reputable school, you will be able to start your career in a skilled and educated manner.
Join The Hockey League
The second step is to join the hockey league. You will need to decide whether you will pursue an online learning route, or will you go the traditional route and join a nearby college or university’s hockey team. In most cases, you will have to join a college or university hockey team in order to start gaining officiating experience. Once you have gained experience, you can move into the more traditional route and join an independent junior hockey league.
Obtain A Certification
The third step is to obtain a certification to become a hockey referee. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) oversees the certification process for ice hockey officials. After joining a hockey league and gaining experience, the next step is to apply for certification with the IIHF. In most cases, you will need to pass an exam to be able to obtain the certification. The process can be somewhat time-consuming, but once you have achieved it, you will be able to use the certification to move into higher-profile games or tournaments.
Set Up Regularly
The last step is to set up regularly. After you have joined a hockey league and received your certification, you will need to commit to regularly officiating games. It is not enough to be qualified and willing to officiate games – you will need to make a conscious effort to do so. If you do not, you will find it hard to move up the ladder of hockey officiating, as most leagues will not consider you for high-profile games and tournaments due to lack of experience. It is a common misconception that high-profile games will lead to more opportunities for referees – the opposite is usually the case. Instead, high-profile games usually lead to more workload and more frequent and regular appearances for referees, demanding more of their time.
If you are living in Ontario and aspire to become a hockey referee, then this article is for you. By following the steps outlined above, you have everything necessary to become a highly qualified and experienced official. You may not be happy with your job at first, but with dedication and a little bit of luck, you can become exactly what you dream of being.