Certification Process

Every USA Hockey official is required to attend a yearly seminar and pass a yearly written exam in order to be certified at any level. There are 4 levels of certification. New officials begin at Level I and progress from there. There are no age requirements to be a USA Hockey official and a growing number of youth hockey players are also officials. Each level attained allows an official to referee at a different age level as follows:

Boys'/Men
Level 1 - 12 and under
Level 2 - 14 and under
Level 3 - 17 and under
Level 4 - all age groups

Girls'/Women
Level 1 - 12 and under
Level 2 - 15 and under
Level 3 - 19 and under
Level 4 - all age levels

Seminars

This year, Vermont will hold 3 fall seminars. An official must attend one of these in order to work any games. Any official regardless of level, with the exception of Level 4, can attand each of these. Those officials wishing to be certified at Level 4 must attend a Regional Seminar. Information on the Level 4 seminars is available at the New England Officials website.

The dates for the 2002-2003 seminars are:

9/29/02 - St. Michael’s College and Essex Rink
10/19/02 - Hartford High School and Campion Rink
11/3/02 - Rutland High School and Mandigo Arena

Each seminar will start with registration at 8am. There will be approximately 5 hours of classroom instruction and an hour and 30 minutes of ice time. Seminars last until about 4pm. There is a $10 fee for the seminar payable that day. Each official is required to be in full officiating uniform except for new officials.

Each official is required to be in full officiating uniform with the exception of new officials who will need skates, a helmet, and whistle. New officials will receive all necessary forms and manuals at the seminar. Returning officials receive all necessary registration material in the mail directly from USA Hockey's National Office.

Systems

The most common officiating system used in Vermont youth hockey is the 2 man system in which both officials may call penalties. The 3 man system, which consists of one referee and 2 linesmen, is used primarily in State and Regional Tournaments. In this system, only the referee may call penalties.