FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR NEW OFFICIALS

How do I become an official?

To become an official, you must be 12 years old as of December 31 of the current season or older.*

Follow these steps:

  1. Contact the Referee Assignor
    Email the Referee Assignor at refassignor@vmha.com to express your interest.
  2. Complete the HCOP Intro to Officiating
    All new officials must complete the online Hockey Canada Officiating Program (HCOP). This includes the Intro to Officiating module. After completing the Hockey Canada Learning Lab (including the post-module survey), you can proceed with the next steps.
  3. Criminal Record Check (CRC) if applicable
    If you will be 18 years or older as of December 31 of the current calendar year, you MUST submit a Criminal Record Check (CRC) before moving forward.

    • If you are 17 years or younger or have a currently valid CRC, you can skip this step and proceed directly to Step 4.
  4. Register for a certification clinic
    Once all applicable steps have been completed, you can register for an in-person certification clinic. The clinic consists of a 4-hour classroom session and a 1.25-hour on-ice session. Registration details will be sent to your registered email.

*If you are turning 16 before December 31, you will qualify as a Level 2 official.

 

Clinics for New Officials

Clinics for new officials will be held in-person at the local level. Contact your Minor Hockey Association's Referee-in-Chief for officiating opportunities in your community.

For more information, visit the BC Hockey website under New Certification.

What kind of equipment does a new official need?

To officiate, you’ll need the following equipment:

  • Hockey Officials Jersey
  • CSA Certified BLACK Helmet (with CSA Certified Visor; no shield or cage)
  • Clean Black Hockey Skates (no goalie/figure skates)
  • Whistle (Acme Thunder is preferred)
  • Solid BLACK Referee or Athletic Pants (no jeans)
  • Athletic Support and Protective Cup
  • Elbow Pads & Shin Pads
  • White Laces (solid or with small black lines; no colored laces)

Optional items:

  • Protective Girdle
  • Black Referee Bag
  • Referee Pad & Pencil
  • Extra White Laces
  • Extra Whistle
  • Black or White Tape
  • Shin Tights
  • Hockey Canada Rulebook App (iOS or Android)

Important: As an official, you must remain neutral on and off the ice. Avoid wearing any clothing with the VMHA name or logo to the rink while officiating.

Where do I sew on my Hockey Canada and BC official patches?

After completing the on-ice segment of the program, you will receive two patches:

  • BC Official Patch: Sewn on the left chest area.
  • Hockey Canada Patch: Sewn on the left upper arm, above the head referee’s red armband position.

As a new official, what games am I eligible to officiate?

New officials typically start by refereeing U9 games and may serve as linespersons for U11C games. U9 games usually begin in December, so your first game as an official won’t be until then.

  • Officials under 16 are classified as Level 1.
  • Officials 16 and older are classified as Level 2.
    For more details, visit the PCAHA website under Referee Grade Levels.

How am I assigned games to officiate?

All officials must register for a Spordle PLAY account. You’ll need your Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) ID to register. If you do not know your HCR ID, email registrar@vmha.com.

Visit the VMHA website under Spordle PLAY for Officials for more information on setting up your account. Ensure your profile has up-to-date contact details and that notifications are enabled. With Spordle PLAY, you can:

  • View your game assignments
  • Track your certification expiry
  • Check your referee/linesperson rating
  • Submit availability and request games

How do I request a review or assessment of my officiating performance?

To request a performance review or assessment, email the VMHA Referee-in-Chief (RIC) at referees@vmha.com. You will be contacted when a supervisor is available to review your game. Your overall engagement, attitude, and officiating skills will be evaluated.

Once certified as a new official, when will I need to recertify?

Officiating certification must be renewed annually, typically between August and December, and remains valid until December 31 of the following year. To renew, you must register for a Super Clinic through BC Hockey.

For more details, visit the VMHA Officials web page under Recertification Super Clinics Information.