Become an Official

Congratulations on your decision to become an ice hockey official! Your dedication to the sport of hockey is much needed and appreciated. Without individual like yourself, the sport will suffer, and players will lose opportunities to participate. 

When you partner with USA Hockey and the GHOA, you will have training, support, and mentorship available to you. We strive to set you up for success and help you reach your potential as an on ice official.

Registration Requirements

All officials begin the season by registering with USA Hockey.  As a new official, you will apply as a level 1. You are able to advance one level per year of officiating. Please review the requirements below for each level of officiating.

LEVEL 1 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Submit online Officiating Membership application and fee ($55.00)
  2. Complete a L1 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
  3. Complete L1 Online Education Module training
  4. Complete online L1 Playing Rules Exercise
  5. Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
  6. Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old

LEVEL 2 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Must have complete Level 1 membership within the last two seasons
  2. Submit online L2 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00)
  3. Complete a L2 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
  4. Complete L2 Online Education Module training
  5. Complete online L2 Playing Rules Exercise
  6. Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
  7. Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old 

LEVEL 3 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS:  

  1. Must have complete Level 2 (or higher) membership during previous season
  2. Submit online L3 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00)
  3. Complete a L3 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
  4. Complete L3 Online Education Module training
  5. Complete online L3 Playing Rules Exercise
  6. Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
  7. Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old

LEVEL 4 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS: 

  1. Must have complete Level 3 or Level 4 membership last season
  2. Submit online L4 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00) 
  3. Complete a L4 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
  4. Complete L4 Online Education Module training
  5. Complete online L4 Playing Rules Exercise
  6. Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older).
  7. Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old 

TENURED OFFICIAL ANNUAL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Once Tenured Official status is earned, the official will receive a substantial reduction in annual Membership Registration requirements. The required steps will be,

  • Complete Membership Registration
  • Complete Playing Rules Exercise
  • Complete Online Education Modules
  • Complete SafeSport refresher training 
  • Maintain USA Hockey Background Screening requirements (must be refreshed every two seasons)
  • Complete any local USA Hockey Affiliate requirements

A Tenured Official will NOT need to,

  • Attend an annual Classroom Seminar
  • Complete the standard Online Seminar Module training for their respective level.

Level 3 or 4 Tenured Official status will remain as long as the official continues to register with USA Hockey as an official each season.

Once you receive your Crest from USA Hockey and have the required equipment, please follow the instructions to join our association in Horizon Web Ref. This is the software we use to schedule games.

Tenured Officials

USA Hockey Allows Level 3 and Level 4 officials to obtain “tenured” status as a reward for their dedication to the officiating program. This status recognizes their long term commitment to officiating.

To achieve tenured status, an official must have been registered as a level three, or level four official the previous three seasons and attend an Advanced Officiating Symposium,

More information about the Tenured Status can be found on the USA Hockey Website.

Registration Closes October 31st

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Old Do I Need To Be to Begin Officiating?

While USA Hockey does not have any age requirements for the state of Montana, the GHOA asks officials be 13 years of age to begin. This age allows a decent amount of game opportunities for officials to learn and develop.

Opportunities really begin to open up for officials at the age of 16 as they can work 10U to 14U games and even start working the adult leagues.

How Much Are Officials Paid?

Officials are paid an amount proportionate to the level of games they work. Most games fall between $40 and $55 depending on the level of hockey. Higher level games like High School and College pay even more. 

There are also bonuses for games starting at or before 7am and at or after 10pm. 

For the full pay schedule, please reach out to the GHOA. 

How Often Will I Get Paid?

Officials working games for the GHOA will be paid once per month.  At the end of each month we bill the leagues for the games worked. Once they pay the GHOA, we process payroll and pay the Officials. This process typically happens in 7 to 12 days.

Direct deposit is available for all officials. Please reach out to the GHOA Treasurer to get set up.

What Are The Time Commitments?

Officiating hockey provides a flexible schedule that likely fits into your lifestyle. When you join the GHOA, you will use a program called Horizon Web Ref to set your availability for times that work for you. 

You can open or restrict this availity as much as you like to accommodate your schedule. We have officials that work a few games per year, and officials that work well over 100 games each season. 

Make sure your availability lines up with the times that games are being played. Most games happen in the evenings, late at night, and on the weekends. You can look at the rink calendar to see when games are being played. 

How Many Games Will I Receive?

The amount of games you receive is directly correlated to your availability, your skills, your willingness to learn, and your effort on the ice. 

As a new official, you will be slightly limited in the amount of games you receive as you build your skills and become proficient as an official. Some officials pick it up faster than others. It takes work, practice, a good attitude, and a desire to improve. 

We do not “cap” the volume of games an official receives and do not desire to hold any officials back. We also do not want to throw you to the wolves as this can end an officiating career quickly.

As you become a level 2, 3, & 4 official, opportunities will open up to work more games including higher level games. 

If you are only looking to work a few games each month, that’s great! You do not have to work a high volume of games to be an official with the GHOA. 

 

What Equipment do I Need?

All officials are required to wear some basic equiptment. Acquiring this equiptment is the responsibility of each official. 

Required Equiptment

  • Ice Hockey Skates (goalie and figure skates are not allowed) with white laces
  • Solid Black pants (specific referee pants preferred)
  • Shin/knee pads
  • Hockey referee sweater
  • Finger style whistle
  • Black ice hockey helmet with visor
  • Neck guard (if under 18)
  • Small notepad and pen

Optional (but strongly recommended) Equipment

  • Elbow pads
  • Padded Girdle
    • Some hockey referee pants have this built in.
  • Cup or pelvic protector 
  • Shin tights 
  • Moisture wicking base layer

What Opportunities Do I Have As An Official?

Working as an official provides great opportunities to advance within the sport of Hockey.

Officials working in Bozeman with the Gallatin Hockey Officials Association have gone on to work National Tournaments, IIHF, NCAA, The Frozen 4, ECHL , USHL, and more.

Beyond local mentorship, USA Hockey provides the Official Development Program and Development Camps to help you grow and provide opportunities for advancement.

If you desire to push your officiating career as far as it will go, we are here to help you any way we can.

Will I have Support?

YES! We want you to succeed as an official! When you first start, we will pair you with experienced officials that will help you as you begin to work games. You will receive advice to help you improve your skills.

Be open minded, positive, humble, and willing to receive criticism as you learn the new skill of officiating. 

Also, don’t hesitate to reach out an ask any questions as you learn. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

An official may not change their membership level to a higher level once their online membership application is submitted.
“Complete” membership registration means that an official has completed all education steps at the level for which they have applied.
“Incomplete” means that an official has submitted a membership application but has not completed all the necessary steps to be complete at any level.
A new incomplete official may not officiate any USA Hockey sanctioned games until they are completely registered and receive their current season referee card and sweater crest.
Once complete, a membership is valid through November 30 of the following season (e.g. a 2024-25 membership is valid through November 30, 2025). If the member does not complete their current season membership prior to November 30, their membership expires and they become ineligible to work USA Hockey sanctioned games until they complete their current season membership registration.
To be eligible to officiate in any State, District or National Tournaments, an official must be completely registered on or before December 31 of the current season.