Be A Referee

USA Hockey Officials Registration runs May 1, 2025 November 20, 2025.

ALL registration steps must be completed by 11:59 PM December 31, 2025!

You must be registered with the Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association (WHOA) to be a referee.

Becoming an official requires multiple steps. In an effort to assist new and returning officials, WHOA created a best practice registration instruction page. It is strongly recommended ALL officials review this material prior to beginning their registration process.

• If you are under the age of 18, you do not need to complete a background check.
• If you or your child will be turning the age of 18 during the officiating year, you will need to complete Safe Sport training. This is needed every year once you turn 18.

​

Anyone 12 and up can become a referee! If you turn 12 before completing your online seminar, you are eligible to officiate. 

• Everyone should complete the detailed instructions below that were provided by our local referee coordinator. WHOA Registration Instructions is a more generic statewide set of instructions.
• Get going ASAP as there are limited online courses available in Sept/Oct, so you will need to find one that fits your schedule.

An online video tutorial is available: Video Instructions – How to Become an Official. Watching the video first can be helpful to familiarize yourself with the website and needed steps to register. The video references being 14 years old to referee, however SE Wisconsin allows younger officials to work Mites and Squirts games at age 12 and 13.

To start registration, visit USA Hockey and navigate to Officials=>Member Registration=>Register Now (or alternatively, Click Here).

• If your child is under the age of 18, you will have to complete the process for them. You will have the option of registering a child family member (under 18) after selecting Officials/Referee on the "what type of member are you registering" page.
• If this is your first year registering as an official, select "no" when prompted (even if your skater has registered as a player, you select "no" as a returning official).
• Watch the video and complete the registration by paying the USA Hockey referee fee and Wisconsin affiliate fee of $12. Once the registration has been completed, USA Hockey will email you. The email is typically from USA-Hockey. 
• In the completed registration email, you will receive a username and a link to set a password. One you have set up your password, navigate back to USA Hockey and navigate to Officials=>Learning Center (or alternatively, Click Here).

Steps to complete after registration and within the USA Hockey Learning Center:

• On the Learning Center page, scroll to the section "How to Use the USA Hockey Learning Center." Select member login, and enter the username/password you previously created.
• Click on the center box marked "Officials." This will lead to three tasks in need of completion: 1) Register for Virtual Seminar (be careful to find a date and time that works without conflict, as it is difficult to get seminar times changed); 2) complete the online modules; and 3) complete the playing rules portion (testing your knowledge of the rules of the game).
• Once all three tasks are completed, you will receive your USA Hockey crest in the mail (typically 3-5 business days).

Once you have completed all steps, send Name/Birth Year/Email Address for Notifications/Phone Number to one of the following: wcyharef@gmail.com or refcoordinator@ozaukeehockey.com. Your information will be added to the app/website where game requests are managed, and you will be sent additional forms with deposit/tax information.

Our MWC/Ozaukee/Washington County referee coordination is centralized. Please direct any questions to: wcyharef@gmail.com and/or refcoordinator@ozaukeehockey.com