2026 – 27 Educational Programming
As the heat of July hits us, we have been also turning up the heat on our educational planning for the upcoming season. In our last newsletter, I promised to share the full details of DCHOA’s educational programming for the season. Our Board continues to have ambitious plans to build on the progress of the last few years, and we are excited to roll out a mix of proven foundational support and expanded training opportunities.
Our goal remains simple: to provide the best environment in the region for officials to learn, develop and succeed. Here is what our educational landscape looks like for the 2026-27 season.
Continuing to Build Strong Foundations for New Officials
We continue to pride ourselves on being an education based association, and that starts with how we welcome and support our newest members. We are continuing our multi-layered support system for new officials:
New Official Ice Sessions: On-ice, live-game training sessions in August, September and October that are designed to give officials their first on-ice experience to learn fundamental positioning and mechanics before the season is in full swing.
Black Jacket Mentor Program: Our new officials are paired with experienced partners on the ice to provide real-time feedback and reassurance during their first games.
Off-Ice Coaching: Using our experienced off-ice coaches in the stands to observe games, officials are provided with constructive feedback and support throughout the season.
Expanding Level 2 and Advanced Officiating Support
Building a strong foundation was just phase one. This year, we are expanding our programming to ensure our returning officials continue to receive dedicated ice time and mentorship.
Expanded Level 2 Ice Session: Moving beyond just the basics, we are introducing dedicated on-ice sessions specifically tailored for Level 2 officials. These sessions will focus on solidifying on-ice mechanics and positioning.
Expanded Off-Ice Coaching: We are growing our roster of off-ice coaches to provide more frequent coaching and feedback to a wider pool of officials across all of our games.
We Need Your Help to Make This Work
As we continue to expand our programming we need to expand our team. As Adam mentioned, all of this is only possible with your support. We are actively looking for experienced officials to step up as Off-Ice Coaches and Black Jacket Mentors. If you are interested in joining this effort, please fill out the Committee Volunteer Form on the DCHOA Education website today.
Together, with all of you, I am looking forward to continuing to grow our educational programming to build a strong future for our association
Nano Espenes
RIC@dchoa.org