2024-25 Season USA Hockey registration overview:

1. Register as an official at the USA Hockey Membership Page
2. Attend a USA Hockey Virtual Classroom Seminar
3. Complete Online Education Video Modules
4. Complete Online Playing Rules Exercise
5. Complete SafeSport Training online (2008 birth year or older)
6. Complete a USA Hockey background check (18 years old or older on May 1, 2025)

Official's registration ends on November 20, 2025

All requirements must be complete by December 15, 2025

USA Hockey officiating registration expires December 1 each season.

All new Level 1 Officials are required to attend at least one DCHOA sponsored on-ice session.  These sessions will supplement the USA Hockey virtual training and are aimed to better prepare new officials to skate their first games

More information can be found on the New Official Ice Sessions page.

Becoming a new official can be a bit overwhelming.  Navigating the various nuances of the officiating world can be a bit of a learning curve.

DCHOA requires that all new officials (and their guardian for officials under 18) attend an orientation session to learn about the scheduling process, navigating online resources and DCHOA membership benefits.

More information can be found on the Orientation Sessions page.

DCHOA assigns officials to games based on the availability of officials and appropriate age level games for each official.  Through the regular assigning process, officials submit availability and the scheduler assigns games approximately 3 weeks in advance.

More information can be found on the Submitting Availability page.

For their first games, new officials will be assigned with a Black Jacket Mentor to skate alongside them.  This approach ensures that every new official has an experienced resource as they learn how to officiate hockey games.

More information can be found on the Black Jacket Mentor page.

Off-Ice coaching serves as an additional resource for new officials.  An off-ice coach will observe games and give new officials constructive feedback to help build their skills on the ice.

More information can be found on the Off-Ice Coaching page.