Black Jacket Mentors and Off-Ice Coaches: What’s Next

What a preseason it’s been. We were able to offer eight ice sessions for our officials this year. Five of these were for our new Level 1 officials, two for our Level 2 officials, and a power skating session for all. Between all of these sessions, more than 100 of our members took part in some kind of preseason skating and education before the puck has even dropped on the season.That’s a huge number, and a big thank you to everyone who showed up to put in the work, as well as all of the coaches who helped run these sessions.

Next up is our Black Jacket Mentoring program, which will kick off with the start of youth games at the end of October. For a new Level 1 official’s first game of the season, a Black Jacket Mentor will be right there on the ice with them. They won’t be refereeing the game, just skating alongside as a shadow coach. The idea is simple: give our newest officials someone in their corner who can offer a quick cue in the moment, help them find their spot, and make that first game feel a lot less like being thrown into the deep end. If you see a black jacket out there this fall, take a second to welcome our new officials.

At the same time, our Off-Ice Coaches will be ramping up their efforts as the season goes on. Off-Ice Coaches watch from the stands and sit down with officials after the game for a short coaching conversation focused on one or two things to keep working on. This isn’t an evaluation. It’s about helping every official keep growing, from first-year officials to our most experienced members. You can find all of your coaching feedback on the Coaching and Mentoring page on the DCHOA Education Site. Our coaches are looking forward to seeing you on the ice soon!

Nano Espenes
RIC@dchoa.org