First-Year Officials

Welcome to your first season as a DCHOA hockey official. There are a few registration steps to complete before you can start refereeing games. This page walks you through all of them in order.

 

✅ Before You Start

DCHOA only accepts new members who are at least 14 years old as of November 1 of the current season. If you haven't already, take a look at our I Want to Be a Referee page for an overview of gear, costs, and what to expect in your first year.

 

📋 Step 1: Register with USA Hockey

To officiate USA Hockey games, you must register as an official each season.

1. Register as an official at the USA Hockey Membership Page.
   • This also includes your Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association (WHOA) registration
2. Register for and attend a USA Hockey Virtual Classroom Seminar.
3. Complete the Online Education Video Modules.
4. Complete the Online Playing Rules Exercise.
5. Complete SafeSport Training online (required if born in 2009 or earlier).
6. Complete a USA Hockey background check (required if you'll be 18 or older by May 1 of the start of the season -- for example, May 1 2026 for the 2026-27 season).

Steps 2-6 are accessed through the USA Hockey Learning Center.

📅 Official registration closes November 20, and all requirements must be complete by December 15. If you register late in the season, be ready to complete all requirements right away to make the deadline and don't miss out on games.

As a first-year official, you'll also need to attend a DCHOA New Official Ice Session as part of your Level 1 requirements. More on that below.

 

📋 Step 2: Join DCHOA

Once you've started your USA Hockey registration, join DCHOA to be eligible for game assignments:

1. Use the Sign Up button at the top of any page on this site.
2. Select Official from the list of options.
3. Enter your contact information. Use the email you'll check for scheduling and announcements. We need an email address that is not already in our system (if you have previously been a team manager, hockey association officer, or are otherwise already in the DCHOA system, contact the registrar before registering).
4. If you're under 18 years of age, you'll also need to enter a parent or guardian's contact information. An Official's Parent Account will automatically be created in addition to your account. The parent account can be used to access the child's DCHOA Education account, and will receive copies of all email from DCHOA.
5. Enter your officiating information.
6. Read and agree to the DCHOA waivers and rules.
7. Submit payment by credit/debit card or PayPal.

Once you've submitted the form and payment, an account will be created for you on the DCHOA Education site (and for your parent or guardian, if applicable). Your DCHOA scheduling account will activate once your USA Hockey registration is complete.

 

🏫 Step 3: Considering High School Hockey? (Optional, Adults Only)

Adult officials interested in WIAA high school games should contact us for details and discussion what you can expect as a new official in high school games (note: WIAA does not allow student hockey officials.) Registration is separate from USA Hockey and DCHOA, and we can help guide you through the process. Assignments typically begin in October—early registration is encouraged

 

Questions about any of these steps? Reach out to our registration team and we'll help you out or point you to the right contact.