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S E A F A I R M I N O R H O C K E Y A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
Becoming a Hockey Referee (cont’d)
Our Referee In Chief at Seafair Hockey is responsible
for training and supervising our new referees as they begin
working games. The Referee In Chief will be “on the ice” for
the first two games that each new referee works and will
supervise “off ice” for the third game. If further help is
required more “on ice” help will be provided. Beginning
referees start the season by working Hockey 3 and 4 games.
They work in pairs and learn how to referee a “two man”
system. This is beneficial in that the speed of the game is not
too fast, but they have the shared responsibility of calling
penalties, as well as watching for offside and icing infractions.
They must also set the nets in place, check and sign game
sheets, and introduce themselves to the coaching staff.
Opportunities to work Hockey 3 and 4 games usually
begin sometime in October as these teams line up exhibition
games. The Hockey 3 & 4 league games don’t start until
November, though. Depending on the number of referees,
each individual can usually count on working approximately
once every two weeks in the beginning, with the possibility of
working once a week as the season gets into full swing. There
is usually a Hockey 3 & 4 tournament at the end of the
Christmas break and again at the end of the hockey season in
March. Our beginning referees have worked multiple games
during these tournaments.
As the season progresses our Referee In Chief will
introduce our beginning referees to the task of being a
linesman for Atom “house” games. Once past Christmas all
our beginning referees should be doing a mixture of Atom
games along with Hockey 3 & 4 games. During their second
year, officials learn to become “head referees” working Atom
“house” and “rep” games, as well as working as a linesman
for Pee Wee “house” games.
There are certain “costs” associated with being a referee. The
annual training clinic costs approximately $90. However, the
Seafair Hockey Association reimburses beginning referees
this cost once they have completed refereeing five games in
the season. This reimbursement, however, is only a one time
thing. Referees in their 2 nd , 3 rd year and so on, must cover
this cost each year on their own. There is also the cost of
referee equipment: referee jersey, black pants (no white
stripe, please), half facial protector for their helmet, and a
Did You Know???
It is possible to get more than 60 minutes
in penalties in a regular 60 minute game.
L.A. Kings player Randy Holt should have
never suited up for the game on March
11, 1979, against the Flyers. He was
assessed one minor, three majors, two
misconducts, and three game
misconducts, for a grand total of 67
penalty minutes (his team lost the game,
6-­‐3).
whistle. Although expensive in the first year, this is generally
just a one time cost, as this equipment should last
throughout the referees’ career. (To begin referees will
probably just exchange the cage on their helmet for the facial
protector, but after time you probably want to get a second
helmet – the screws will wear out on the helmet from
constant changing).
Offsetting the costs, however, is the payment referees
receive for “working” games. Each referee receives $13 for
doing a Hockey 3 or 4 game. Atom linesmen also receive $13.
Over the course of the year most of our first year referees
will work at least 15 -­‐ 20 games (depending on their
availability). This would generate between $195 -­‐ $260. This
will go a long ways to cover the cost of their equipment.
As referees enter their second year they have the
opportunity to make a great deal more money. The “Head
Referee” for Atom games receives $18 and linesmen for Pee
Wee games receive $15. They also can work many more
games in their second year as well. The season of their
refereeing begins with “rep” try out games early in
September and includes opportunities to work the
tournaments at Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day
weekends. Some 2 nd year referees have made over $400 in a
season. If referees continue into their 3 rd and 4 th year they
can make $25 as a Pee Wee head referee, $32 as a bantam
head referee and $24 as a bantam linesman.
The real reward for becoming a hockey official,
however, has nothing to do with money. As a referees our
young players learn to take charge and assert themselves on
the ice. They learn to make decisions quickly and deal with
the consequences of those decisions. They learn the
responsibility of leadership and they learn to work as a team
with their fellow officials. Mistakes are inevitable, as they are
in all parts of life. But young referees learn quickly that they
need to focus on the game and act decisively, to be effective.
The task of a hockey official is not for every young
player, but for those who are interested and would like to try
it, it is a wonderful, exciting experience that will give you a
chance to develop personal skills that will last you a lifetime.
Please give this careful consideration for the coming year.
Did You Know???
In a game between Ottawa and
Philadelphia on March 5, 2004, the two
teams set the record for 419 penalty
minutes in one game. In the last 2
minutes, 5 brawls broke out, all stemming
from a stick incident the previous week.
The Flyers ended up with 213 minutes and
the Sens took 206 PIMs. In the end, 20
players were ejected, leaving 5 players on
each bench.
Volume IV Issue IV Seafair - Great Hockey, Great People Page 6