There are many reasons for becoming an inline hockey referee.  Most referees officiating because it is a fun and challenging way to make a positive contribution to the game.  Occasionally, referees have the opportunity to travel and advance to the ranks of other top referees.  Opportunities to participate in league, regional, national and international tournaments also exists for referees.  For other, the income derived from officiating can offset the cost of playing.  What ever the reason, becoming a referee means becoming part of a brotherhood/sisterhood of referees all across the country.

USA Hockey InLine does not have a minimum age to be a referee, however, it is recommended that no referee work their own age division or above.

In order for an individual to referee a USA Hockey InLine sanctioned game, they must first register as a referee with USA Hockey InLine.  This can be done online at www.usahockeyregistration.com.  Once they register as an inline referee, they will be sent the current rulebook along with an email with instructions on taking the open book exam online.  The exam is 50 questions and you must answer 35 questions correct (70%) to pass the exam.  Additionally, you must attend either an inline specific referee seminar or any of the ice hockey referee seminars.  Once all three steps are completed, the individual is sent the current USA Hockey InLine crest to wear on their referee jersey.  Once they have received that crest in the mail, they are eligible to work USA Hockey InLine sanctioned games.

Once you register, pass the open book exam and attend a seminar, you are sent a referee crest for that season.  Once you receive the referee crest in the mail, you are eligible to referee USA Hockey InLine sanctioned games. 

For inline referees, registration begin August 31st each year.  Once you complete the registration process by registering, passing the open book exam and attending a seminar, you are eligible to referee a USA Hockey InLine sanction game.  This eligibility is valid until November 30th of the following year.  In order to referee after November 30th of the following membership season, you will need to complete the registration process again.

The answer to this question depends on if you are a new referee or a returning referee. New referees: New referees are not eligible to referee until they complete their registration, open book exam and attend their referee seminar.  Brand new referees who have never registered with USA Hockey InLine as a referee before that register after January 1 will only need to register and pass the open book exam to be eligible to referee for the remainder of the USA Hockey InLine membership season.  Returning Referees: Certification for returning referees expires November 30th each year.  In order for a returning referee to be eligible to referee starting December 1st and beyond, they must complete the registration, open book exam and attend a referee seminar before November 30th.

USA Hockey InLine in cooperation with sanctioned leagues conducts referee seminars each fall.  All inline referee seminars are listed online at www.usahockeyinline.com under the “Referees” tab.  Additionally, referees can attend an ice hockey seminar in their area.  Ice hockey referee seminars are also listed on line at www.usahockey.com under the “Officials” tab.

While USA Hockey InLine will be conducting between 20-30 referee seminars each fall across the country, it is possible that there will not be one in your local area or you may not be able to make the seminar in your area.  Because of this, USA Hockey InLine and USA Hockey allow inline referees to meet their seminar requirement by attending a local ice hockey referee seminar.  The information taught at an ice hockey seminar is almost identical to what is taught at an inline seminar except more information is provided at the ice hockey seminar, like icing and off-sides which are not applicable for inline hockey.

If you a brand new referee and you register as an inline referee January 1st or after, you will only need to pass the open book exam to be eligible to referee for the remainder of the USA Hockey InLine membership season.  Then at the next season, you will need to register, pass the exam and attend the seminar to be eligible.  If you are a returning referee that normally does not register until the summer that is fine, but will still need to attend a seminar the previous fall.  As a returning referee, you need to register, pass the exam and attend a seminar to be eligible to referee in any given season, regardless of when you actually do the registration.

All referees need to bring paper and pencil for taking notes.  Additionally, returning referees need to bring their full officiating gear for the on-surface portion.  If you are new referee, you need to bring at minimum a whistle, helmet and skates.  During the seminar the instructor will go over all the necessary equipment needed to be a referee.

For inline hockey, attending a seminar gives you credit for the length of the rulebook as long as you register and pass the exam each year.  What this means is that since the USA Hockey InLine Rule Book is valid for two years, if you attend a seminar during the first year of the rule book and you register and pass your exam, becoming “complete,” during the second year of the rule book you will only need to register and pass the open book exam.

Ice hockey seminars count towards the inline certification.  What this means is that when USA Hockey Processes your ice hockey referee seminar, it also goes in the inline system and you will not need to attend an inline referee seminar.

The biggest differences between an ice hockey and inline hockey referee seminar is that at the ice hockey seminar, they cover icing, off-sides and the three official system, all of which is not applicable for the inline game.  The mechanics of being a referee are the same for ice and inline hockey.  Additionally, what is taught with regards to positioning and judgment are almost identical, so attending an ice hockey seminar is virtually the same with additional information.

No.  USA Hockey InLine does not have a rule against playing and refereeing within the same league.  However, USA Hockey InLine recommends that no referee work games that are in the same division as they play.

Each summer USA Hockey InLine will send out bid-to-host applications to all currently sanctioned leagues.  Leagues that are interested in hosting a seminar in the fall must complete the bid-to-host application and return it by the deadline to be considered for one of the fall seminars.  The Officiating Education Program will then review all submitted applications and contact those leagues that are chosen to host seminars to set-up the details of seminar and put the host league in touch with the local instructional staff.