OFFICIATING ZOOMCASTS
USA Hockey ZoomCasts are weekly online video webinars dedicated to continuing education of officials, coaches, players and parents. Some topics will focus on officiating performance and effectively managing a hockey game. Other broader topics will focus on USA Hockey policies and initiatives relevant to all members.
Each ZoomCast will feature a host and guest panel to discus the topic of the week. After the initial presentation, the panel will take questions from the virtual audience. Guest panelists include officials from professional and collegiate levels, USA Hockey National and District administrators, Head Coaches, Officiating Coaches and more.
The participant list is limited to 100 people. However, each ZoomCast will be posted for on-demand viewing at this website (see below) after the broadcast and at the USA Hockey YouTube Channel.
UPCOMING EPISODES (SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
E.15 | Disabled Hockey
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 @ 8:00p ET
MODERATOR
BJ Ringrose - Manager, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Beth Mahr - Manager, USA Hockey Disabled Hockey
Brad Roethlisberger - Referee-in-Chief, USA Hockey Disabled Hockey
Evonne Fix - Linesman, IIHF & NCAA
From multiple IPC Paralympic and World Championship titles, to exponential growth in membership, the USA Hockey Disabled Section has seen a lot of success on and off the ice. Recent growth of numbers and events in the grassroots Disabled Hockey community, means increased opportunity for referees. What type of opportunities exist? What are the playing rules? How do referees get involved. Watch this episode to learn more!
E.16 | Aggressive Infractions
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 @ 8:00p ET
MODERATOR
Scott Zelkin - Manager, USA Hockey Jr. Officiating Development Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Mackenzie Welter - Referee, IIHF & NCAA
Ian Walsh - Referee, NHL
Judgement and Penalty Standards are two of the hardest skills all referees must develop. Some rule infractions have a marginal impact on competition and sportsmanship, but aggressive infractions are "must call" penalties if the game is going to stay on track. What are the markers of aggressive infractions? How do we differentiate between Body-Contact and Body-Checking? What is "Hope vs. Courage"? Watch this episode to find out.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EPISODE WILL OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
E.17 | Mental Preparation
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020 @ 8:00p ET
MODERATOR
Matt Leaf - Director, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Scott Zelkin - Manager, USA Hockey Jr. Officiating Development Program
Jake Rekucki - Referee, AHL & ECHL
TBD
Keeping physically fit and gaining strength are keys to high performance, but that's only half of the job. Mental focus and stamina are just as critical to getting through an entire game. What can officials do to sharpen their mental awareness on the ice? How can officials prevent tunnel-vision? How can officials re-focus if they feel mentally-flat? Watch this episode to learn more.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EPISODE WILL OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
E.18 | Icing & Off-sides
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020 @ 8:00p ET
MODERATOR
BJ Ringrose - Manager, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Jennifer Cameron - Linesman, IIHF & NCAA
Kenneth Radolinski - Linesman, ECHL
Icing and Off-sides are the fundamental calls of linesman. While the spirit and intent seems simple, there are subtle interpretations that can effect these "black and white" rules. Watch this episode to learn more about judgement and positioning.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EPISODE WILL OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020
ZOOMCAST ON-DEMAND
E.14 | Emotional Intelligence
Competition breeds emotion. Officials who develop the ability to read the temperature of a game, and de-escalate communication with frustrated coaches and players will reduce the need to call penalties. What are tips to keeping personal emotion in check? How do you spot the "flare ups" and extinguish them before they go beyond control? Watch this episode to find out.
MODERATOR
Scott Zelkin
Manager, USAH Jr. Officiating Development Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Don Adam
Director of Officiating, NCHC D-I Conference
Shawn Hayes
Performance Coach, USA Hockey Junior ODP
E.12 | Linesman Positioning
Whether it's beating play to the blue line or getting to the hot-spots after the whistle, proper positioning is critical to sight-lines and managing players. Bottom line, off-sides relies on good positioning and responding to minor altercations keep small fires from escalating. This episode will explore why mastering proper positioning as a linesman helps judgment and results in smoother games.
MODERATOR
BJ Ringrose
Manager, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Ryan Daisy
Linesman, NHL
Jackie Spresser
Linesman, IIHF & NWHL
Patrick Richardson
Linesman, AHL & NCAA
E.11 | Referee Positioning
Whether it's keeping the players in front of you in the corners, or standing on the goal line when the puck enters the goal, proper positioning is critical to sight-lines and observing play. Bottom line, an official cannot call what they do not observe. This episode will explore where the referee (3-Official & 4-Official) should stand during different game situations, and why mastering proper positioning makes the judgment process simpler.
MODERATOR
Scott Zelkin
Manager, USAH Jr. Officiating Development Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Melissa Szkola
Referee, IIHF & NWHL
Andrew Wilk
Referee, IIHF & AHL
E.10 | Diversity & Inclusion
USA Hockey is proud of the growth of its membership in both numbers and diversity. With increased exposure to "uncommon" markets, our game is played in every corner of the country, and by participants from all demographics. However, as the game grows, so do the challenges of creating a respectful culture where all participants feel welcome to participate......including officials.
MODERATOR
Matt Leaf
Director, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Stephanie Jackson
Director, USA Hockey Diversity & Inclusion
Pat Kelleher
Executive Director, USA Hockey
Gui Bradshaw
Member, USA Hockey Diversity & Inclusion Committee
E.9 | Declaration of Player Safety
Beginning with the 2019-20 Season, USA Hockey launched the "Declaration of Player Safety, Fair-Play & Respect" initiative to improve player safety and overall competition. It's emphasis directs coaches to teach proper body contact and respect for an opponent's safety when executing a body-check, and officials to hold players accountable when they execute dangerous contact. This episode will discuss how far we have progressed in one season, and what must occur to continue to improve competitive play.
MODERATOR
Scott Zelkin
Manager, USA Hockey Jr. Officiating Development Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Keith Barrett
USA Hockey V.P. & Chairman, Youth Council
Kenny Rausch
Director, USA Hockey Youth Hockey
Matt Leaf
Director, USA Hockey Officiating Program
E.8 | USA Hockey Playing Rules
What are the driving forces behind the USA Hockey Playing Rules? Safety, fairness, player development and lifelong involvement are all key components. This episode will kick-off the upcoming 2021-25 Rule Change process by discussing how a rule change is submitted, the review process, the "spirit and intent" of some playing rules, and some of the classic rule change proposals that might have "raised a few eyebrows" among the committee members.
MODERATOR
BJ Ringrose
Manager, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Bill Hall
USA Hockey Secretary & Chairman, Playing Rules Committee
John Karolcik
Director, USA Hockey Mid-American District
Matt Leaf
Director, USA Hockey Officiating Program
E.7 | Two-Official System
Similar to players at the entry levels of American Development Model hockey, officials must learn the basic fundamentals of positioning, awareness, judgment and mechanics as both a referee and a linesman before entering higher levels of play. This episode will focus on the Two-Official System, and building the foundation skill-set that all officials must master before moving to higher levels.
MODERATOR
Scott Zelkin
Manager, USAH Junior Officiating Development Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Jack Young
Official, USAH Jr. Officiating Development Program
Russ Eidenberger
Referee-in-Chief, Michigan District
E.6 | Women's Officiating Program
Female USA Hockey Officials have achieved a long history of success at all levels of the game. From working hard through the grassroots ranks, attending development camps, showcasing their skills at USA Hockey National Tournaments, and working their way up to IIHF Assignments. But where does the path start, and what steps of development pave a solid road to success?
MODERATOR
Matt Leaf
Director, USA Hockey Officiating Program
GUEST PANELISTS
Kendall Hanley
Official, IIHF & NCAA
Jenna Janshen
Official, ACHA & USAH Tier III Jr.
Jessica Leclerc
Official, IIHF & NCAA
ZOOMCAST ON-DEMAND PLAYLIST
Head to the USA Hockey YouTube Channel to watch archived ZoomCast episodes.