MIHOA will be hosting a TRY REFFING FOR FREE session for people who may be interested in becoming a hockey official. The event will include three short classroom sessions covering basic officiating information followed by an on-ice session and a chance to skate as an official in a controlled game-situation setting. This event is held in cooperation with the Winterland Ice Hockey. 

Who Should Attend:
The event is open to coaches, players, parents and other individuals who may be interested in becoming an ice hockey official. Note: MIHOA requires officials to be at least 13 years old by August 1 of the registration season (i.e. 13 years old by August 1, 2018 for the 2018-19 season).

Date:
Sunday, May 6, 2018

Location:
Webster Groves Ice Arena
33 E Glendale Rd
Webster Groves, MO 63119

Schedule:
1:45 PM – Arrival & Check-in
2:00 PM – Welcome & Classroom Sessions
3:15 PM – On-ice Officiating Drills
3:45 PM – On-ice Game Situations (controlled scrimmage)
5:00 PM – Close

Topics:
- Learn what it is like to be a referee
- Benefits of officiating
- Understanding the registration & certification process to become a USA Hockey on-ice official
- General info about 2018-19 USA Hockey Seminars
- MIHOA Equipment Loan Program
- Opportunities in officiating
- McKenna Scholarship Foundation
- Socialize with MIHOA members
- Q & A

Registration:
There is no fee to attend the event. However, we request that you RSVP by CLICKING HERE no later than May 2, 2018 at Noon. The event will be limited to a maximum of 30 attendees. 

Equipment:
All participants taking part in the on-ice session are required to have their own skates, warm-up pants & jacket and a helmet with either a half-visor or full shield attached. A limited number of helmet/visor sets will be available to borrow on the day of the event. Full officiating equipment is not required. Bring a whistle if you have one.

​Questions:
For questions, contact MIHOA Development & Education Coordinator Andy Hudson at ahudson@mihoa.com or 314-803-3141.

The fifth annual MIHOA Summer Development Program will take place July 9-15 at various St. Louis rinks. This program, held in partnership with the Winterland Ice Hockey Friendship Games, is a weekend of structured development, education and coaching of our newer and younger officials.

This program is an excellent opportunity to officiate several games in a short period of time, to receive feedback and coaching from experienced MIHOA supervisors, and to get prepared for the 2018-19 ice hockey season. 

What:
In partnership with the Winterland Ice Hockey friendship games, a weekend of structured development, education and coaching of USA Hockey officials who officiate games with MIHOA. 
 
Who:
Officials – Young MIHOA officials who are certified as level 1, level 2 and level 3 during the 2017-18 season. Program is open to teenage and young-adult officials, in the target age group (but not exclusive of), ages 13-30.    

Supervisors– experienced MIHOA supervisors and veteran officials who will provide pre-game tips, shadow officials on the ice, provide in-game coaching during stoppages and intermissions, and postgame feedback.
 
When:
July 9-15, 2018. Majority of the games held on Friday evening, all day Saturday, and all day Sunday. Additional games scheduled earlier in the week.
 
Where:
Main location - Webster Groves Ice Arena. Additional games to be held and Kirkwood, Brentwood and Creve Coeur rinks. 
 
Notes:

• Officials will receive a normal game fee for workings these games.
• Participants are strongly encouraged to commit to the entire weekend, allowing you to receive 2-4 supervision opportunities.
• A pre-event conference call may be scheduled to review the expectations and guidelines for the weekend.  
• Participants must be willing to accept performance feedback and work on those areas where improvement is needed throughout the course of the event and into the future.

 
Application Details:

• MIHOA officials who would like to be considered for these games must submit a short online application. The application deadline is June 8, 2018.
• Applicants must also update their Date Requests availability on the MIHOA Scheduling Site. Date requests must be submitted by June 15 as follows. You are encouraged to submit requests for ALL of the time slots listed to ensure you are available for the entire weekend.
  • July 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (games stating after 6 PM)
  • July 14 (morning, afternoon, evening)
  • July 15 (morning, afternoon)

 
To submit an application, CLICK HERE.
 
PLEASE NOTE: preference will be given to officials who are able to commit to the entire weekend. Preference will also be given to officials who have not yet participated in our Summer Development Program.

If you have any questions, please contact Andy Hudson.

Thank you for your dedication to officiating and we look forward to receiving your application!
 
Jefferson City Friendship Games
NEW IN 2018, the Winterland Ice Hockey Program will be conducting friendship game weekends at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City.
 
Dates:

• June 15-17 – Squirts & Pee Wees (application deadline, May 25)
• July 27-29 – Bantam & High School/Midget (application deadline, June 30)

 
During these games, a similar officiating development program will be conducted by MIHOA, focusing on the continued training and education of local Jefferson City officials, select officials from the St. Louis Metro, and officials who travel in town with their teams.
 
If you are interested in being considered as an official for these games in Jefferson City, please submit an application by CLICKING HERE.

There are a variety of opportunities each summer to improve your skating, rule knowledge, on-ice presence, and officiating abilities. Here are some popular summer camps and programs, with links to learn more information. 

MIHOA Summer Development Program
The fifth annual MIHOA Summer Development Program will take place July 9-15 at various St. Louis rinks. This program, held in partnership with the Winterland Ice Hockey Friendship Games, is a weekend of structured development, education and coaching of our newer and younger officials. It is an excellent opportunity to officiate several games in a short period of time, to receive feedback and coaching from experienced MIHOA supervisors, and to get prepared for the 2018-19 ice hockey season. NEW IN 2018, the Winterland Ice Hockey Program will also be conducting friendship game weekends at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City. Click here for more information on how to apply for consideration for this local development program.
 
Central District Officiating Camp
Held at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, from June 17-22, 2018, the Central District Officiating Camp is the first step in the ladder for officials from the Central District who are interested in pursuing the USA Hockey Officiating Development program. This invitation-only camp is limited to ages 17-30 and includes classroom sessions, on-ice instruction, fitness assessment, and live-game officiating. Participants are selected based on their officiating ability, personal character, conduct, school record, and ambitions. Eligible officials will receive application information by email, or contact Bob Cunningham for details.

USA Hockey Summer Development Camps
Each summer, the development of young officials continues at the USA Hockey Officiating Development Camps. These camps are used to identify and prepare officials for junior, collegiate, and professional competition, and provide all participants with the fundamental skills needed to return home to their grassroots hockey community and be the best amateur hockey officials they can become. Many of the top officials in the United States have progressed through the various summer development camps, and USA Hockey recruits the top instructors available from professional and collegiate leagues to educate and evaluate the participants in all aspects of officiating. Learn more.
 
Don Koharski’s Officiating and Development Camps
The development of officials is taken very seriously at Don Koharski’s camps and for that reason they are committed to continually improve their on-ice and classroom sessions.  Staff consists of the very best of amateur and professional officials who share their experiences both on and off the ice and work hard to provide campers with the very best of on-ice instruction.  Don Koharski takes great pride in providing students interactive classroom sessions which can be put into practice on the ice. A new Elite Showcase Camp has been scheduled for June 11-14, 2018, in Nashville. Learn more.
 
Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camps
Since 2012, The Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camps have assisted in the development of aspiring ice hockey officials from throughout the United States and Canada. The Pittsburgh Elite Officiating Camps instruct a wide-range of ice hockey officiating skills from the most basic foundations to the most advanced techniques. The skills and topics presented in all of our programs are necessary for all officials to establish a foundation that will allow them to achieve success at any level of ice hockey officiating. Learn more.
 
California Referee School
Since 1987, Michel Voyer has directed the best and most well-known annual instructional camp for ice hockey officials in North America. The camp has sent over 300 graduates on to officiating careers in minor and professional hockey. The camp is open for all officials, from beginners who want to break into the game amateur level to experienced officials who want to keep their game at the highest possible level. This is the school of opportunities, attracting junior and professional supervisors looking to hire new recruits, it will give you the best exposure that you deserve. Learn more.

Officials should research camps thoroughly before registering, and should attend camps that will help them reach their goals. If you have questions about which camp is right for you, email education@mihoa.com.