Mid-Atlantic Hockey Officials Association (MAHOA) is an organization formed to develop service and promote collegiate officiating within The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II and III community in the tri-state region of Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.
This group of officials will directly support the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC), the Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (GNCHA) and the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) and will serve as a springboard for officials pursuing greater officiating challenges.
All experienced officials certified under USA Hockey (Levels 3 and 4) are encouraged to pursue membership. No other officiating organization experience is required. New members with no or minimal collegiate hockey officiating experience are encouraged to tryout.
The MAHOA collegiate organization is working with the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Officials Association (ECHOA) sharing the tryout session.
Tryouts are scheduled for:
- Tuesday August 8, 2006 (9:00pm to 11:00pm) at Iceline, West Chester, PA.
- Saturday August 12, 2006 (11:20am - 12:45pm) Face Off Circle, Warminster, PA.
Tryout pre-registration is required at www.echoa.org.
{Read on for answers to questions you may have about the tryout process.}
Q: Is there a cost to tryout?
A: YES. There is a $10 charge for the tryout.
Q: Who will run the tryout?
A: The on ice portion of the tryout will be run by various professional officials (NHL, AHL, ECHL). The off ice portion of the tryout will be run by the ACHA Referee-in-Chief with assistance from local ACHA and USA supervisors.
Q: Will I need to bring my referee equipment?
A: Yes. Full referee equipment is required.
Q: How do I sign up for the tryout?
A: You must pre-register at www.echoa.org.
Q: Who is welcome to tryout?
A: Any official that thinks they have the ability to officiate Division II or Division III Collegiate Club Hockey. (NOTE: Officials MUST have USA Hockey certification level 3 or above).
Q: Are there yearly costs with the MAHOA organization?
A: Yes. There are yearly dues of $40.00. USA Hockey provides your insurance coverage for the MAHOA organization.
Q: Are there meetings for the new organization?
A: Yes, The first mandatory MAHOA meeting is scheduled for the beginning of September (date to be confirmed a bit later). There will be 2-3 meetings during the hockey season.
Q: Is there rule testing?
A: Yes. The ACHA mandates a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) test for college hockey be administered.
Q: How do I get a rulebook and a crest for my referee sweater?
A: The yearly fee includes a NCAA rulebook and an ACHA crest for your sweater.
Q: Where are the games played?
A: Game assignments will range from Scranton, PA to Staten Island, NY to Central New Jersey and all points in between. The organization will also cover games in the Delaware Valley area the Lehigh Valley area.
Q: How do I get games scheduled?
A: All scheduling of games will be done by the use of on-line scheduling software known as the The Arbiter. (www.thearbiter.net). All games will be scheduled by the Director of Assignments, Paul Valerio. Officials will log into the system to set-up and view their schedule.
