Plans for our added USA Hockey Officiating Seminars are now set. Here are the details.

Eligibility

Brand new entry-level officials. Also for officials who were previously registered but have not yet attended a Seminar for the 2007-08 season.

Officiating Levels

1 and 2 only.

Officials who have already attended a Level 1 Seminar for the 2007-08 season are not eligible to attend this seminar and move to Level 2.

Dates, times, locations:

• Saturday - March 29th - Bridgewater Sports Arena - Bridgewater, NJ - 8 am to 4 pm.
• Sunday - March 30th - Ice Works Skating ComplexIce Works Skating Complex - Aston, PA - 9 am to 5 pm.

Registration will open online at AAHArefs.org on March 4th and will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Officials may register for only ONE of these Seminars. Duplicate registrations will result in the name being removed from both lists. Officials MUST make the commitment to participate for the entire day.

Notes

Everyone must bring the following:

• Hockey skates (NOT goalie skates or figure skates)
• Hockey helmet
• Suitable clothing to go on the ice (do not need a referee uniform)
• Check (NO cash) for $25 payable to "AAHA" to cover the Atlantic District Referee Registration Fee
• Pad and pen to take notes

Lunch is on your own

All officials must register separately with the USA Hockey Officiating Program (even if you are already registered as a player and/or coach) - details to be provided at the Seminar. It is probably not a good idea to register with USAH until you are certain that you are attending a Seminar.

These Seminars are for the 2007-08 season only - your registration will expire after Nov. 30, 2008. Just like all other officials in the country, you will then have to re-register and attend a new Seminar for the 2008-09 season. Those Seminars usually run from mid-August to early October in our District.

In some areas, it is sometimes difficult to obtain game assignments during the summer since there are often fewer entry-level games. However, you would also be eligible to obtain game assignments once league play begins again around Labor Day.

Questions

Contact Tony Mariconda at tonyrefx3 [at] aol.com

Posted by Dave Aiello at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The hockey season is approaching quickly. We must begin to prepare for this upcoming season. As you know, the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Officials Association (ECHOA) has expanded its assignments for next season. We will be assigning:

1. Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA)
2. Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL)
3. Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL)

There will be many opportunities for our officials to work at this high level almost every weekend. If you were on the roster this past 2006-07 season, you are on the roster for this upcoming season. There is no need to tryout again. The ECHOA expects a full commitment to our assignments for the entire season from all officials.

For all new officials that are interested in officiating in the ECHOA: We will be conducting evaluations at the Atlantic District Level 4 Officiating Seminar in Lawrenceville, NJ. You must properly register to attend the seminar. Also, you must let either Mike or Shane know you will be attending the Level 4 seminar.

• Mike's email address: mcdevitt [at] echoa.org
• Shane's email address: shane [at] echoa.org

In addition, USA Hockey National Championships will be held here in the Atlantic District this season. So this is a great opportunity for officials. It's a win/win for everyone.

At this time, the Level 4 seminar is the only way try out for the ECHOA. Another tryout may be added in the future.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 2007-08 Seminar Schedule is now available for viewing on this website. Returning officials can register starting on Thursday, July 5th and new officials can register starting on Tuesday, July 10th. Note that these seminars often fill up quickly.

Level 4 Seminar and National Tournaments

The Level 4 Seminar will be held on Sunday, August 26th. It is important to note that the Atlantic District will be hosting National Tournaments at three Women’s levels, four Girls’ levels and four Youth levels this season. Thus, there will be a need for quality Level 4 officials in our District this year. You can be considered as a Linesman for Nationals if you are Level 3. However, if you want to be considered as a Referee at any of these National Tournaments you must be a Level 4 official.

District Officiating Seminar (DOS)

This year we are hosting a District Officiating Seminar. The DOS will be held Aug. 10 – 12 at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. USA Hockey is sending invitations with details to all completely-registered Level 3 and 4 officials in the Atlantic District. This program is a great way to improve your skills with on-ice and classroom instruction from national-level personnel and upper-level district personnel. If you are applying for Level 4, you will also need to attend the Level 4 Seminar. The DOS will serve as your 2007-08 USA Hockey Seminar if you are applying for Level 3.

A DOS is only held in each District every 3 or 4 years, so if you are interested do not hesitate to send in your application quickly. Acceptance is on a first-come-first served basis.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Atlantic District Officiating Program has added two new full-day USA Hockey Level 1 and 2 Officiating Seminars for the 2006-07 season.

• Saturday, March 24, 2007 at Ice Works Skating Complex in Aston, PA, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Sunday, March 25, 2007 at Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater, NJ, 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM

Registration for these seminars will be open on this site starting on March 1. Visit the Seminar Schedule page on AAHArefs for more information. Registration will be on a first-come first-served basis. Space is limited and these seminars often fill up quickly.

NOTE: These seminars are part of the 2006-07 season. This registration will expire on November 30, 2007. All officials will have to attend another seminar starting in August 2007 to register for the 2007-08 season.

Any questions should be addressed to: Tony Mariconda, Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief, via email at tonyrefx3 [at] aol.com.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The USA Hockey Officiating Program is now accepting applications for officiating eligibility for the 2006-07 season. Applicants can simply go to the USA Hockey Online Registration site at http://www.usahockeyregistration.com/, and follow the prompts to the section for ice officials to register.

The open book rules exam will also be offered online this season. Upon receipt of an application, officials will be forwarded information on completing the open book exam requirement online.

All officiating applicants are reminded that they must attend a USA Hockey officiating seminar for the level they are applying for each season. New officials may want to be sure they can attend their Seminar first and then register with USA Hockey. For a complete schedule of our seminars for the 2006-07 season, please go to the Atlantic District Officiating Program Seminar Schedule. Please note that these Seminars often fill up quickly.

Returning officials are reminded that their 2005-06 card and crest expires on November 30, 2006.

Thanks for your interest in officiating and best wishes for a successful season!

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Mariconda, the Referee-in-Chief of the Atlantic District, issued the following statement today:

Please be advised that we have to cancel the Females-Only Officiating Seminar scheduled for August 20th at Lawrenceville. Despite some early enthusiasm for this program, we have had only 19 officials sign up for this seminar. Since we had planned to bring in top-level female officials from out of the District, we needed at least 25 participants by today to make this program viable. I am very disappointed that we did not get the response to this program that we had anticipated.

If you are signed up for this Seminar, you will be permitted to sign up for any other Atlantic District Officiating Seminar. Please go ahead and sign up now for another Seminar using the On-Line Seminar Registration System. If a Seminar you want to sign up for is currently listed as “Full” on our website, please contact Dave Aiello (Atlantic District Database Coordinator) at dave_aiello [at] ctdata.com ASAP to handle those arrangements.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2006-2007 season is now open to returning officials only. Officials who were registered with USA Hockey last season may register at Level 2, 3, or 4 for any Atlantic District officiating seminar.

In order to register, visit the Seminars and Registration page of AAHArefs.org, choose the seminar and registration level that you qualify for, and follow the instructions.

If you are a new official, you are required to register at Level 1. Seminar registrations for Level 1 officials will begin on Monday, July 10.

If you are a returning official and you want to register at Level 1 for the 2006-2007 season, you must wait until next Monday, July 10 to make your seminar selection.

The Atlantic District Officiating Program reserves the right to cancel seminar registrations for officials or officiating candidates who misuse the on-line seminar registration system.

If you have any questions or problems with Seminar Registration, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the AAHArefs website or email Carl Barling at cabref [at] earthlink.net.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Atlantic District has completed all of our 2005-06 USA Hockey Officiating Program Seminars. Seminars for the 2006-07 Season will be announced on or about July 1. Please check this website for more details.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is updated information regarding the USA Hockey Officiating Seminar scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 25, 2006 in Morristown, NJ. Registration and the morning classroom session for this seminar will be held at the Morris County Cultural Center, 300 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. Directions to the Morris County Cultural Center can be found here:

http://www.morrisparks.net/parks/directions/lmdir.htm

Afternoon sessions will be held at Mennen Sports Arena, 161 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962. Directions to Mennen Arena can be found here:

http://www.morrisparks.net/parks/directions/mennendir.htm

USA Hockey and the Atlantic District cannot provide transportation between these two locations. Seminar attendees must make their own arrangements for transporation from the Morris County Cultural Center to Mennen Sports Arena at approximately 12:00 noon.

Registration for this seminar begins at 8:00am at the Morris County Cultural Center. The seminar promptly starts at 9:00am. Please arrive as early as possible.

This seminar will conclude at approximately 4:30pm.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Atlantic District Officiating Program has announced two added Level 1 & 2 Seminars for the 2005-06 season:

• March 25th at Mennen Arena – Morristown, NJ
• March 26th at Ice Works – Aston, PA

Registration for these seminars is open as of March 1. To register, visit the Seminar Schedule page on AAHArefs.org.

Please note that this seminar will lead to referee registration for the 2005-06 seasons only; this registration will expire on November 30, 2006. Along with all other registered officials, participants will have to attend another seminar in late summer/fall to be registered for the 2006-07 season.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

All of the scheduled Atlantic District Officiating Seminars have now been completed for this season. We may have one or two added 2005-06 season Level 1 & 2 seminars in March, but that is not definite yet. In mid-January you should go to our District Officiating Program website at www.aaharefs.org for updates and registration details.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2005-2006 season is now open to returning officials only. Officials who were registered with USA Hockey last season may register at Level 2, 3, or 4 for any Atlantic District officiating seminar.

In order to register, visit the Seminars and Registration page, choose the seminar and registration level that you qualify for, and follow the instructions.

If you are a new official, you are required to register at Level 1. Seminar registrations for Level 1 officials will begin on Monday, July 11.

If you are a returning official and you want to register at Level 1 for the 2005-2006 season, you must wait until next Monday, July 11 to make your seminar selection.

The Atlantic District Officiating Program reserves the right to cancel seminar registrations for officials or officiating candidates who misuse the on-line seminar registration system.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the web site.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 9:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Mariconda wrote, "The date for the Atlantic District Level 4 Seminar is changing for the 2005-2006 season. This year, our Level 4 Seminar will be held on Sunday, August 28th at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. This change from the weekend after Labor Day to weekend before Labor Day has become necessary due to the fact the more Midget and Junior games are being played much earlier in September than ever before. Please make your plans accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation."

Posted by Dave Aiello at 5:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Atlantic District Officiating Program has announced that the last USA Hockey officiating seminars for the 2004-2005 season will take place at Mennen Arena in Morristown, NJ on Saturday March 19th and at Ice Works in Aston, PA on Sunday, March 20th, 2005. On-Line Registration will open, for new Level 1 officials and returning officials applying for Level 2 who have not already completed a seminar this season, on the morning of Tuesday February 8th. Please note that Level 3 certification will not be offered at these seminars.

The seminars will begin at 9:00 am, with check in for pre-registered attendees beginning at 8:30 am. No walk-up registrations will be accepted. The seminar will conclude at around 5:00 pm.

To register, go to online starting on February 8th at www.aaharefs.org, visit the Seminars and Registration page, and follow the directions.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

USA Hockey and the Atlantic District announced that additional space has been made available for the 2004 District Officiating Seminar at Lawrenceville, NJ. The seminar will begin on Friday, August 27 at 8:00am and conclude at noon on Sunday, August 29. There is a $50 fee payable to USA Hockey for participation in the District Officiating Seminar.

The District Officiating Seminar gives Level 2, 3, and 4 officials who are 18 years of age or older an opportunity to get the kind of intense training that officials who are selected to attend the USA Hockey Regional Development Camp receive. Members of the USA Hockey Officiating Program National Training Staff will be the primary instructors.

This seminar satisfies annual seminar attendance requirements for Level 2 and 3 officials. If you are a Level 4 official, you are welcomed to attend the District Officiating Seminar, but you must also attend a Level 4 seminar in the Atlantic District or elsewhere.

In order to attend the District Officiating Seminar, you must download and fill out the District Officiating Seminar application, and follow the included instructions. This application is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. If you do not have an Adobe Acrobat reader, you can download it from Adobe's web site.

For more information about the District Officiating Seminar, contact Tony Mariconda, Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief, tonyrefx3@aol.com.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2004-2005 season is now open to returning officials only. Officials who were registered with USA Hockey last season may register at Level 2, 3, or 4 for any Atlantic District officiating seminar.

In order to register, visit the Seminars and Registration page, choose the seminar and registration level that you qualify for, and follow the instructions.

If you are a new official, you are required to register at Level 1. Seminar registrations for Level 1 officials will begin on Saturday, July 10.

If you are a returning official and you want to register at Level 1 for the 2004-2005 season, you must wait until next Saturday, July 10 to make your seminar selection.

The Atlantic District Officiating Program reserves the right to cancel seminar registrations for officials or officiating candidates who misuse the on-line seminar registration system.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the web site.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Mariconda wrote, "We have completed the final USA Hockey Officiating Program Seminar for the 2003-2004 Season. New officials can no longer register with USA Hockey for this season. Seminars for the 2004-2005 Season will begin in August. Please refer to the Seminars Page in July to see the dates and locations for next season's seminars. The On-Line Registration System was a huge success and we will be using it again for next season. Please make sure that you register early! Seminars will fill up fast."

"On behalf of the entire USA Hockey/Atlantic District Officiating Program Training Staff, we hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer!"

"If you have any questions about upcoming seminars or the officiating registration process, feel free to email me at tonyrefx3@aol.com."

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shane Hanlon announced that the last officiating training seminars of the 2003-2004 season will take place on the weekend of March 27 and 28. On Saturday, March 27, a seminar will take place at Ice Works in Aston, PA. There will also be a seminar in Wayne, NJ at the new Ice Vault complex on Sunday, March 28.

The Aston seminar will begin at 9:00am, with check in for pre-registered attendees beginning at 8:30. No walk-up registrations will be accepted. The seminar will conclude at around 5:00pm.

The Wayne seminar will begin at 8:30am, with check in for pre-registered attendees beginning at 8:00. No walk-up registrations will be accepted. The seminar will conclude at around 4:30pm.

Registration is open to new officials and returning officials eligible for Levels 1 or 2 who have not already attended a seminar. To register, go to our on-line seminar registration system and follow the directions.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 7:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shane Hanlon and Tony Mariconda wrote, "The Atlantic District has completed the originally scheduled portion of our 2003/04 USA Hockey Officiating Program Seminars. We are considering hosting 1or 2 more seminars in the Spring of 2004. The details of these proposed seminars will be announced in late January 2004."

"If you have not completed your seminar attendance, you now have 2 options:"

1. You may attend a seminar is another District. (Here is the link to the USA Hockey Seminars Page: http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/officials/seminars/).
2. You may wait until the Spring 2004 to see if additional Atlantic District Seminar(s) are scheduled.

"If you are not complete as a USA Hockey Official for the 2003/04 Season by November 30, 2003, you may not officiate in any USA Hockey sanctioned games."

"Once again, we will post the dates and locations of any Spring 2004 seminar(s) on our Officiating Program website, http://www.aaharefs.org, in late January 2004."

Posted by Dave Aiello at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Adrian Harnen told us the classroom session for the seminar in Pittston, PA on Saturday, September 27, 2003 will be held at St. Joseph's Oblates. The Oblates are located across Route 315 in Pittston Twp.

Registration will start at 8:00am and classroom sessions will be held until the lunch break and ice sessions.

If you have any further questions, contact Adrian Harnen at 570-654-7087 or via email at ajharnen@adelphia.net.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At the Level 4 Seminar that took place in Lawrenceville, NJ on Sunday, Tony Mariconda announced that this season's Atlantic District Women's Officiating Seminar has been cancelled. It was cancelled due to insufficient pre-registration.

The seminar was originally scheduled for Sunday, October 19. The officiating candidates who had pre-registered for this seminar have been notified of the cancellation.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bob Fyrer told us that the classroom session for the seminar in Bethlehem, PA on Sunday, October 19, 2003 will be held at Neville Hall on the campus of Lehigh University. As previously reported, the ice session will take place at Bethlehem Municipal Ice Rink.

Update: Registration for this seminar will be at Neville Hall, Lehigh University, from 8:00 - 8:30am.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2003-2004 season is now open to all officials.

In order to register, visit the Seminars and Registration page, choose the seminar and registration level that you qualify for, and follow the instructions.

Officials should register for their seminars as early as possible because we expect many seminars to reach capacity. Seminar reservations are accepted on a "first come, first served" basis through the on-line registration system. Once a seminar reaches its capacity, it is automatically closed, on a level-by-level basis. If a seminar is "full" at the registration level that you qualify for, you must choose a different seminar.

If you are a new official, you are required to register at Level 1.

The Atlantic District Officiating Program reserves the right to cancel seminar registrations for officials or officiating candidates who misuse the on-line seminar registration system.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the web site.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2003-2004 season is now open to returning officials only. Officials who were registered with USA Hockey last season may register at Level 2, 3, or 4 for any Atlantic District officiating seminar.

In order to register, visit the Seminars and Registration page, choose the seminar and registration level that you qualify for, and follow the instructions.

If you are a new official, you are required to register at Level 1. Seminar registrations for Level 1 officials will begin on Monday, July 14.

If you are a returning official and you want to register at Level 1 for the 2003-2004 season, you must wait until next Monday, July 14 to make your seminar selection.

The Atlantic District Officiating Program reserves the right to cancel seminar registrations for officials or officiating candidates who misuse the on-line seminar registration system.

If you have any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section of the web site.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On-line registration for Atlantic District Officiating Seminars for the 2003-2004 season is scheduled to open on Monday, July 7. Returning officials only will be allowed to register for seminars for the first week that the system is open. New officials will be allowed to begin registering for seminars on Monday, July 14.

Watch this page for more details.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 7:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Mariconda wrote, "We have completed the final USA Hockey Officiating Program Seminar for the 2002-2003 Season. New officials can no longer register with USA Hockey for this season. Seminars for the 2003-2004 Season will begin in August. Please refer to the Seminars Page in July to see the dates and locations for next season's seminars. The On-Line Registration System was a huge success and we will be using it again for next season. Please make sure that you register early! Seminars will fill up fast."

"On behalf of the entire USA Hockey/Atlantic District Officiating Program Training Staff, we hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer!"

"If you have any questions about upcoming seminars or the officiating registration process, feel free to email me at tonyrefx3@aol.com."

Posted by Dave Aiello at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shane Hanlon announced that the last officiating training seminar of the 2002-2003 season will take place at Ice Works in Aston, PA on Saturday, March 29. Registration is open to new officials and returning officials eligible for Levels 1 or 2 who have not already attended a seminar.

The seminar will begin at 9:00am, with check in for pre-registered attendees beginning at 8:30. No walk-up registrations will be accepted. The seminar will conclude at around 5:00pm.

To register, go to our on-line seminar registration system and follow the directions.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shane Hanlon and Tony Mariconda wrote, "The last regularly-scheduled Officiating Seminars in the Atlantic District have been completed. We may not have anymore seminars for the 2002-03 season. If you need to attend a seminar (before your current registration expires on November 30th) you will have to go to another district. Here are the home pages for some of our neighboring districts:"

• http://www.nedistrictric.org - New England District (Conn.)
  
• http://www.nysaha.com - NY District
  
• http://www.southeastrefs.org - Southeast District (Md. & Va)
  

"You can always refer to our Seminar and Registration page after the Holidays to see if we have added any new seminars. Thank you for your interest in the USA Hockey Officiating Program."

Posted by Dave Aiello at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: How long do officiating seminars last? Are they all day affairs?

Answer:Seminars generally begin early in the morning (at 8:00 or 8:30am, check the Seminar Schedule) and last until 4:00pm or later.

Please arrive at or before the scheduled starting time of the seminar and be prepared to stay for the entire seminar. As other stories on this website say, late arrival or early departure from the seminar are among the reasons that you can be dismissed from the seminar without receiving credit for it.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I want to attend the seminar in {town name here} that is happening tomorrow, but the website says I can't register for it. Why not?

Answer: The deadline for using the On-Line Registration System to register for a seminar in the Atlantic District is 48 hours before the seminar begins. The registration system automatically closes registrations at that time, whether the seminar is totally full or not.

The reason we have chosen to do this is to allow time for the Seminar Staff to receive a complete roster of the attendees.

In the past when we have allowed last-minute on-line registrations and walk-up registrations, the result has been long delays for the officials who have followed instructions, planned ahead, and registered in advance. We have decided that it is too frustrating both for the seminar attendees and the volunteer Seminar Staff to try to accomodate last minute registrants.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tony Mariconda, the Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief, wrote, "This year the Atlantic District Officiating Program has implemented mandatory online registration for all of our seminars. The online registration system has been up and running since July 3rd, and postcards were sent to all previously-registered officials shortly thereafter. Online registrations have been pouring in over the last 5-6 weeks. At this point we have already registered over 1,500 officials! Thank you for your support of this system."

"You should note that you may not able to register now for some seminars at certain levels. That is due to the fact that these seminars are now filled to capacity. This means that you may have to travel a little farther for your seminar than you have in the past. We are in the process of responding to a USA Hockey request to run fewer, larger seminars. This will improve the consistency of the material presented, reduce the strain on our Seminar Instructor Staff and be logistically easier to handle. Some traditional locations may not host seminars any more, some may not host seminars every year or some may not host seminars at all levels. As with any new program, there are bound to be growing pains. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this multi-year process."

"At your seminars this year, returning officials may see some new materials, new presentations and new presentation methods. The District Officiating Staff is trying to provide everyone with an improved seminar product. Take full advantage of your seminar experience. Have a great seminar!"

Posted by Dave Aiello at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For returning officials, there is a correction in the information you received in the mail recently from USA Hockey. The date for the North Jersey Seminar is listed incorrectly on the sheet you received from USA Hockey.

The North Jersey Seminar is a one-day seminar on September 22nd (it is not a multi-day seminar). The seminar runs from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Englewood Field Club in Englewood, NJ and then from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, NY. The information for this seminar posted on our website is correct.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I moved last season, but AAHArefs still has my old mailing address and telephone number. This is making it difficult for me to register for a seminar for this season. How do I report my mailing address and phone number change so that the AAHArefs database is corrected?

Answer: The Atlantic District gets all officials' mailing addresses and phone numbers from USA Hockey itself. If you need to correct your address, you have to tell the Officiating Department at USA Hockey.

The easiest way to do this is to make the corrections through the USA Hockey National On-line Registration System at the beginning of the season. You can access that system by visiting http://www.usahockeyregistration.com/.

If you have already submitted your registration information for this season to USA Hockey, then contact Helen Fenlon at USA Hockey, helenf@usahockey.org, and provide:

• Your member number
• Your name
• Your old address
• Your old telephone numbers (home and work)
• Your new address
• Your new telephone numbers (home and work)
• Your new email address, if applicable

Posted by Dave Aiello at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: When do my card and crest from last season expire?

Answer: The card and crest for a season expire on November 30 of the next season. For example, the 2001-2002 card and crest expire on November 30, 2002. This means that you must have your new USA Hockey officiating membership card and crest by December 1 in order to continue officiating.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: Can I start officiating games right away after I attend my seminar?

Answer: If you are a new official, you cannot officiate any games until you receive your officiating membership card and the officiating sweater crest from USA Hockey.

If you are a returning official, you can officiate games provided you have a valid officiating membership card and crest. If you were fully registered last season, you can continue to officiate until November 30 on last season's card and crest. After December 1, you must posess the card and crest for the new season.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I may not be able to skate for the skating test, because I am injured. May I still attend?

Answer: Yes. However, you should bring a doctor's note stating that you are unable to skate. All Level 4 attendees must participate in the skating test at the seminar. No exceptions!

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: Can I skip an officiating level, or take two seminars in one season to move ahead faster?

Answer: No, you may only advance one USA Hockey officiating level per year.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I cannot stay for the whole seminar, is that OK?

Answer: No, if you leave the seminar early, or leave the seminar in the middle and come back, you will not receive credit.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I may be late for my seminar. Is that OK?

Answer: No, you will not be admitted if you are late.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: What are the steps involved in becoming an official?

Answer: There are three steps to becoming a USA Hockey Official:

1. Registration with USA Hockey

   New officials will receive a National Registration Form at the seminar, returning officials will receive a National Registration Form in the mail).

2. Local Seminar Attendance

3. Testing

   
   All USA Hockey officials must complete an open book rules test. In addition, Level 2, 3, and 4 officials must complete a closed book test administered at the seminar. Level 4 officials must also pass a skating test.
   

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: How old do I have to be to officiate USA Hockey games?

Answer: USA Hockey has established a national minimum age of 10 years for officials.

Most youth hockey programs further restrict young officials. Young officials can generally only officiate games where all players are younger than they are. For example, a 12 year old official will not generally be permitted to officiate games where the players are 12 years old or older.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: Why do I have to pay the $25.00 Atlantic District Registration Fee in addition to the USA Hockey National Registration Fee?

Answer: The AAHA Fee covers the cost of local issues (i.e. criminal background checks required by the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association, mailings, and seminar costs not reimbursed by USA Hockey). The National Fee covers administration of the officiating program, issuance of your officiating card and crest, training materials, insurance, and other National programs.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: If I am bringing someone with me to an officiating seminar, do I have to register each of us separately?

Answer: Yes, each person must have their own registration ticket in order to be admitted to an officiating seminar. Furthermore, the AAHA Officiating Program strongly recommends that each seminar attendee register themselves using the on-line registration process.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: If I am registered with USA Hockey as a player or a coach, do I still have to register as a referee?

Answer: Yes, each division of USA Hockey is separate. You have to register as an official and complete all registration requirements in order to officiate games.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Question: I was a Level 3 official, but I did not register last season. What level am I eligible for this season?

Answer: If you were a Level 3 two seasons ago and you did not register last season, you would be eligible to return at Level 3 this season. If you took two years off, you would have to drop to Level 2.

Posted by Dave Aiello at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)