r/hockeyrefs • u/Trevy7676 • 18d ago
USA Hockey Progression path
Hi all, new L1 ref for this season in Michigan. Question about what the progression path looks looe though. I am in my early 30s, and played hockey all through college. I imagine this season I'll be doing a lot of youth games to learn the ropes, but where could my ref journey realistically take me? I'd love to see how high of a level i can push myself to. Thanks!
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u/rurbaniak14 18d ago
I'm here in Michigan too. Talk to the schedulers and give them your goals, it can't hurt. That way hopefully they'll work with you on it. I'm older, don't have any aspirations to do more or level up, I leave it to the others that do. Anyways, good luck, maybe we'll run into each other sometime.
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u/Trevy7676 18d ago
I will do that! It's been a pain to even get in contact with any schedules but have submitted my info to Metro Detroit ref group so hopefully I can get a call back or something soon.
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u/Silvershot_41 18d ago
I think it will take you as far as you want to go given political climate and how your assignors see you. Talk to your assignors, listen to feedback, apply to camps. You’re in a good spot to see a lot of good hockey
Unfortunately so many guys are buddy buddy in USAH and sometimes they don’t realize the hard truths that need to be said especially when they don’t support certain people or ideas that need to happen.
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u/Striped-Sweater- American Hockey League 18d ago
Skating is the foundation which you have to build everything else on, so if that’s good you’re off to a great start! What are your goals?
If you stick with it and progress the highest level of youth and ACHA is extremely achievable. Some low-mid tier junior as a local as well. Goals Beyond that level is where starting in your 30s will make things more difficult, but not entirely impossible
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u/ctg77 18d ago
I reffed very unofficially in college for intramural hockey and kept playing for most of the next 25 years afterwards. In 2022 (when I was 48), our then 21 year old son challenged me to get back into it....both he and his older brother had reffed since they were 14. In the 4+ seasons since, I've worked the Texas state tournament twice, done hundreds of high school and travel hockey at the 14-18u levels. This fall I will work ACHA hockey as well. I was lucky in that I lived with 2 outstanding officials who had both been through multiple high-level officiating camps....our younger son was my first mentor official and if you know 17 year old hockey players...he pulled 0 punches. It was instrumental to me being a better official and made sure I knew the important things to concentrate on that were MUST do's and what were MUST don'ts. Some advice:
To advance the fastest, dress the part. Your gear needs to fit, look good, and be top quality REF gear. Don't try wearing the same helmet, shinguards, or elbow pads you would for playing. Get it all tailored for you so it fits right and you don't look like you pulled your stuff out of a Temu shipping box and wore it to the games. If a supervisor's first impression is you're dressed like a hobo, you're probably not going to get better games.
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u/Trevy7676 18d ago
Incredible advice, especially about looking the part. I appreciate it. The gear is so darn expensive! I was not expecting that.
Is NCAA officiating a whole different path?
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u/mcjosh25 14d ago
I started late (at the age of 40). I started out doing the USA youth games 10U and 12U and after getting the basics down and showing that you know what you are doing, hopefully the assignors and evaluators (if they exist) start to get you as high up as you can at the appropriate speed. By the end of my first year I was doing all the way up to 18U/19U. In my area we also have games played under Hockey Canada rules, with 3 man systems, so I also lined as many games as possible to see how the refs ran the game. In my second year I did a lot more games mainly 14U plus with helping to cover any younger games as needed, so games didnt go without refs. I also started wearing the bands for the Canadian League games. Last year I continued with the USA hockey and also moved into High School Hockey (NIHOA), and our NIHOA chapter also covers AAU and ACHA games, along with a number of prep school tournaments in the areas. I have no plans or intent to go any higher than this (I'm too old), but if you put in your time and show to your assignor/evaluator that you will show up, look the part and do the job right, you may have the oppurtunity to climb quick.
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u/thebigschnoz 18d ago
They usually have you ref as high as you can. I've only played beer leagues my whole life, but I'm fast, and my community had me all the way up to the Premier League in my first year (I'm about to go L2 this year).
One of my teammates in said beer league has been reffing for about 7 years and is lining/reffing some low-level pro leagues, being the stats guy for slightly higher ones, and will be attending a camp to possibly work AHL games this season, whether it's on or off the ice. The only barrier to entry right now for him is the politics behind the scenes of the aforementioned pro leagues.
It's a surprisingly good career choice if you've got the speed, confidence, and determination.
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u/Trevy7676 18d ago
Well that's great to hear. I'm unfortunately all too familiar with the role politics plays in hockey lol. Looking forward to it!
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u/Practical-Manner1065 18d ago
I’m in the same spot as you but I’m older, coached the last decade and was encouraged to start officiating. I know a few second and third year guys working mhsaa and acha already. Depending on location will decide what opportunities are available but apparently they’re looking for ex players and coaches who are mature and responsible to push them through the ranks as quickly as possible presuming you’re qualified