Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association

Since 1980, the Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association (WHOA) has been registering, educating, and developing USA Hockey officials with the highest standards for the betterment of hockey in Wisconsin. As a proud partner with the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA), our 1,500 members strive to make the sport of hockey safe and enjoyable for everyone. Our association's members serve the various levels of USA Hockey (youth and adult) and the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
2022-23 Registration Information
USA Hockey & WHOA Seminar Registration Closed

​USA Hockey is no longer accepting officials registrations for the 2022-23 season. Registration for the 2023-24 season will begin approximately June 1.

WHOA will not be scheduling additional seminars for the 2022-23 season. Updates regarding the 2023-24 seminar schedule will be posted on this website.
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The general registration process can be found here:  registration instructions The process will be updated for 2023-24 at a later date.​
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Quick Registration Instructions:

Use these instructions only if you are very familiar with the registration process from previous years. If you are a new official, are not familiar with the process, or have questions please scroll down and click the "Complete Registration Instructions" hyperlink.

  1. Register and pay your USA Hockey fee. You must complete this step first. REGISTER WITH USA HOCKEY
  2. Wait a minimum of 24 hours for WHOA to receive your current registration data.
  3. Register for your USA Hockey/WHOA Seminar and pay your WHOA registration fee by clicking here. Your referee number is 5-8 numeric digits in length and does NOT contain letters.
  4. At the conclusion of your seminar, you will be given instructions on recording your attendance in USA Hockey Courses.
Important Updates
WHOA Scholarship Application Now Available​
The Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association will be awarding a merit based scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to a deserving official who will pursue a higher education in the Fall of 2023 and complete their registration as an official for the 2023-24 season. The scholarship is intended to encourage WHOA members ages 17-23 who will graduate from High School this spring or students attending institutions of higher education to continue their career as a USA Hockey official for the 2023-24 season while furthering their education.

Scholarship application and eligibility information for 2023 Scholarship are now available at:

www.offserv.com/download/whoa/2023ScholarshipApplication.pdf

Applications must be received by Thursday, June 1, 2023. If you are currently a USA Hockey official and WHOA member who is planning to attend an institution of higher education full time in the Fall of 2023, you are encouraged to apply.

Questions can be addressed to Bob.Peschel@wihoa.org

                  ***Using Properly Registered Officials***
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As of December 1, 2022, any individual officiating a USA Hockey/WAHA sanctioned game must be in possession of a 2022-23 officials card and crest - NO EXCEPTIONS!

Association schedulers have been provided a link from WHOA to a list of eligible and ineligible officials. This list should be used when making game assignments.

Officials should provide a copy of their 2022-23 Referee Card to their scheduler upon receipt verifying the official's eligibility to be assigned games.

Incomplete officials (not eligible to officiate) can monitor their progress via the "Officiating Information" tab found in their USA Hockey profile. Remember, it takes 10-14 days for your card/crest to arrive after you have completed all requirements.

Officials with question about their registration status can contact WHOA by clicking here. Please include a screenshot of your Officiating Information from your profile.

Advanced Officiating Symposium

​The Advanced Officiating Symposium leads to tenured status for Level 3 and Level 4 officials. This highly engaging seminar bring together officials from a wide variety of backgrounds providing outstanding conversation and content. It is a great way to meet officials from other parts of the country sharing your interest and dedication to officiating. The 2023 AOS will be held from July 28-30 in Columbus, OH. Registration closes July 6. Click here for more details.
WAHA Specific Officiating Guidelines
In addition to USA Hockey guidelines, WAHA requires all participants to observe additional guidelines for officials. A brief summary is found below:

Any player or coach who enters the officials' dressing room at any time shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty which shall be reported using the WHOA Game Reporting system. The report is submitted to the WAHA Disciplinary Committee for review and further action.

Any team manager or spectator (fan) who enters the officials' dressing room at any time shall be reported to the WAHA Discipline Committee via the WHOA Incident Reporting system. WAHA Region Directors are notified and MUST hold a MANDATORY hearing with the team's coach and a representative of the association's board to discuss disciplinary action.

All teams registered with WAHA/USA Hockey must properly registered USA Hockey/WAHA/WHOA registered officials for all games. To be "properly registered" an official must be in possession of their current USA Hockey card/crest (as defined by USA Hockey registration guidelines) and must hold a current season's registration with WHOA.

Officials wishing to officiate during WAHA play-offs or state tournaments must be completely registered with USA Hockey (all applicable requirements) and WHOA (paid the current season's WHOA registration fee) by 11:59 PM December 31 of the current season. In addition, officials must be Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4. Level 2 officials may officiate Bantam level and lower games only. Level 1 officials are not eligible for state play-off and tournament games.

The official method for officiating games in Wisconsin is one referee and two linespersons. However, local associations may use the two-referee system at their discretion. The two-referee and two-linesperson system may be used at the Youth 16U, Youth 18U, High School, Girls 16U, and Girls 19U only after receiving approval from the appropriate WAHA Vice-President. The two-referee and one-linesperson system is NOT an approved USA Hockey officiating system and cannot be used without the expressed permission of the WAHA/WHOA Referee-in-Chief.
Covid Resources
​​WHOA Covid Directive (Effective 8/20/21)
The Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association (WHOA) recognizes the seriousness of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the impact on ice hockey participants and spectators. The WHOA requires all USA Hockey/WAHA/WHOA officials to fully comply with all state and local COVID‐19 orders and requirements. 
The enforcement of any state or local orders or requirements is the responsibility of the government agency issuing the order or requirement or the facility management (i.e. ice rink or classroom). Enforcement of any state or local orders or requirements are NOT the responsibility of any on‐ice game official. 
On‐Ice game officials shall not be required to enforce any COVID‐19 mask mandate for any player, coach, off‐ice official or spectator. Complaints of COVID‐ 19 mask non‐compliance directed to WHOA officials shall be referred to the government agency issuing the order or requirement or the facility management.
On‐ice game officials may report observed COVID‐19 mask violations through the Incident Reporting System. 
This Directive was adopted unanimously by the WHOA Board of Directors on August 20, 2021.

USA Hockey maintains a Covid Information page that can be accessed by clicking: USA Hockey Covid-19 Information

WAHA has a variety of Covid related information which can be accessed from the WAHA website. Click on the Covid 19 tab at the top of the page for a drop down menu.