Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association

Level 4 Seminar Update


After careful consideration, WHOA will move ahead with a pilot program for the 2018 Level 4 seminar. All teaching materials will be presented online and must be completed on a pre-determined date prior to the September 30 seminar date.

The skating and closed book examinations will be conducted on September 30 in the Madison area. At this point, WHOA is finalizing ice time and subsequently a location for the closed book exam. Announcements will be posted on the WHOA website as more information becomes available. Even though the teaching materials will be presented online, you must sign up for the Level 4 seminar in the WHOA seminar system just as you have signed up for seminars in previous years. Please contact Duffy Dyer, WHOA Education Coordinator or 218-349-0327 with questions.

District Officiating Seminar - Save the Dates

WHOA is proud to announce USA Hockey will be conducting a District Officiating Seminar (DOS) in Madison August 17 through August 19. A DOS targets officials unable to attend USA Hockey summer development camps wishing to gain advanced knowledge of officiating. The DOS focuses on advanced instruction in officiating mechanics, techniques, and skating taught by members of the USA Hockey national instructor staff. The ideal attendee will have three to four years of experience or more, desiring to learn about advanced officiating techniques. However, any 2017-18 completely registered official may apply. Level two and three testing will be available at the DOS, allowing the DOS to fulfill participant's seminar requirement for the 2018-19 season.


USA Hockey will be sending further information regarding the DOS to all eligible officials in the near future. Please mark your calendars and save August 17-19 for an in depth weekend of officiating!

2018-19 Seminar Schedule


WHOA is proud to announce WHOA/USA Hockey Officiating Seminars for the 2018-19 season. Seminars begin in mid-August and conclude in mid-November at various locations throughout the state. All seminars will be for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 officials except those listed below:
  • 9/30/18: This is a Level 4 seminar only. WHOA has not yet set a location as WHOA is working on an online pilot for Level 4 officials. WHOA is not sure if online level four will be a reality for the 18-19 season and will make a decision on a seminar location no later than July 1, allowing officials ample time in planning their fall schedule.
  • 10/27/18: The seminar held in Green Bay is the annual invitation only Level 1 seminar known as the Zebra Cup for Green Bay area officials. Green Bay area officials interested in attending the Zebra Cup should work through their local officials association for further information.
  • 11/18/18: Dodgeville will be hosting a Level 1 and Level 2 seminar geared toward officials who participated in fall hockey or officials who experience a last minute change in their winter status (e.g. were unexpectedly selected for the varsity team). The Dodgeville seminar is also a great opportunity for adults to become involved in officiating once they know what teams their children will be participating on for the season! Note: Due to required processing time and close proximity to December 1, Level 2 officials attending this seminar may not receive their 2018-19 card/crest by December 1 and may not be eligible to officiate.
Registration for seminars will begin on August 2, 2018. Further registration instructions will be posted closer to registration opening. Questions regarding WHOA/USA Hockey seminars should be directed to your WHOA Region Directors or Duffy Dyer, the WHOA Education Coordinator. Duffy can also be reached by phone at 218-349-0327.

The complete Seminar Schedule is now available.

Background Screening


All officials who are 18 years old are required to have a background screening done through WHOA. If an official does not have a current screen, he/she may not officiate any USA Hockey games in the state of Wisconsin. Any person turning 18 during the season will also need to complete a background screening or they will not be eligible to officiate.

The WHOA has partnered with WAHA’s screening vendor, Protect Youth Sports, with the goal of providing timely and accurate service for officials and administrators. Effective immediately, Verified Volunteers is now replaced with Protect Youth Sports.

We have created instructions for navigating their website.

You can also view your screening date in the WHOA Screening Database.

Please feel free to view the Background Screening Policy.

Playing Rule Comparison


USA Hockey has published the 2017-18 USAH-NCAA-NFHS Rules Comparison chart. This document lists the differences between all three rule books and can be a very good resource.

USA Hockey Playing Rule Change Summaries


The up-to-date rules summary and other pertinent information that will go into the Playing Rules Book is listed below.

*NEW* USA Hockey has published some rule clarifications in this FAQ Memo on the 2017-21 Playing Rule.

SafeSport Education Program


*NEW* The SafeSport Refresher course (which is approximately 35 minutes long) will only be available until approximately September 18th, after which the training will transition to the Center for SafeSport’s platform and all persons taking training will be required to complete the new, full course (which will be approximately 90 minutes long).

As part of USA Hockey's continued effort to create a safe playing environment for all participants, those officials who are 18 years of age or older (as of August 1 of the current registration season) are required to complete an online SafeSport Education Program every two seasons. The online program is free of charge.

You will need your current USA Hockey Membership Registration Confirmation Number (not your Officials Number) to complete training. Registration confirmation numbers can be obtained at the main USA Hockey Registration page.

WAHA Development Conference


At the WAHA Annual Meeting, WHOA gave a presentation pertaining to the recruitment, retention, continued education and assignment of officials.

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