Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association

Breaking News

On 6/23/20, USA Hockey approved virtual seminars for the 2020 seminar season only, necessitating changes in the published seminar schedule and the registration process found elsewhere on this website. Because WHOA has not finalized any changes, information on this website has NOT been updated. What can you do during this transition?

  1. Register with USA Hockey and complete your other requirements in a timely fashion.
  2. Check back to this website on a regular basis for updates to both the schedule and process.
  3. Direct any questions you may have to education@wihoa.org

WHOA Annual Meeting


WHOA Region Director Elections

The 2020 WHOA Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday August 15 at 1:00 PM at the Fairfield Inn, Westin, WI. During this meeting elections will be held for expiring WHOA Region Director positions for Regions #1, #2, #3, #4 and #6.


Nominations for Region Director positions will not be accepted during the WHOA Annual Meeting. Persons interested in running for one of these positions must submit the WHOA Declaration of Candidacy Form no later than June 30, 2020. The form is available for downloading at:

http://www.offserv.com/download/whoa/WHOADeclarationOfCandidacy.pdf

Questions can be addressed to the WHOA Nominating Committee Chair at bspohn@offserv.com

USA Hockey Zoom Cast


On June 2, USA Hockey is beginning a series of ZoomCasts for officials. The first ZoomCast introduces the USA Hockey summer camps. The event begins at 7:00 PM Central Time lasting for 60-75 minutes. You must register for each ZoomCast at: https://www.usahockey.com/officiatingzoomcasts

2020 Seminar Schedule Posted


The 2020 WHOA/USA Hockey tentative seminar schedule has been posted. In light of uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, WHOA made the decision to publish a seminar schedule similar to previous years. All officials are reminded WHOA must comply with federal, state, local, USA Hockey, and WAHA directives. The seminar schedule and format is subject to change at any time to maintain compliance. Please check our website frequently for updates. Click here to go to the seminar page.

WHOA Scholarship Applications Available


The application for the WHOA Scholarship is now available. Applications are due no later than June 20, 2020. Click here to access a .pdf of the application form.

USA Hockey & WHOA Registration 2020-21


Here is the recommended best practice for USA Hockey and WHOA registration for the 2020-21 season. Please review this process periodically as it will be updated to new information.
  1. Register with USA Hockey. USA Hockey registration begins May 26, 2020. Click here to be taken to the USA Hockey registration site. If required, USA Hockey will conduct your background check (new in 2020) if required. You must have a digital copy of your driver's license as part of the background check process. More information on the change in background checks can be found in the next section on this page. WHOA does not use the USA Hockey seminar registration system. Please see step 2.
  2. WHOA seminar registration is tentatively slated to begin on approximately August 1. To register for a WHOA seminar, you must first be registered with USA Hockey as an official. WHOA receives USA Hockey registration data on a daily basis. In most cases WHOA has your USA Hockey registration data approximately 24 hours after you register. In some instances, the process can take up to 48 hours. Please register with USA Hockey well in advance of attempting to register for your WHOA seminar. Click here to register for your WHOA seminar. Register early as enrollments are capped and walk-up registrations are NOT allowed.
  3. Complete your SafeSport module. Any officials with a 2003 birthdate or older must complete SafeSport on a yearly basis. Returning officials please note - yearly completion of SafeSport is a new requirement. You may complete SafeSport while awaiting the results of your background check (if background check is required).
  4. Complete your USA Hockey online video modules. This is a great way to ease into the season. Online modules introduce many of the materials covered in the open book exam, closed book exam, and at your seminar. Please note: Level 1 officials have 60 days to complete from the time you access your first module; Level 2-4 officials have 45 days to complete from first access time.
  5. Download and print your USA Hockey open book exam. Look up EVERY question as the exam tests what is in the rulebook versus common misconceptions. After you have answered every question off-line, enter your answers into the online exam. Record your answers carefully. If you answer a question incorrectly, make notes on your paper copy. If you achieve a passing score, you will be notified of such. If you do not, you will also be notified. Please note you must wait seven (7) days before the USA Hockey system will allow you to complete your re-take exam. You are allowed only one (1) re-take exam.
  6. Attend your WHOA seminar. Closed book testing will be administered at your seminar. Level 1 officials must have skates, helmet with half-shield, and a whistle. All other officials must have full officiating gear. WHOA must comply with all federal, state, and local directives surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. Requirements change frequently. Please check this website regularly for updates.
  7. If you are a Wisconsin resident who is registering with WHOA and you wish to attend a seminar outside of Wisconsin, you must obtain permission to do so, PRIOR to attending the seminar (per WAHA rules). Please email the WHOA Education Coordinator at least one week prior to your seminar date.
  8. If you live outside of the Central District and wish to register with WHOA, please access your USA Hockey profile and share your registration data with the Central District. This is the easiest way to make sure Wisconsin receives all information. If you need help with this process, click here.
  9. Wait for your card/crest to arrive in the mail. Prior to November 15, your card/crest will arrive 7-10 days after you complete ALL requirements. On or after November 15, it will take 14-17 days for your card/crest to arrive. Solicit game assignments after November 15 carefully if you do not have your current card/crest (see #10 below).
  10. Returning officials who completed their USA Hockey and WHOA registrations last year can officiate games until November 30. On or after December 1, you must have a current season card/crest. All other officials must have a current season card/crest before officiating any games.
  11. Officials seeking state play-off and/or state tournament assignments must complete their USA Hockey and WHOA registration process prior to 11:59 PM on December 31. Please keep in mind USA Hockey uses third party vendors for portions of the registration process and may not update USA Hockey prior to the cut-off. It is strongly recommended officials complete ALL portions of the registration process prior to December 23, ensuring ample time for updates.

General registration questions should be directed to your WHOA Region Director through e-mail. Questions regarding registration account issues, name changes, duplicate seminar registrations, etc. should be directed to Duffy Dyer (WHOA Education Coordinator). Correspondence should include the following information:

1. First name, Middle Initial, and Last Name.
2. Your date of birth.
3. Seminar location and date of attendance.
4. Screen shots of your USA Hockey profile showing all steps of the officiating process.

A detailed trouble-shooting guide can be found by clicking Trouble Shooting Guide.

USA Hockey Takes Over Background Screening


All previously registered officials should have received and email detailing the future of background screening as responsibility for administration of background screening transfers from affiliates (WHOA/WAHA) to USA Hockey. Selected highlights include:

  • The program kicked off on April 1 and will be packaged with an official's USA Hockey registration process beginning about June 1.
  • You must be screened prior to having contact with athletes under the age of 18.
  • If you were screened after April 1, 2019 for the 2019-20 season by the affiliate, this screen will be valid for the 2020-21 season.
  • All screens submitted after April 1, 2020 will be valid for two seasons and expire on August 31, 2022.
  • USA Hockey selected NCSI as their screening vendor. Cost for a two-year screen will be $30.00.
These changes were made to remain in compliance with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee requirements as well as all applicable statutes. Please watch your USA Hockey registration materials and WHOA seminar registration materials for updates.


Playing Rule Comparison


USA Hockey has published the 2019-20 USAH-NCAA-NFHS Rules Comparison https://www.usahockey.com/rulesandresources chart. This document lists the differences between all three rule bases.

Recruitment


Are you still trying to recruit new officials for your association this season? USA Hockey has created two different recruitment brochures. One for Men and another for Women. Please feel free to share these on your bulletin boards, at registration nights or on social media

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.