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).
2023-24 Registration Information
WHOA seminar registration is closed.
Please read our  Complete Registration Instructions before proceeding.
​If you need assistance with your registration process, please contact education@wihoa.org. WHOA will review the issue and advise you of the single best way to proceed. Please do NOT make multiple contacts with USA Hockey Member Services, the Officiating Department, or random other individuals. This behavior only serves to delay your response. 

Quick Registration Instructions:
The WHOA seminar season is complete - no further seminars will be offered in Wisconsin.
Use these instructions only if you are applying for Level 3 or Level 4 and completed your registration last season. If you are a Level 1 or Level 2 official, please click here .
  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
Who is Eligible to Officiate WAHA Sanctioned Games?
  • Any official in possession of a 2022-23 card and crest may officiate games through November 30, 2023
  • Any official in possession of a 2023-24 card and crest
  • All officials in the above categories MUST be registered with WHOA for the 2023-24 season
  • Beginning December 1, 2023, only officials who are in possession of their 2023-24 USA Hockey card/crest AND who have paid their 2023-24 WHOA registration fee may officiate WAHA sanctioned games.
  • Questions should be directed to your local scheduler or WHOA Board of Directors region representative.

      USA Hockey Position on Neck Protectors
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USA Hockey continues to recommend a neck laceration protector for all players. The heightened discussions around lacerations from a skate blade reinforce the recommendation that players wear a neck laceration protector that covers as much of the neck as possible along with cut‐resistant socks, sleeves or undergarments. On November 11, the USA Hockey Board of Directors unanimously voted to request the USA Hockey Safety and Protective Equipment Committee begin the process of recommending potential rule changes regarding neck laceration protection. The intention of this effort is to advance solutions that best serve all of our members.

The latest information regarding neck laceration protection and all player safety and health can be found here.
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