Becoming an Official

New/Transferring Referee Registration for District 11 – Kanata

Note: As you read the materials, please note that a willingness to attend the ODHA/ODMHA referee school will not guarantee you a position in the association’s referee body. All names are place on a waiting list regardless.

District 11 – Kanata

With membership close to 90 officials. Kanata offers a comprehensive program that allows each official to develop quickly through both on-ice experience and off-ice instruction. The following information is provided to support your decision making process on whether to join the Kanata Referee

Who should be registering as a new referee within Kanata?

A prospective official should register as a new referee if he/she is:

A first year official (i.e. someone who has never refereed before.)
An official who was certified last year, but worked in another Branch, District or Association.
An official who previously refereed in Kanata, but has been inactive and does NOT have the permission of the RIC to register as a returning official.

Are there any specific criteria or requirements?

The preferred minimum age of a new referee in Kanata is 15. This is in place as experience shows a majority of officials under 15 withdraw from the program after the first year due to a variety of reasons. Prospective officials that are 14 years old may be considered assuming that space exists within the Association.

Officials who are also players, and who have a known history of verbally abusing referees; will not be considered. Additionally, players known to have a history of incurring playing suspensions will also be turned down as rules dictate that players, while under suspension are not eligible to referee. These cases will be examined on a case-by-case basis by the Referee-in-Chief.

Officiating in Kanata requires a great of time and flexibility. Players at the Competitive level may not be suited for this due to the time commitments required by their respective teams.

Am I guaranteed a position as an official?

No. All new prospective officials are immediately placed on a waiting list. This waiting list is a list of candidates; it is not a priority list as new officials are hired based on the needs of the Association. For example, if the Association needs to fill holes at the Midget level, a 24-year-old prospect is likely to get the nod over a 15-year-old as he/she stands a better chance of fulfilling the immediate needs of the Association at the Midget level than a 15-year-old through rapid development.

When will I learn if I have been granted a referee position?

The Referee-in-Chief will make every possible effort to notify all successful candidates of their acceptance in late June via e-mail, mail or by phone. If you are not contacted, then your application for the coming season was unsuccessful; most likely due to the number of openings. All unsuccessful candidates are encouraged to try again next year.

The June notification date allows for:

The Referee-in-Chief to determine who is returning from the previous season. All referees in good standing that worked the previous season for the KMHA are automatically guaranteed a position for the upcoming season.
The KMHA to set the number of teams at the different levels for the upcoming season; allowing for a determination of the number of officials required.

What training is required?

All new referees are required to take a Hockey Canadian Officiating Program (HCOP) clinic. These clinics are one day in length. Attendance is MANDATORY in order to officiate. There is no rush to register. If the KMHA Referee body commits to employing you as a referee, then a place in a clinic will be guaranteed; and you will be notified of clinic dates well in advance of it occurring.

There may those of you that have heard of the ODHA/ODMHA Referee School. This school is popular and the registration cut-off is likely to take place prior to the KMHA formally notifying all successful candidates. The KMHA Referee body reserves the right to provide advance notification of employment to candidates wishing to attend. Furthermore, the KMHA Referee body reserves the right to refuse employment of any official, who registers for a certification course and then attends without the permission of the District and/or Association Referee-in-Chief.

What is the hiring policy for prospective new KMHA Referees?

The Referee-in-Chief of Kanata Minor Hockey is responsible for the recruiting, training and development of all duly registered within District 11. However, the Referee-in-Chief of Kanata Minor Hockey is under no obligation to employ and/or use any official who obtains certification (training as noted above) without first approaching and obtaining the permission of the Association and/or District Referee-in-Chief first.

Application Process

Please fill out and submit the following application form to the Referee-in-Chief at the following email address: ric@kmha.ca
You will be contacted for an interview and for a rule knowledge assessment.
Based on ice availability there may be a skating test involved to assess your skating abilities.