Referee-in-Chief Eddie™ · Lesson 39 of 50
Who this lesson helps: Associations improving access to officiating.
Inclusive referee programs need practical pathways and respectful environments. An invitation matters less when training times, costs, facilities, or assumptions make participation difficult. Ask prospective and current officials where barriers appear.
A Situation You May Recognize
A program encourages new applicants but uses facilities that leave some officials without suitable changing arrangements. The recruitment message is welcoming while the actual experience is not. Leadership needs to address both.
Inclusive Referee programs: Practical Steps
Review access to courses, equipment information, scheduling, mentoring, and appropriate facilities. Ask participants for feedback without requiring public personal disclosures. Explain how concerns are raised and who will respond.
Avoid This Common Trap
Avoid assuming the same solution works for everyone or asking one participant to speak for an entire group. Standards and qualifications still apply; improving access means helping people meet them through a workable pathway.
Your Next Development Step
Walk through the joining process from an applicant’s perspective. Identify unclear instructions or unnecessary obstacles. Assign responsibility for one practical improvement and check whether it changes the experience.
A Short Video Script for Eddie
Proposed spoken script for this lesson; the matching video has not yet been recorded.
A welcoming program needs more than an invitation. Make training, information, mentoring, and facilities workable. Ask where barriers exist, then improve the pathway while keeping professional standards clear.
Use the Right Rules for Your Assignment
This is original development guidance from The Hockey Resource™. Confirm requirements with your Referee-in-Chief or assignor. Game rules, certification, reporting, and permitted procedures depend on the governing body and competition; the age of an official is separate from the age division of the Players.
For Canadian assignments, use the Hockey Canada officiating resources and your Member’s instructions. For USA Hockey assignments, consult the official rules and casebook. These resources support verification; THR lessons do not replace required training.
Continue with Eddie’s advice for new Hockey referees. Bring one question from this lesson to a qualified mentor and agree on one action for your next assignment.
DISAGREE WITH THE CALL. RESPECT THE PERSON.
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