Officiating
Hockey games need to be run with fairness and safety at the top of mind. Hockey Officials (referees and linespeople) are in charge of ensuring games are fun, fair, and most of all are safe!
The position of BC Hockey Official offers valuable experience in leadership, authority, and teamwork. It is a really great first job that can be continued later into life as a rewarding way to give back to minor hockey, while getting paid to exercise.
Returning Officials
Please note that all officials must re-certify every year. For example, if you certify as a BC Hockey Official in the fall of 2024, then you are certified to referee or line games for the whole 2024/25 season (September 2024 - April 2025) and your certification will expire on December 31, 2025. In order to be an official for the entire next 2025/26 season, you must re-certify in the fall of 2025.
If you worked the previous season, you are considered a returning official and must register for a returning official clinic with BC Hockey. The clinics will be posted on the BC Hockey website as they become available. If you will be 15 years or younger as of December 31, you should register in a level 1 returning clinic and if you are 16 years or older as of December 31, you should register in a level 2 returning clinic. Visit the BC Hockey's Officials page to access information regarding certification clinics. There are dates at nearby locations, but these often fill up quickly, so register early!
If you are turning 18 or older this year, you MUST complete a Criminal Record Check (CRC) prior to registering for a clinic. If you have not completed a CRC the system will not let you register for any clinics. You can complete your check on the BC Hockey Criminal Record Check webpage. CRC is valid for 3 years and must be renewed upon expiry which is July 31 of the 3rd year. As a volunteer with BC Hockey, this submission is FREE of charge when using the link provided by BC Hockey (specified on their website). Understand that there is still an administrative time period necessary to process your CRC, so take that into account when submitting your request and do not wait until the last minute. It is advised that you make your online CRC request at least 1 month in advance of the start of the clinic you wish to register for. Your completed CRC will automatically be sent to BC Hockey by the Ministry of Justice and will be updated on your HCR profile. Every official over the age of 18 must have a current CRC on record.
If you are an official that has not certified for a number of years and are unable to register for a clinic, you will have to contact BC Hockey. You may be required to take the new officials clinic and the required module.
If you have questions, please contact referees@lgiha.com for help.
Becoming a New LGIHA Official
If you want to become a new official with LGIHA, please email our Referee-in-Chief at referees@lgiha.com to apply.
New officials must complete an online module with Hockey Canada via BC Hockey. You must create an e-learning account (if you don't already have one) and complete the required online module. This module can take up to 3 hours to complete. The e-learning module must be completed before the system will allow you to be registered for a New Official Certification Clinic. Once completed, please email an update to referees@lgiha.com, who will help you find a New Official Certification Clinic to attend. Upon completing the clinic, you will then attend mandatory training sessions and do an actual game situation before being promoted to officiate games.
New officials start officiating games at the novice (U9) level and will be advanced to higher levels as they develop the necessary skills. There is no guarantee about the number of games you will get your first year, but depending on your availability and the number of new officials in the program, we try to get you as many games as possible.