Annual Report
2024-2025 District Referee-In-Chief Annual Report
Mid-Am District Final Referee Registration numbers for 2024-25:
- 2,279 Total registrations
- 2,015 Complete (88%)
Total registrations increased 37, the number Complete (eligible to skate games) increased 218. These are the highest numbers ever for the District, in line with the increased numbers nationally. 48% are at Level 1, down from 51% last year and we did have a net gain of 150 in the Level 3-4 group, which are the most experienced officials.
The higher completion rate can be attributed to the new Learning Management System being under construction, so the module and open book test requirements were suspended for last season. The new LMS is running very smoothly so far on the Officiating side.
Registration by Level
| Level | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate | 5 | (-1) |
| Level 1 | 1,092 | (-56) |
| Level 2 | 353 | (+12) |
| Level 3 | 390 | (-34) |
| Level 4 | 439 | (+116) |
Registration by State
| State | Count | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 350 | (+44) |
| Kentucky | 91 | (+6) |
| Ohio | 929 | (-16) |
| Pennsylvania | 836 | (+13) |
| West Virginia | 73 | (-10) |
Seminars – Mid-Am District Seminar Staff conducted a total of 54 referee seminars this past season. We successfully conducted our first 2025-26 Level 1 seminar using the new LMS on June 24. Anticipating approximately hosting 51 virtual seminars for this season.
Officiating Events – We teamed with the NAHL for an exposure camp in Columbus in April for our experienced officials looking to move to higher levels of hockey. We are also teaming up again with the Atlantic District to conduct a referee camp in conjunction with the Keystone State Games in July at Penn State University.
Mid-Am Officials selected for 2025 National Championships and Summer Camps:
Forty-five (45) Mid-Am officials skated in the USAH National Championships, at six different tournaments. We have 9 Mid-Am officials attending various USAH National Summer Development Camps.
Respectfully submitted, Jim Weaver
2024-2025 District Referee-In-Chief Mid-Season Report
Registration – Total referee registrations stand at 2,276, an increase of 98 from this time last year. Referee registration for the 2024-25 season closed on October 31, so that is our final number. Our registered Complete officials, eligible to skate USAH games at this time, stands at 1,807, an increase of 395 from this time last year. This large increase is partly attributable to not being able to conduct the open book rules exam and the modules requirement due to issues with Courses that should be rectified under the new platform for 2025-26. Referees have until December 31 to complete all requirements for the 2024-25 season, or they will have to wait until April 1 to apply for the 2025-26 season.
Referee certifications carried over from the 2023-24 season expired November 30.
Historical Registration by State
| State | 24-25 | 23-24 | 22-23 | 21-22 | 20-21 | 19-20 | 18-19 | 17-18 | 16-17 | 15-16 | 14-15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN | 350 | 296 | 306 | 236 | 230 | 301 | 309 | 289 | 280 | 300 | 295 |
| KY | 92 | 85 | 89 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 70 | 81 | 64 | 73 |
| OH | 928 | 910 | 796 | 581 | 648 | 640 | 635 | 692 | 623 | 635 | 707 |
| PA | 836 | 805 | 715 | 566 | 567 | 569 | 593 | 605 | 578 | 559 | 572 |
| WV | 70 | 82 | 74 | 66 | 72 | 69 | 53 | 58 | 85 | 61 | 57 |
| TOTAL | 2,277 | 2,178 | 1,980 | 1,545 | 1,661 | 1,647 | 1,660 | 1,714 | 1,647 | 1,619 | 1,704 |
Seminars – USAH seminars for all Levels were conducted virtually via Zoom this season. Level 1 seminars were 6 hours in length, most were conducted as two 3 hours sessions on consecutive evenings. Levels 2,3 & 4 were 3 hours.
A Sub-Committee/Task Force consisting of Referees-In-Chief, and District Seminar Coordinators developed the PowerPoint presentation decks for all four Levels, that were used at every USAH seminar conducted this season. Every official received the same, consistent curriculum and presentations regardless of the seminar Host District.
We have conducted 36 virtual seminars to date in Mid-AM starting in July though December. There will be no seminars conducted after the December 31 cutoff.
Camps – Again this summer we conducted a referee seminar/camp at the PA Keystone State Games in conjunction with the Atlantic District. This has become an annual event and will continue. We are now able to open it up for more officials from out of PA
We also conducted a referee camp in conjunction with NAHL in Columbus, where Mid-Am officials were given preference in the selection process for attendance. We are currently in the planning stages