Initiatives

Try Referee for Free

In partnership with Blue Jackets Hockey League and the Mid-American District, USA Hockey offered a Try Referee for Free event at the OhioHealth Ice Haus in Columbus. During the hour long session, 18 participants from the local hockey community were able to hop on the ice and officiate a 12U game using the 4 official system, while being shadowed on the ice by Mid American district supervisors.

Special thanks to the Blue Jackets Hockey League and to the USA Hockey volunteers and staff members for making this event possible!

Green Arm Band Program

In order to address abuse against minor-age officials, the Mid-Am District has implemented a green armband initiative starting with the 2024-2025 season. The green armbands are to be worn by under 18 year old officials, and are meant to act as a deterrent to abuse and to foster a healthy hockey experience for these officials. The District is acquiring and distributing the green bands to local officiating associations so that they used by these officials.

The Mid-American District is the first USA Hockey district to implement this policy, which has been adopted by several provincial hockey organizations across Canada.

Abuse of minor-age officials has been an area of concern over the last several years. For all officials, the retention after 1 season is about 50%. For officials who stick around through 3 seasons, the retention rate raises to 90%. Many officials, youth and adult, who do not return cite abuse and spectator behavior as a driving factor in their decision.

In addition to this green armband initiative, the Mid-American District has also adopted a comprehensive spectator behavior policy that all affiliates (local hockey associations) must implement. The policy requires affiliates to develop and submit their spectator behavior policy to the District for approval, and for affiliates to report to the District the result of any disciplinary action taken in response to a spectator behavior complaint.