About

Welcome to the online home of the Capital District Ice Hockey Officials Association (CDIHOA).
[Updated: August 2023]

We aim to provide quality USA Hockey registered officials to youth and adult ice hockey programs in the Albany area. CDIHOA will supply qualified officials with the best support for every level of games. CDIHOA strives to continually improve each season. We try to develop our officials to give our customers the best game experience possible. In addition to the online resources on this site, CDIHOA holds monthly general membership meetings to provide training (rules, positioning, game management, etc), discuss general information, and cover any issues that may arise throughout the season. We invite you to explore our site and ask that you check back often for updates.

In July 2023, the CDIHOA Board approved a new rate table for the 2023-24 season. Here is a link to the new rates. These new rates will be effective August 15, 2023.  Please refer to the game fees section of CDIHOA.com for a detailed list of new rates.

Officials’ Seminar for the Capital District 2023-24 Season

  • Level 1
    • In-person Level 1 Saturday, 9/9 Frear Park 8:00 – 9:20 am classroom 9:30 – 10:50 on ice skate
    • In-person Level 1 Saturday, 10/22, in Glens Falls at COOL arena. 5:30 – 7:00 pm Classroom 7:00 – 8:00 pm Ice
  • Level 2/3/4
    • Thursday, 8/17/23, 5:30-9 pm at COOL Arena in Glens Falls. Levels 2, 3, 4. Make sure you sign up for your correct level! The level you want to be for this coming season is what you should sign up for.
    • Wednesday, 8/23/23, 5:30-9 pm at BAY in Delmar. Levels 2, 3, 4. Make sure you sign up for the correct level! The level you want to be for this coming season is what you should sign up for.
    • Saturday, 9/30/23, 8:00-11:30 am at BAY in Delmar. Levels 2, 3, 4Make sure you sign up for the correct level! The level you want to be for this coming season is what you should sign up for.

ANNUAL OFFICIATING MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

More information pertaining to these steps is posted below.

LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS:

LEVEL 2 REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must complete online Membership Registration
  • Must submit Registration Fee ($110.00 + applicable Affiliate Fee)
  • Must have been Level 1 or higher (Complete) within the last two seasons
  • Must attain an Open Book Exam score of 60/75 (or higher)
  • Must attend and complete a Level 2 Officiating Classroom Seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
  • Must complete Level 2 Online Education Module curriculum
  • Must complete SafeSport training (if 2005 Birth Year or older)
  • Must complete and maintain a USA Hockey-sanctioned criminal Background Screen if 18(+) years old on June 1, 2022.

LEVEL 3 REQUIREMENTS:  

​​​​​​​*Level 3 Tenured Officials must attain an Open Book Exam score of 45/50.

LEVEL 4 REQUIREMENTS: 

​​​​​​​*Level 4 Tenured Officials must attain an Open Book Exam score of 45/50.

AFFILIATED (NON-SKATING) MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must complete online Membership Registration
  • Must submit Registration Fee ($45.00)
  • Must complete SafeSport training (if 2005 Birth Year or older)
  • Must complete and maintain a USA Hockey-sanctioned criminal Background Screen if 18(+) years old on June 1, 2022.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
An official may not change their Registration Level to higher once online Membership Registration is completed.

“Complete” means that an official has met all the criteria (exams, seminars, online training, etc.) at the level for which he/she has applied.

“Incomplete” means that an official has filed an application but has not completed all the criteria to be “complete” at any level.

A new official (not registered the previous year) may not officiate until he/she is completely registered. A returning official (“complete” the previous season) may not officiate after November 30 of the current season (expiration date on the previous year’s card) unless he/she is completely registered for the current season.

To be eligible to officiate in any State, Regional, or National USA Hockey Championships, an official must be completely registered on or before December 31 of the current season. Only Level 4 officials will be eligible to referee National Championship games.

Open Book Playing Rules Exam

Each season all officials must complete an Open Book Playing Rules Exam.

Officials who do not receive the minimum passing score for their registration level will be given access to a Re-take Exam and a new answer sheet. An official is only allowed one Re-take Exam per year. The Re-take Exam is available after a seven-day waiting period (from submitting the first exam), and once available, this re-take must be completed within 30 days. In the event that an official fails the exam twice, he/she will become completely registered at the highest level for which the re-take exam score would qualify.

Classroom Seminar Attendance

Attendance at a sanctioned USA Hockey Officials Classroom Seminar is required for all applicants, regardless of level.

This seminar will generally consist of both a classroom and an ice session. However, some Level 3 and Level 4 seminars may only be classroom sessions.

Classroom sessions may be offered in an “in-person” or “online virtual” classroom (via Zoom Meetings). Please make sure you read the seminar schedule carefully regarding what type of seminar is being offered.

At the seminar, every official and instructor in attendance must “check-in” with the Seminar Coordinator to confirm attendance credit. The attendance form will be returned to the USA Hockey National Office for credit within 24 – 48 hours after the seminar’s conclusion.

NOTE: An official must not attend a seminar in their respective state or USA Hockey District. An official may attend any sanctioned seminar in any district and receive credit toward registration.

Level 4 Official applicants must attend a Level 4-specific seminar for proper credit.

Closed Book Playing Rule Exams

NEW FOR 2022-23 MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION: Closed Book Exams are no longer required for Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 officials.

Online Education Modules

All officials must complete online education regardless of level or experience.

Online Video Modules include course categories (Required, Positioning, Penalty Criteria, etc.). All course categories must be completed to finish online training.

All modules within the Required and Elective categories must be completed. The Elective categories contain a menu of “elective” modules, and an official must complete the required number of modules (e.g. 4 modules of 7 offered) within the category to complete the category.

The official will pass a short quiz at the end of each module to complete the module and continue with education. If the official does not pass the quiz, the module will reset, and the official must complete the module again.

Returning Level 3 and Level 4 officials may fast-forward through the Elective video modules to proceed directly to the quiz to complete the module. If they do not pass the quiz, they must complete the entire module again.

USA Hockey SafeSport Education Program

As part of USA Hockey’s continued effort to create a safe playing environment for all participants, those officials who are a 2005 Birth Year or older at the beginning of the registration season must complete the online U.S. Center for SafeSport education program.

The online program is free of charge and is hosted on the U.S. Center for SafeSport web platform.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN TRAINING

USA Hockey Background Screen

All officials 18(+) years old or older by June 1 of the current year must submit to a USA Hockey coordinated Criminal Background Screen. More information about screening can be found on this page.

Background screens are valid for two seasons; no background screen performed by an outside entity or governing body will be accepted.

Note:
There is a minimum age to start officiating.  USA Hockey has no minimum or maximum ages for officials. It is highly recommended that officials do not work games of their own age classification or higher, regardless of the level attained. Generally, officials can successfully officiate as young as age 10. However, some local areas have minimum age requirements due to their State’s specific Child Labor Laws. In this instance, you must contact the Local Supervisor of Officials for specific information. NYS Law requires all officials to be 14 before receiving the money to officiate any game.

Officials Seminar Schedule Find a Seminar | Register for USA Hockey | My Referee Status

CDIHOA Dues are due by November 30. CDIHOA cannot receive payments at USAH Seminars.

To register or continue as a CDIHOA Official

Please email webmaster@cdihoa.com the following:

  • Scan of your current USAH card and crest for the current season
  • Returning USAH Officials, $25.00 annual dues click here – btn_subscribeCC_LG
  • NEW USAH Officials $10.00 annual dues click here – btn_subscribeCC_LG
  • NEW USAH Officials, please submit a Webpage Submission Form

If you choose to pay via MAIL:
Please make checks made out to CDIHOA for $25.00 and mail them to:

CDIHOA
P.O. Box 415
Slingerlands, NY 12159

Your Horizon Account will be deactivated if CDIHOA does not receive your dues before November 30.  It will not be activated until you complete USAHockey registration, CDIHOA dues, and NYS Screen (if applicable).

Once you have taken your open-book exam, you can check on your Referee Status

Everyone is required to attend the entire seminar session to receive credit – if you can’t attend the entire session, you will not receive attendance credit.

Capital District Ice Hockey Officials Association (CDIHOA) is on Facebook