Become an Official
Are you looking for a flexible way for your skater to earn great money, get extra ice time, and take their hockey IQ to the next level?
The CCJHA is always looking for youth players (ages 11 and up) to become certified USA Hockey Officials. Officiating is one of the best ways for players to stay involved in the game they love while gaining incredible real-world skills.
Why become a referee?
- Great Pay & Flexible Hours: Earn excellent hourly rates on a schedule that works completely around your own team's practices and games.
- Improve as a Player: Master the rulebook, sharpen your skating endurance, and drastically boost your hockey IQ on the ice.
- Build Lifelong Skills: Learn conflict resolution, decisiveness, and how to communicate confidently with adults and peers under pressure.
Who is eligible?
Any player 11 years old or older can register. No prior officiating experience is required—USA Hockey provides full training, and our association will mentor them every step of the way.
Note: In accordance with Michigan law, all minor officials will be fully supported with youth work permits and adult rink supervision to ensure a safe, legal, and positive working environment.
Requirements
All officials must register with USA Hockey for 2026-2027 and attend and complete the requirements to certify as an on-ice official.
A USAH official's membership is valid through November 30 of the following season (e.g., a 2025-2026 membership is valid through November 30, 2026). If a returning referee does not complete their current season membership prior to November 30, their membership expires and they become ineligible to work USA Hockey sanctioned games until they complete their current season membership registration.
USA Hockey requires you to register for a 2026-2027 Officiating Membership by October 31, 2026. You then have until December 31, 2026, to obtain your credentials. USA Hockey wil not process any Official membership registrations after October 31, 2026.
What kind of equipment will I need?
There are a few things that you need, and while there is an initial cost, you can often find secondhand gear on resale sites or in local marketplaces. A referee needs:
- Referee sweater
- Black pants - must not have team logos, e.g., CCJHA, other teams/schools
- Black helmet with visor
- Neck laceration protection (required for officials under the age of 18; optional for 18+)
- Whistle
- Other equipment as specified in the USA Hockey Officiating Handbook
How to become a USA Hockey Official and work with the CCJHA
Step One - Register with USA Hockey
Register with USA Hockey as an official for the 2026-2027 season.
Step Two - Complete USA Hockey certification
You will complete all of the certification requirements for your Officiating Level in the USA Hockey Learning Center (requires creating an account). This information will be emailed to you with a confirmation of your successful registration.
Step Three (18 years old and up)
If you will turn 18 years old during the season for which you are registering, you will also need to complete USA Hockey Safesport Training.
If you are 18 years old or older, you must complete a USA Hockey background screen along with the SafeSport Training. The online program is free of charge and is hosted on the U.S. Center for SafeSport web platform.
Step Three (Ages 11 to 17)
USA Hockey Ice Officials are independent contractors, and CCJHA treats them as such. All Officials under the age of 18 must obtain a work permit. Under the Michigan Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA), all minors under the age of 18 are treated as employees for labor compliance purposes, regardless of whether they are classified as independent contractors, volunteers, or part-time staff.
Youth Employment Permit Portal (YEPP)
As of October 2, 2026, youth work permits are not processed by public schools. You must use the Youth Employment Permit Portal (YEPP) to obtain your work permit. The link to the portal is below:
Step four - Register with CCJHA
When all of the activities in the USA Hockey Learning Center have been completed, USA Hockey will mail you your Officials Card and Sweater Crest.
The next step is to register with the CCJHA so that we know you would like to be an official.
Please do not register with us until you have your card and crest for the upcoming season. If you registered with us last year, we already have those credentials. You can only register once.
If you did not work with us last year and have credentials that are valid until November 30, you can use this registration to send those to us. Please follow that registration with an email to the Scheduler.
Step Five - Assignr
After CCJHA registration, you will receive an invitation from Assignr, our game scheduling system. This is what the CCJHA uses to assign referees to games. You will also get paid from Assignr every two weeks for games worked.
Within Assignr, all officials must complete an W-9 form and enter direct deposit banking information for payments. We do not issue paper checks.
You are responsible for updating your availability within Assignr. This is the only way we know if you are available for a game.
For more information
We're here to answer your questions about scheduling, registration, and more.