Reston Raiders Referees
Interested in Officiating?
If you are interested in becoming a referee for Raider House League games, please read the info below and make sure you are eligible to join our referee pool before you take the steps to get USAH certified.
Raiders House Referee Pool Eligibility for 2025-26 Season
Player Status with Raiders
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 birth years: Must be a registered player in Raiders Travel or House Program for 2025-26 season.
2007 and older: Open to all USAH certified officials, Raiders or not.
2015 and younger: Not eligible for the ref pool.
Proficient skater * Arrive early (20 min) to game assignments * Keep work commitments
Steps for Becoming an 2025-26 Official
NEW FOR THIS SEASON
All Coaches & Youth Players who wish to become or renew their Referee Certifications, will need to Register or Log-In into the New USA Hockey Learning Center in order to see their Officiating Certifications & register for Referee Training. Access the USA Hockey Learning Center by the clicking the link below:
COACHES - you should already have your access and would need to log-in to the Learning Center and then Click the "Officials" tab to access the Officials section of the Learning Center.
YOUTH PLAYERS - you will need to click this link: USA HOCKEY LEARNING CENTER and follow the instruction on that page to create your USA Hockey Learning Center account and log-in to the Learning Center. From there, you would click the "Officials" tab and you will be able to view the Seminar Schedule and sign up for a seminar.
AFTER CREATING YOUR ACCOUNT IN THE USA HOCKEY LEARNING CENTER
New Officials: All persons who have never registered with USA Hockey as an ice hockey game official must register at Level 1 for the first season. All registration requirements must be completed, and you must have your USA Hockey Referee Card and Sweater Crest in hand before accepting any game assignments.
Returning officials: Because your 2024-25 USAH certification expires November 30, 2025, you can ref games at the start of the season. But if you want to continue reffing games for the rest of the 2025-26 season, you must complete ALL steps below no later than December 31, 2025
PLEASE PLAN AHEAD
Register with USA Hockey as an OFFICIAL (every year)
USAH Officiating Registration is Now Open
Register as an official (not a player or coach) - you get a different number for USAH officiating registration.
Pay the annual USA Hockey officiating registration fee (varies by level)
You must be registered with USA Hockey before you can do anything else toward becoming an official. Registration ends after November 20, 2025.
Once you are registered, you will receive an email giving you information (including your USAH Officiating Number) relating to completing your Classroom Seminar; and a copy of the Official Rules & Casebook of Ice Hockey (new officials and Rule Change Seasons only) within a week along with some additional information to help you along with the registration process.
Complete Online Education Video Modules
All officials must complete online education module training.
The modules include both written and video content on various topics including player safety, body contact, positioning, and mechanics.
The modules can be found in the USA Hockey Learning Center.
Watch and complete the required online training modules for your level
Attend a Classroom Seminar (Virtual or In-Person)
Sign up for a virtual or in-person seminar through your local district (between June and early November)
This is mandatory, even for Level 1 (To find seminar schedules, go to the USA Hockey Learning Center at the Officials section of USAHockey.com)
If you have problems registering for a seminar online (this may happen with refs under 13 years old), click the “CONTACT INSTRUCTOR” button on the USAH Seminar Catalog page.
Complete the Playing Rule Exercise
Each official must complete a membership level specific playing rule exercise.
These exercises require the official to answer questions based on the current written playing rules using their rulebook.
Once the official answers enough questions correctly, the exercise is complete.
Receive Your Crest & Card
Once all requirements are completed, USA Hockey will mail you your official patch and your certification card.
Register with the League where you want to Officiate
If you want to referee Raiders House Games:
When are a USAH-Certified Official with your card/crest in-hand or on its way, join our referee pool by registering as an Official with the Reston Raiders.
You will receive emails about upcoming games from our referee scheduler, Ken Kerrigan, or our Referee Program Administrator, Jay Yoo.
It may take some time before you get a game – please be patient.
You may referee only House games that are below your level. So if you are a 12U player, then you will be reffing only 10U and games.
Most youth referees choose to ref within the Raiders House League.
If you want to referee travel games (must be 14 or older)
Travel game officiating is done through Southeastern Hockey Officials Association (SHOA).
SHOA is entirely separate from Raiders.
Each rink has a referee scheduler.
Attend the Raiders Watch From the Stands Review in Fall
Required for:
All new referees
All returning referees who did not attend last season.
All returning referees who attended last season but officiated 5 or less games year.
Optional for referees who attended last year if there is space available.
Watch from the Stands is when you learn from senior officials as you watch a game with them and listen to their commentary about the referees on the ice during the game. They will share observations about positioning, skating, judgment and rule knowledge. They will be available to answer your questions and provide a lot of insight into the job of youth hockey officiating.
2025-26 Watch from Stands Reviews:
Sunday, October 5, 2025 Olympic Rink - 11:30 am - Raiders 12U Blue vs Montgomery
Sunday, October 19, 2025 Olympic Rink - 11:20 am - Raiders 14U White vs Chevy Chase
November 8, 2025 - Olympic Rink - 11:30 am - Raiders Girls 12U vs St James
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REFS 2008 AND OLDER
Required annually for officials who are a 2008 birth year or older
This online based program trains coaches, officials, and key volunteers in detecting and preventing detrimental behavior (hazing, abuse, etc.) off the playing surface.
All officials who are 18(+) years-old or older by May 1 of the current year, must submit to a USA Hockey coordinated criminal background Screen.
Required every 2 years
Must be done through USA Hockey’s official background screening provider. The self-registration ID number (35615801) will auto-populate.