USA Hockey, the governing body for amateur hockey in the United States, sponsors eleven advanced educational seminars as part of USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program (ODP). Three of the seminars are for promising women’s officials while the others are geared for officials working men’s hockey. Attendance at the advanced seminars is by invitation as while any USA Hockey registered official can apply to attend, the various advanced seminars are limited to about 25 participants who show high potential.
The most recent men’s seminar, held in the Atlanta metro area in late July, featured three days of a mixture of classroom and on-ice instructions including very intensive skating sessions, instruction on positioning, mechanics, rule changes and interpretations plus the coverage of the points of emphasis for the 2009-10 season.
The Atlanta seminar also doubled as the pre-season camp for many of the officials who will work in the Southern Professional Hockey League next fall. Jim Combs, the SPHL’s Commissioner who was at one time an on-ice official who worked games in the ECHL and AHL, was present for the session and provided an overview of the SPHL, his expectations for officials and the league’s upcoming season.
Applicants interested in attending one of the advanced camps apply by submitting an application package including a resume of their officiating experience, career goals and interests. Matt Leaf, USA Hockey’s Director of Officiating Programs, with input from the District Referees-in-Chief and others collectively make decisions on who attends these camps.
The three day schedule at the Marietta Ice Center was fast paced and featured a blend of on-ice and off-ice instruction. The on-ice portions of the session were led by Mark Faucette a former National Hockey League referee who spent 17 years in the league and Brian Pancich, a current ODP participant and linesman who has worked the last five Calder Cup finals in the American Hockey League.
The on-ice sessions at the Marietta Ice Center were not for the faint of heart or those who aren’t in shape. The watch word is don’t apply for and come to one of the advanced camps if you aren’t in shape and can’t skate well.
The off-ice class sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas, hear interpretations and get answers about rules and mechanics. The discussion of the issues resulted in spirited discussions around various video scenarios that came from actual game footage. Humor and the personal experiences of the instruction staff were used to educate, inform and entertain.
There are four levels of certification for USA Hockey officials. Level 1 is for newer or first time registrants and Level 4 is for officials who demonstrate the required knowledge of rules and skating skill to attain the highest certification. The testing requirements vary depending on the desired registration level.
Scott Brand, who is the overall ODP Program Coordinator and assigns officials for various leagues including the SPHL, United States Hockey League and the North American Hockey League and Chris Allman, who handles assignments for the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League which cover several east coast junior leagues, were on hand to help instruct and evaluate the potential of the participants as well as discover “new talent.”
Both Brand and Allman have extensive on-ice experience in professional and Tier One Junior Hockey. The “Met”, as the AMHL is known, is often used as the starting point for younger officials who then may progress to the NAHL and USHL as part of their ODP development. Generally, after two or three years in the USHL, those who remain in the program advance to the SPHL or other pro leagues for their first pro experience.
Other ODP program supervisors were also present to help evaluate and provide feedback to the attendees throughout the camp. Each attendee was provided the opportunity for an exit interview and counseling session. These discussions include the assessment of strengths and weaknesses and recommendations on how to improve as an official.
The various camps are used to educate and train participants and identify promising officials early in their careers who have the potential and desire to work international, college and professional hockey. Those who standout at the various camps and are interested may be invited to become participants in the ODP. In turn, their development is tracked closely by the ODP staff and they are given game experience, supervision, training and development to help with their advancement. The ODP supplies the experience and opportunity while the officials must supply the desire and personal commitment. Most officials spend two to three years in the program before moving up or transitioning out of the program.
Jim Dewhirst, USA Hockey’s Southeast District Referee-in Chief, introduced PHN to Ryan Ferer, 23, of the Atlanta area who is representative of the attendees. Ferer, in his senior year at Kennesaw State studying business management and hopes to work as a pro official in the future.
“ I started refereeing at age 11, took some time off to play on a midget level travel team and then started to focus on officiating again to stay involved in the sport,” Ferer said. “Once I graduate from college and with the exposure at USA Hockey seminars, inclusion in the ODP and gaining additional experience, I can eventually work games in professional hockey. ”
Chicago native Dave LaBuda, USA Hockey’s National Referee-in-Chief and part of this seminar’s cadre of instructors, outlined the organization’s approach to the development of on-ice officials.
“ We use a team approach to help develop stronger grass roots officials through our network of District Referees-in-Chief,” he said. “USA Hockey is pleased with our working arrangements with the various junior leagues, college leagues, the Southern Professional Hockey League, the ECHL, the Central Hockey League and the National Hockey League. These working relationships provide extraordinary development opportunities for our ODP officials who aspire to move up the officiating ladder.”
Most recently, former ODP participants Chris Ciamaga and David Banfield worked their first NHL games, joining former “ODP graduates” Ian Walsh and Chris Rooney on the NHL staff. A host of ODP officials including Kevin Graber, Paul Carnathan and Scott Bokal have worked both professional games and at the highest levels of international competition. Other program participants now populate the officiating staffs of the various Division One College conferences.
To date, the ODP has helped over 300 officials advance to working games in the various professional and college leagues across North America.
Note: Scott Brand is the son of PHN writer Phil Brand.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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