Mentorship Program

DBOA started the Mentorship Program several years ago when we noticed the number of applicants applying to be a referee were greatly out numbering the available spots. This allows us to find officials who we feel will progress quicker than just any new applicant.

When a first-year official, or a transferring official with less than three years’ experience, is accepted into our District, they are immediately entered into our Mentorship Program. They are part of this program for their first three years of being an official, as it helps develop them to move forward to be a successful official for as long as this path takes them.

While the below are guidelines, depending on factors including age and skating ability, some officials may get moved through this process quicker. Here is what to expect in your first three years:

Year 1:

• You will be expected to attend on-ice session(s) run by DBOA officials working on things such as skating, positioning, rules, and procedures.
• Your first several games are done with an on-ice buddy working with you to ensure your positioning and procedures are good. This buddy will not call anything for you but just be there as support.
• You can also expect to be “coached” several times in your first year, where a senior official watches the game and provides you with verbal and written feedback after the game on how to improve your work as an official.
• Up until Christmas most of your games will be in the 2-Official system.  As the season progresses, you will begin to work as a linesperson or referee in the 3-Official system.
• Expect to do only U9 (Half Ice), U11 and U13 hockey in your first year unless you are excelling in the role.
• You will be required to participate in our Quiz program where you must do 4 online quizzes a year to work on rules knowledge.

Year 2:

• There may be another on-ice session showing you the finer points of the 3-Official system.
• Expect to work mostly U13 and U15 hockey and to start working games for younger Competitive league.  Depending on your age you may also work U18 House League hockey as well.
• You will continue doing more and more 3-Official games both as a linesperson and a referee.
• You will continue to review your game performance with a coach several times over the season.
• You will continue with the Quiz program where you must do 4 quizzes a year to work on rules knowledge.

Year 3:

• Expect to start doing mostly U15, U18 and higher hockey, including more competitive league games which may now include bodychecking.
• You will now be expected to pay back into the program and help first-year officials.
• Off-ice coaching will continue, but less frequently than during your first two years.
• Continue participating in the Quiz program to work on your rule’s knowledge.

 

The Mentorship Program is built on all our officials giving back to our association. The “Mentors” are all experienced officials who want to give back and help the newer officials to reach their full potential. The program is ever growing, and we will add items as we see needed to help build officials.