2007 Certification Letter

Incident Report Form

Official Notes & Reminders

Certification - The OBHA Officials Certification Program will see all officials attend an officials clinic unless they have already been certified at minimum as a Level II ice hockey official that year. All ice hockey officials will be grandfathered in the official’s fraternity based on years of experience. All Minor officials under the age of eighteen and new adult officials must attend a full day clinic.

Carding System – We are also introducing the ‘new’ carding system to better allow us to track officials more effectively with respect to registration, certification, games officiated and supervised. Officials will be required to carry and show their OBHA card at all times when officiating in OBHA sanctioned events.

Uniforms - The official’s uniforms again will see a slight change as the Canadian Ball Hockey Association logo will adorn the left chest on all official’s uniforms. Next year the entire country will adopt Ontario’s program into the National Certification Program.

It’s that time of year again. Coaches and teams race to practice after work readying themselves for the summer season. Its that time of year, spring is in the air and so is Ball Hockey.

It is also time for officials to begin working on their skills and working on game management. It is the officials objective to call a game in a way that allows the teams to decide the outcome through intense action and determination. The people in stripes don’t control the game, rather they keep the teams under control, which can be difficult in the heat of emotions.

Game management is essential in all games. The teams set the tone very early in a game and they must decide whether they want to play hockey or become barbaric. The aim of the officials is to lead the teams into a fast and exhilarating pace involving clean and breathtaking play at both ends of the floor. Body contact and stick work that threaten the safety of players will not be tolerated and will be penalized early in the game to send a message and avoid future problems.

After establishing the desired atmosphere, officials will take one of two routes depending on how the game is evolving. Different approaches are taken when the game is one sided than when the game is close. In order to keep the game under control, common sense is used to guide game management. If a team has no chance at winning or keeping the game within reach, they will show their frustration by taking unnecessary penalties. On the other hand, if a game is close, the last thing an official wants to do is influence the outcome by making a team shorthanded. Unless the infraction threatens the safety of players, or impedes a scoring opportunity, the official will allow the teams to battle hard until the end of the game.

Game management is essential to keeping the game under control, to provide a safe atmosphere. All things considered when game management skills are applied and the officiating is consistent; and the players are competing through fast, intense, and exciting ball hockey the sport is better for it.