Development - Female Officials

Hockey Alberta is focused on the development of Female Officials. Regional female development coordinators are in place, along with a provincial female development coordinator to focus on training, recruitment, and retention. Hockey Alberta also offers female-only certification clinics to assist in recruiting female officials.

Female officials interested in progressing to higher levels of officiating have a number of development opportunities including: Regional Female Development Camps, Provincial Female Development Camp, and travel opportunities at the U13, U15, and U18 levels. Female officials are also encouraged to apply for and participate in all Officiating development opportunities, such as the John Reid U15 AAA Tournament, the Mac’s U18 AAA Tournament, Alberta Cup, and summer Development Camp.

The growth of female hockey is a great opportunity for officials to gain valuable experience as well as the potential to represent Alberta or Canada at national or international level events. The Female Officials Development Program includes and supports female hockey and female officials at all levels. The goals and guiding principles of this program are:

  1. Develop female officials of all ages across the province through mentorship, supervision and providing opportunities for continued growth through a graduated development process, while supporting sustainability and a culture of giving back.

  2. Build capacity throughout the program to ensure that female officials capably work games at the highest levels.

  3. Identify female officials for zone and provincial tournaments, specialty exhibition games, development camps, and national and international assignments.

  4. Share knowledge and build female development capacity with rural minor hockey programs to assist in the development of all officials in these areas.

  5. Develop a program that provides support, establishment of expectations, a sense of belonging, fun, physical fitness and empowerment to become effective leaders, while providing quality officiating to the game.

The Female Development Camp is held in conjunction with the Hockey Alberta Elite Female Development Program in Camrose in July. Female officials ranging in age from 18 to 35 years are eligible to apply for this camp, with 8-10 officials selected annually to participate in the camp. 

Officials applying should be just starting to work Female U18 AAA hockey, or working at that level for 1-2 years. Officials who have been working college or university hockey (or equivalent) for more than two years would typically be excluded. Exceptions approved by selection process committee.

Officials attend classroom sessions and write a State Referees Decision exam. Officials also participate in on-ice testing and are supervised in games throughout the camp. Officials are evaluated on all aspects of the camp including on and off-ice testing, attitude, and participation.

Officials who excel at the Female Official Development Camp will accelerate their officiating career and may be eligible to participate in the Hockey Alberta Official Development Camp.