Officials Development Program
For questions or additional information, contact:
Officials Development Coordinator
Development opportunities are available for male and female officials throughout Alberta between the ages of 18 and 30. As part of the program an emphasis is placed on the development and identification of Alberta’s best officials in order to create opportunities for them to represent Alberta at future officiating events.
The Hockey Alberta Officiating Development Program has the following objectives:
1) Identify, develop and promote the provinces top officiating prospects by fostering a culture of excellence, accountability and continuous growth.
2) Serve the game of hockey by raising the standard of officiating across the province through clear standards, purposeful development, and a commitment to excellence.
3) Develop quality individuals by cultivating leadership abilities, integrity and personal growth beyond the rink.
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The following events are a part of the Hockey Alberta Officiating Development Program:
Officials Summer School (Non-compulsory)
This two-day development clinic is designed for officials working at the U15 AA level and preparing to enter the elite hockey stream. The program introduces participants to the expectations of high-performance officiating and aims to ignite a passion for continual dedication to the craft.
The clinic features two on-ice sessions, classroom presentations on fitness and nutrition, and instruction from experienced officials with backgrounds in the AHL, WHL, and AJHL. Attendance at an Officials Summer School clinic will count as your required clinic for the following season.
Applications for the next Officials Summer School will open in May 2026.
Showcase Events
Hockey Albertas U15AAA Male, U17AAA Male, U18AAA Male and U18AAA Female showcases are used as identification and development events for officials across the province. These events are meant to provide officials with high level supervision and serve as an evaluation point for an official’s current ability and future potential.
Regional Development Camps
Held annually in March, Hockey Alberta’s three Regional Development Camps bring together 36–48 of the province’s top up-and-coming officials. The camps feature a mix of games, peer supervisions, on-ice testing and an SRD Rules Exam. These camps are designed to challenge officials, reinforce key standards and support their progression through the elite development pathway.
Alberta Cup (Male) and Alberta Challenge (Female)
Held each April in conjunction with the selection process for Team Alberta’s U16 Male and Female programs, the Alberta Cup and Alberta Challenge are prestigious five-day tournaments for the 24-32 officials that are selected to attend. These events not only allow officials to compete alongside their peers but also to grow as a cohesive officiating team. Throughout the tournament officials will take part in on-ice and off-ice testing, as well as receive high-level supervision and mentorship from officiating coaches with experience in the AHL, WHL, and Hockey Canada programs.
Provincial Development Camp
Held each July in conjunction with Team Alberta’s U16 Male Development Camp, the Provincial Development Camp is Hockey Alberta’s premier officiating development event. This five-day camp brings together 16 of the top officials from across the province for an intensive, high-performance experience.
Led by a dedicated team of experienced instructors and guest speakers, the camp covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: skating, fitness, technical skills, communication, judgement and mental performance. The camp also serves to highlight opportunities within officiating and provide a better understanding of the life and commitments of an official working Junior hockey and beyond.
Officials should come prepared for a tightly scheduled week that includes on-ice testing, off-ice fitness assessments, classroom sessions and the SRD Rules Exam. Successful completion of the camp will result in a level upgrade to MHP (Member High Performance)
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Selections and Applications
Selections for the above events are determined by the Provincial Development Coordinator with input from the Provincial Officiating Committee, the six Regional Coordinators and other officiating coaches and leaders throughout the province.
Below is the application form for officials who wish to express their interest in the Development Program. This process helps ensure that all qualified officials across Alberta are considered for upcoming opportunities. It should be noted however that submitting an application does not guarantee selection for an event.
Please only submit the application one time, there is no need to submit a new application each year. Prior to submitting the application officials should be working U15AAA hockey or above.
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These are just a few of the many development opportunities available throughout the season. Opportunities also exist during tournaments, showcases and provincial championships to name a few. To find out what local development opportunities may be available in your region, please reach out to your regional officials committee for guidance. Contact information can be found here.
