WEST SUBURBAN OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

WEST SUBURBAN OFFICIALS ASSOCATION (WSOA) WAS CREATED IN 2006 TO IMPROVE THE OFFICIATING IN DISTRICT 5 OF MINNESOTA HOCKEY, THEREFORE IMPROVING THE GAME OF YOUTH HOCKEY IN DISTRICT 5 OF MINNESOTA HOCKEY. THIS ORGANIZATION BENEFITS MANY YOUTH PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS. WSOA PARTICIPATION HAS INCREASED EACH SEASON: OUR FIRST YEAR WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 150 OFFICIALS ON OUR ROSTER AND THIS SEASON WE HAD OVER 280 OFFICIALS ON OUR ROSTER. THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS OF OFFICIALS RECOGNIZED BY USA HOCKEY: LEVEL ONE IS THE LOWEST, OR ENTRY LEVEL, AND LEVEL FOUR IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL ATTAINABLE. USA HOCKEY TRACKS THE NUMBER OF OFFICIALS THAT REGISTER EACH SEASON, AGAINST THE NUMBER OF RETURNING OFFICIALS FROM THE PREVIOUS SEASON. TRADITIONALLY USA HOCKEY HAS 50% RETENTION OF THEIR OFFICIALS AT LEVELS ONE AND TWO. WSOA RETAIN APPROXIMATELY 90% OF LEVEL ONE OFFICIALS AS THEY TRANSITION TO LEVEL TWO. YOUTH HOCKEY BENEFITS BECAUSE IMPROVED OFFICIATING MAKES THE GAME MORE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. PLAYERS ARE ABLE TO SKATE MORE FREELY, ARE GIVEN MORE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PASSING PLAYS AND ARE ALSO ABLE TO STICKHANDLE. PROPERLY TRAINED OFFICIALS PROVIDE A SAFE PLAY ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH. DISTRICT 5 OF MINNESOTA HOCKEY HAD ABOUT 2,800 PARTICIPANTS DURING THE 2023-2024 SEASON. EVERYONE OF THESE YOUTH BENEFITS FROM HAVING THE WSOA OFFICIALS ON THE ICE. ALL OFFICIALS WHO REGISTER WITH USA HOCKEY ATTEND A SEMINAR, ARE TESTED, AND MUST ALSO COMPLETE AN OPEN BOOK FINAL TEST BY NOVEMBER 30TH EACH SEASON, TO BECOME FULLY CERTIFIED. WSOA HOLDS TWO TRAINING SESSIONS FOR OUR YOUNG OFFICIALS CONSISTING OF A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR IN THE CLASSROOM AND ONE HOUR IN A CONTROLLED SCRIMMAGE WITH EXPERIENCED OFFICIALS TEACHING THE YOUNG OFFICIALS BOTH ON AND OFF THE ICE. THIS YEAR OUR CLINIC WAS ON OCTOBER 29, 2023. WSOA ALSO HAS A MENTORING PROGRAM. EACH YOUNG OFFICIAL REFEREES HIS/HER FIRST FEW GAMES WITH AN EXPERIENCED OFFICIAL AS A SHADOW ON THE ICE. THIS EXPERIENCED OFFICIAL DOES NOT CALL THE GAME FOR THE YOUNG OFFICIAL, BUT SIMPLY LENDS ASSISTANCE AS THE YOUNG OFFICIAL GAINS CONFIDENCE REFEREEING A GAME. THIS IS A VERY HELPFUL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO USE IN THE FUTURE. WSOA CONTINUES WITH THE TRAINING THROUGH THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF EACH OFFICIAL'S CAREER, PARTNERING EXPERIENCED OFFICIALS WITH THE YOUNG OFFICIALS. WSOA HAS ADVANCED MANY OFFICIALS TO WORK IN THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE, AND A FEW HAVE ADVANCED INTO DIVISION III AND DIVISION I COLLEGE HOCKEY. EACH OF THE OFFICIALS BENEFIT FROM SKILLS THEY MAY USE AS A PART TIME OR, IN SOME RARE CASES, A FULL TIME CAREER.