2024/2025 WMHA & WMGHA Officials & Timekeepers Guidelines & Regulations
Expectations, Guidelines, Regulations, Bonuses and Penalties for Minor Hockey Officials & Timekeepers Assigned in Waterloo
General Behavior and Appearance
Officials
Officials shall arrive for their assignments dressed neatly, and be fit and able to work.
For ALL House League and Select level play, casual dress is permitted, but you may not wear ripped clothing, blue denim jeans, caps, club-wear, shorts, T-shirts, sandals, hoodies or any local minor hockey association attire. Acceptable clothing includes business casual (khakis / cords) or dress pants, shirts with collars, sweaters and over-coats. Shoes with laces must be tied.
For ALL Rep Level Hockey (BB and Higher) including exhibition, regular season, playoffs and tournaments, Officials are required to wear dress pants, a collared shirt and a tie, or turtleneck with or without a sport or dress jacket.
All officials shall behave professionally at all times when at the rink – before, during, and after their assignments.
Smoking or the consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs is not permitted in any arena facility.
Timekeepers
Timekeepers shall arrive for their assignments dressed neatly, and be fit and able to work. Casual dress is permitted for House League and Select level hockey, but you may not wear ripped clothing, blue denim jeans, caps, hoodies, club-wear, or any local minor hockey association attire. Acceptable clothing includes casual (khakis / cords) or dress pants, shirts with collars, sweaters and over-coats. Shoes with laces must be tied.
For ALL Rep Level Hockey (MD and Higher) including exhibition, regular season, playoffs and tournaments, Timekeepers are required to wear dress pants, a collared shirt and a tie, or turtleneck with or without a sport or dress jacket or overcoat.
For the duration of each game, the use of mp3 players, headphones, ear buds, cell phones, homework, and communicating with friends are prohibited. A parent of younger timekeepers will be permitted in the penalty box area. Full attention must be paid to the game. (You are being paid.)
Announcing during games
In all boys U16 AAA, U18 AA, and U18 AAA games, as well as girls U15 AA and U22 AA games, timekeepers will announce all goals, penalties, and the final minute of each period.
Suggested text to use:
Goals - (team) goal scored by number ___ (name of player), assisted by number ___ (name of player), and number ___ (name of player). Time of the goal: ____.
Penalties - (team) penalty to number ___ (name of player). ___ minutes for ___, (add more if necessary). Time of the penalty: ___.
Availability
All officials and timekeepers must make themselves available for assignment throughout the usual hockey season, including tryouts, exhibition games, tournaments, regular season, playoffs and play downs.
Officials and timekeepers should enter the dates and times when they are unavailable, into the assignment system as soon as they are known.
All officials and timekeepers must attend scheduled membership meetings during the usual hockey season (September to April) unless they are performing their refereeing or timekeeping duties on that given night.
Officials and timekeepers must notify the Referee in Chief or scheduler in writing within 24 hours of the monthly meeting if they are not available to attend.
Failure to attend monthly meetings could result in disciplinary action.
Timeliness
Missed Assignments
Missed assignments are costly, as they could cause a loss of sufficient time to play a full game, or even the cancellation and re-booking of a game (plus travel time for the visiting team).
An assignment, once posted and delivered, is the responsibility of the official. To avoid missing assignments, officials must regularly check their email and the assignment system.
Switching/Substitutions
ALL GAMES ONCE ASSIGNED ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFICIAL TO FIND A QUALIFIED REPLACEMENT.
Any substitutions of assignments must conform to the classification guidelines. A substitute official may not participate in a game for which he or she is not appropriately classified to officiate.
Each timekeeper and official is allowed one exemption per year. If you wish to use your exemption and return your assignment, you must contact the assignor within 24 hours of receiving your game assignment, and the game will be reassigned. This exemption can only be used once per year and cannot be extended under any circumstances.
NOTE: BOTH PARTIES MUST SUBMIT THEIR ARRANGEMENT IN WRITING TO THE ASSIGNOR, AND THE ASSIGNOR MUST ACCEPT THE ARRANGEMENT. WITHOUT THIS ACCEPTANCE, THE ORIGINAL OFFICIAL IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ASSIGNMENT
Incentives
Travel Fees
Except in the case of a switch, the Associations will pay officials and timekeepers for all single exhibition or regular season schedule games (a single game, defined as a game that is structured with period lengths of less than 10-15-15 minutes or 40 minutes of stop time) a surcharge equivalent to $10.00 per game official.
Short Notice Scheduling
Subject to the note below, WMHA and WGMHA will pay each official and timekeeper a surcharge of $10.00 per assignment for exhibition and regular season games scheduled with less than 72 hrs notice, except if the assignment is a result of a switch.
Short Notice Cancellation
Subject to the note below, WMHA and WGMHA will pay each official and timekeeper a surcharge of $5 per assignment when a regular season or exhibition game is cancelled by WMHA or WGMHA with more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours notice.
Late Cancellation
Subject to the note below, WMHA and WGMHA will pay each official and timekeeper the applicable game fees for the first assigned game for exhibition and regular season games and an additional $10.00 per game thereafter if the WMHA or WGMHA fails to notify the officials of a game cancellation(s) with notice of 24 hours or less.
Note: No cancellation surcharges or game fees will be paid for games cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of WMHA or WGMHA, including but not limited to weather or road conditions preventing safe travel, unsafe ice conditions, facility malfunctions, and other safety-related issues. Weather conditions include not only the weather in Waterloo, but also the weather or road conditions at the location(s) of the visiting team or along their travel route to Waterloo.
Parking Costs
WMHA and WGMHA will reimburse to officials and timekeepers for all parking charges incurred by assigned game officials, for games played during weekdays (the period defined as Monday to Friday) where such parking charges apply. (WMHA and WGMHA will not be liable for fines for traffic or parking violations incurred at any time.)
Fines and Suspensions
Dress Code Violations
First offence: $20 fine
Second offences: $30 fine
Third Offence: Immediate Two Week Suspension & Meeting with Discipline Committee
Late for Assignment
Arrival time at the referees’ room will be not less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the assignment.
You are considered late when you arrive less than 30 minutes prior to your assignment, without prior notification to your partner(s), and no call is made to the Emergency contact person to notify him / her that you have not arrived yet.
In order to avoid a ‘Late on the ice’ fine, if you know you will be a bit late (but still be on time to be on the ice), you should notify your partners as soon as possible but not less than 30 minutes prior to game time to inform them.
First offence: $15 fine
Second offence: $25 fine
Third offence: $40 fine and a one month suspension
Fourth offence: Immediate suspension for remainder of season
Late on the Ice – Referees
All officials must be available to begin their assignment at the scheduled start time.
You are considered Late on the Ice when you arrive on the ice after the start of the assigned game time, but there is no delay in the start of the game.
In order to avoid a ‘Missed Assignment’ fine, you must notify your partner(s) prior to game time to inform them of your status. If you do not call, Emergency Procedures will be invoked, and a replacement official will be arranged if possible.
First offence: $20 fine
Second offence: $30 fine, meet with Disciplinary committee
Third and subsequent offences: $30 fine and a one month suspension, meet with Disciplinary committee
Late for the game – Timekeepers
All timekeepers must be available to begin their assignment at the scheduled start time.
You are considered Late for the Game when you arrive after the start of the assigned game time, but there is no delay in the start of the game.
In order to avoid a ‘Missed Assignment’ fine, you must notify your partner(s) prior to game time to inform them of your status. If you do not call, Emergency Procedures will be invoked, and a replacement official will be arranged if possible.
First offence: $15 fine
Second offence: $25 fine plus meet with Disciplinary committee
Third and subsequent offences: $25 fine and a one month suspension, meet with Disciplinary committee
Missed Assignment – On-Ice Official
An assignment is considered missed when Emergency Procedures have been invoked, and a replacement has been called. The replacement official will be expected to take your whole shift, unless other arrangements are made between you and that official. The assignor must be notified of the arrangement in writing (by both parties).
First offence: $30 fine
Second offence: $50 fine + one-month suspension
Third and subsequent offences: $50 fine + indefinite suspension, pending a disciplinary hearing
Missed Assignment – Timekeeper
An assignment is considered missed when Emergency Procedures have been invoked, and a replacement has been called. The replacement timekeeper will be expected to take your whole shift, unless other arrangements are made between you and that timekeeper. The assignor must be notified of the arrangement in writing (by both parties).
First offence: $20 fine
Second offence: $30 fine + one-month suspension
Third and subsequent offences: $30 fine + indefinite suspension pending a disciplinary hearing
Late call for Emergency Procedures
Crews must call the emergency phone number with at least 25 minutes prior to an assignment if a crew member has not yet arrived.
First offence: $10 fine (per crew member)
Second offence: $20 fine
Third offence: $30 fine, plus on month suspension, plus meeting with Disciplinary Committee.
Chronic Fines or Suspensions
Any official of timekeeper being assessed fines or suspensions on multiple occasions may be subject to disciplinary hearing, and/or indefinite suspension.
Fees for failing to announce - Timekeepers (Only Applies in Games Listed Above)
First offence: $5 fine
Second offence: $10 fine
Third and subsequent offences: $15 and a one month suspension
Suspensions for on-ice performance
The suspension of officials for on-ice performance related issues will be the responsibility of the ALLIANCE or the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association. WMH/WMGH Officials and timekeepers may be suspended by the Officials Operating Committee or its successor for breaches of the policies outlined herein or for other behavior unbecoming an official or timekeeper. Notifications of suspensions will be in writing including email.
Grievance and Appeal:
Any official or timekeeper may appeal suspensions or fines over $20 to the Referee-in-Chief. Any appeal must be in writing (including email) and must be received by the Referee-in-Chief within 72 hours of the notification of the fine, penalty or suspension. A hearing before the Grievance and Appeal Sub-Committee shall be scheduled within seven (7) days of the receipt of the appeal notification and must take place within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of the appeal notification unless circumstances do not permit. The suspended official or timekeeper shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours notice of the hearing. The Grievance and Appeal Sub-Committee shall be comprised of three officials in good standing with the Alliance and shall include the Referee-in-Chief, the Assignor, and an Alliance Supervisor and/or any such other individuals as appointed by the Referee-in-Chief that he or she sees fit. A representative from the Board of Directors of Waterloo Minor Hockey or Waterloo Girls Minor Hockey will attend as part of the committee.
Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee shall consist of up to five officials in good standing with the Alliance, including the Referee-in-Chief, the Assignor, an Alliance Supervisor, and up to two senior officials at level 3 or higher, or other individuals appointed by the Referee-in-Chief as deemed appropriate. Additionally, the committee will include a representative from either Waterloo Minor Hockey or Waterloo Girls Minor Hockey, depending on where the offense occurred. Officials and timekeepers may be required to meet with the Discipline Committee for the infractions listed above or for other reasons the Committee deems necessary.