Saskatchewan Ball Hockey League
Potential Officiating Team 2026

1. This is a Flexible Part-Time job for individuals that are at least 12 years old and up. 

• We want our officials to be at least 2 years older than the level of hockey they will be officiating. 

2. All officials are required to be certified/recertified each and every year. This year we will be offering online/virtual clinics. 

• The registration fee is $50 (17 years of age or under) or $60 (18 years of age or older). This fee will be deducted from the official's first paycheck. 
• We are always working on offering more instruction for our new/less experienced officials in an on-floor environment – we are looking into the possibility of hosting 1 in-person clinic, and more details will be provided as they become available. 

3. Individuals are required to run AND keep up with the game play.  This isn't a request; it is a REQUIREMENT. 

    Individuals are required to be... 

• reliable 
• punctual 
• willing to learn 
• professional 
• work hard in every game regardless of the level - with effort, hustle and wanting to be better 
• dedicated 

4. Equipment that you will need (if you want to purchase them early): 

• ACME Thunderer Whistle (goes ON your fingers, NOT on a string and NOT held in your hand) 
• Black pair of shorts (option to purchase CBHA issued shorts) 
• Black pair of socks 
• Decent pair of running shoes (non-marking soles) 
• ALL officials are required to wear a CSA approved hockey helmet (preferably BLACK in color) 
• If you are under the age of 18, you MUST wear a CSA approved hockey helmet WITH a CSA approved ½ visor. 

As for the jersey... 

• IF you already have an ice hockey referee jersey, that will work but you will probably find it will be warm running around in it, so we have the correct short sleeve jerseys available. The cost for the jersey is $50. If purchased this will be deducted from the official's first paycheck. The correct referee jerseys are ONLY available through our association – please complete order form that will be provided in future communications. 

Note:  some sports stores do give discounts on referee items, so it doesn't hurt to ask IF there is a discount for hockey referees. 

5. The spring season for all locations will start around the middle of April and will wrap up near the end of June. Saskatoon has leagues that run year round.

• Game days are different within each site around the province. The reason for this is because of the number of teams registered versus the facility floor time we're able to secure/book. Safe to say right now games "could" be anywhere from Sunday thru Thursday (Fridays/Saturdays are a possibility) while generally staying away from holidays. 
• Game start times could also differ from each site, especially on the weekends. During the week, normally, game times are anywhere from 5 pm to 11:30 pm - with the younger divisions playing earlier of course. 

6. Game assigning will be coordinated by each site's assignor. The assignor will be identified to each site's certified officials prior to the start of the season. They will send you a procedure on how they want your availability for the upcoming assignment period and when they need it. It will take them between 2-4 days to get it assigned and then communicate the assignments to the officials. Assignments will be completed using the Arbiter Sports platform. 

7. Number of game assignments is all dependent on the number of officials that are registered for each site and how those individuals are pooled/designated to certain divisions of games. The pooling is initially done by age and officiating experience and is "tweaked" along the way as the season goes as we get feedback about the officiating from League Coordinators and designated Officiating Supervisors. Game assignments are also based on officials' availability, the number of games assigned, may differ between officials if your availability is limited. 

• Just to expand a little more on the availability and assigning part: 
  • Games are assigned based on the availability submitted by officials, so if you can work 2 nights a week you will get games those nights if games are available - officials who are available more days will get more games. Certain age groups play on certain days so if you are 12 years old and only available the days that U13 & U15 play for example you will not get games. The more availability you can have open the easier it is to assign you games but at the same time flexible for people doing other activities and your availability can be different every week. 

8. Pay Rate - we pay officials between $17.50 and up per game (regardless of the level of the game you are doing). 

• Your pay rate will be based upon your age, experience, effort, your ability, being professional, being willing to learn, rule knowledge, reliability, dedication, etc... 
• Pay Rate increases will be revisited once a year before the Spring league. 

9. Payments - totals for each site are compiled at the completion of the month and then submitted to the league's accountant for payroll approval. It is a time-consuming process - confirming everyone's game counts, figuring out deductions for registration, uniforms, etc...  WE do not have an exact date for a pay day.  All ball hockey organizing is done in addition to our other full-time jobs; we get it done as quickly as possible. We will strive to get payments sent out by the 10th of the following month via e-transfer. Each official will be required to have their OWN email address for e-transfers. 

• E.g.; if you officiate games in May, you will be paid by June 10th for those May games 

10. The league does reserve the right to terminate an individual's involvement with our officiating group if we find that the individual is NOT meeting our expectations (as stated above). 

Thank you for expressing interest in officiating in the Saskatchewan Ball Hockey League.