KHO FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will I get paid?

For college games, KHO intends to pay its officials in two installments -- December (for games thru November) and April (for the remainder of the games). Most college accounting departments generally do not make any payments until services are rendered -- plus processing time -- so it is difficult for KHO to receive payments from the schools in a fashion that allows us to make payouts to officials more often. Please understand that total payouts on college games are well into the six-figure range, but KHO will continue to explore ways to increase the number of payouts per year for college games, however.

For youth, amateur and scholastic games, invoices are sent at the end of each month to those clients for games within that month, and those clients then have 30 days to make payments. That already places a game skated early in a month about 60 days out from when payment is received. That is still more often than payments are processed by colleges, so KHO would like to add an October and February payment on those games. KHO cannot promise that timeline yet, as all of those client relationships are new. But KHO can make a good-faith effort to make payouts for youth/amateur/scholastic games at the first opportunity that presents itself financially.

How do I get more games?

KHO wants its officials to skate often, and our sport needs referees who skate often so that all games are filled with qualified officials. Officials who are not satisfied with their game counts often believe that external factors are their limitation, but in most instances, the official is unknowingly placing restrictions on himself/herself.

Being available is the biggest factor. Officials simply cannot be assigned to more games if they do not show as available often enough or at enough rinks. It is vital that officials maintain their Horizon availability calendar and rink blocks. Therein are several additional factors. An official who might appear to be available often might not actually match-up with suitable games. For example, an official who is listed as available from 8 to 10 PM cannot be assigned to either of a double set of games that start at 7 PM and end at 10:50 PM, as is a typical Varsity night. And an official who blocks rinks that host the most games (or blocks too many rinks, in general) will not be used as much. Those who provide flexibility for when and where they can skate will naturally get more games.
Being reliable is a key ingredient to this equation. Those who accept the game assignments given to them in the first place tend to get assigned again more often, whereas those who decline assignments cause the schedulers to pick someone else when assigning games. The same applies to turnbacks. Responding to assignments in a timely manner and, when able, responding to TBAs (see below for “What is a TBA and how do they benefit me?”) enhance the reliability of the official.
Performance on the ice always plays a part. Whether it is getting games in the first place, getting more games, or advancing to higher-level games, officials are assigned to do the job well. KHO does not owe games to anyone just for signing up; the KHO mission statement and purpose truly do symbolize what KHO stands to achieve. Each game deserves to have the best officials available assigned to it, so for an official to get more games, he/she has to be seen as someone who performs well on his/her assignments.
A desire for more quantity of games is often confused with a desire for higher quality of games. An official might state, “I want more games,” but in actuality, the official is looking to be moved up to the next level. See “How do I advance to higher games?” below for the answer to the latter. For the former, an official who truly just wants to skate more has to want to skate every level for which he/she is capable, from 10U on up. Skating more games at all levels is better for an official than one may realize; lower levels can be fun and rewarding while allowing an official to gain more confidence and experience, as well as providing an official with an opportunity to work on bad habits in a game that is otherwise very manageable for the official.

How do I advance to higher games?

KHO operates primarily under a merit-based assigning system. KHO wants its referees to advance their officiating careers and skate at higher levels, but KHO can only grant those opportunities to officials who have truly earned more opportunities. Many of the factors listed above for “How do I get more games?” also apply to getting better games; namely, being reliable and performing well at the current level. But to go farther, officials need to show they are capable and worthy.

Officials who consistently put forth the best possible effort, execution, and enthusiasm in each game assignment will get rewarded with better games. This includes knowing the rules, communicating well with partners and coaches, and working hard to make each game go smoothly. Games get more difficult at higher levels – speed, physicality, and complex situations all increase – so an official’s flaws are more likely to be exposed. Any deficiencies are minimized by officials who work hard, work smart, and work well as a teammate.
Experience matters. An official cannot be expected to excel at a higher level if he/she is not dominating at his/her current level, and often times, an aspiring official just needs to work more games at the current level to learn more. KHO does not believe that an official learns more by being “thrown into the fire,” and all games need officials who are comfortably in command on the ice.
Communication is essential. Officials who feel they have truly earned higher game assignments should be politely asking for those if they are not being given. Officials who want to advance but know they have some on-ice limitations should request an evaluation through KHO. Officials who seek better game assignments must always be learning by asking questions of experienced officials and game schedulers.
And of course, advancement is not a right granted to any official, regardless of any other factors. KHO has an obligation to more than just the official; it must be accountable to the game, to the teams, and to the other officials on the ice. Advancement absolutely must be obtained via merit. All officials cap-out at some level, and it does not benefit anyone to put an official on a game greater than he/she can handle. It may be difficult for an official to accept that he/she has reached that point. It is also difficult for some official to recognize that their own limitations are preventing their advancement, but one of the wonderful attributes of officiating is that those who recognize and correct their flaws will see an immediate benefit, even if that benefit is coming to the realization that he/she should be enjoying his/her current level as the maximum to one’s potential. But in most cases, a little more effort towards improvement will result in advancement, and KHO wants to assist all officials in achieving their goals.

What is a "TBA" and how do they benefit me?

A “TBA” is a feature in the Horizon Web Ref system. It is an enhanced way to find officials for any given game, though how it is applied can vary between officiating organizations. In KHO, a TBA most-often indicates that a looming game needs another official, sometimes as soon as the same day. For instance, if an official on a game gets injured in the morning and has a pair of games later in that same day, the scheduler will likely “TBA” the second pair of games in hopes that an available – and qualified – official responds quickly.

These situations present opportunities for officials in three forms. One, a qualified official who responds quickly presents himself/herself as reliable and as a good “team player” (as opposed to staying on the sidelines), particularly if the game is at a rink to where the official would not normally drive. Secondly, an official who wants more games can respond to TBAs to automatically skate more often. Third, it may present an opportunity for an official to break into the next level up. In a short-notice situation, KHO might not find someone who already skates at that level, but the scheduler would be willing to give an opportunity to someone who is nearing that level anyway.

It is important to note that responding to a TBA does not mean that the official will be placed on the game, even if his/her response comes in first. The scheduler will still use judgment on who responds to the TBA or responds to calls/texts/emails put out by the scheduler in an effort to find an official for the opening.

Can I decline or turnback a game assignment?

KHO allows for this to happen within the Horizon system because there are instances where it is necessary. However, there are more instances where it is not acceptable, and officials must recognize the negative effects of turnbacks/declines. Specifically, the KHO clients are not being served as best as possible when officials aptly assigned to games are not the officials who ultimately work those games. That has a direct impact on the amount of money that clients are willing to pay officials for games! These also have an adverse impact on your schedulers, who must do double-work to redo the coverage planned for games, and on your fellow officials, many of whom must pick up the burden of skating with a “lesser” official or skating extra games to fill the void. KHO does ask the official to enter a reason for the turnback/decline, which is done primarily to ensure that KHO is assigning games in the best possible manner. KHO does reserve the right to reduce or cease game assignments to officials who turnback and/or decline games for unnecessary reasons, at an abnormally high frequency, or any combination of the two.

What should I do when I cannot honor a game assignment?

The answer to this question is very simple: contact the scheduler immediately. This can be done via the turnback option in Horizon (see above for when this is acceptable) or via call/text/email. This should be done immediately upon recognizing that you cannot make your game; please do not wait. A phone call should be the first option when the game is within 24-36 hours, ensuring that the scheduler gets the most notice possible to make provisions. No official should be attempting to find a replacement, offering the assignment to other officials, nor waiting until an alternative option is found to inform the scheduler.

Can I turnback an assignment if I get a better assignment?

KHO wants its individual officials to be skating at the highest levels possible, so generally speaking, it is acceptable to turnback a KHO game for a game in a higher league. However, the definition of “better assignment” cannot be blurred to fit every circumstance. As an example, if an official is scheduled by KHO to skate 2 games at a rink 10 miles away, and then the official gets offered 3 similar games by XYZ organization to skate at a rink 5 miles away, KHO does not view that as a “better” assignment; it is simply a more convenient assignment. In the moment, it might feel disappointing to decline the more convenient assignment, but doing so ensures that the officiating community benefits from more stability and reliability among its ranks. That leads to more respect and certainly better pay in the long run.

The best way to handle any situation in which you may turnback a KHO assignment for what might be a higher-level game is to contact the scheduler of the KHO games to discuss the situation. In some instances, the scheduler may have another easy option to fill the game and can let you skate elsewhere, regardless of the comparison. Conversely, the scheduler may inform you that there is no one else remotely available to backfill the game, and you will quickly realize that your commitment to the game must be upheld.

Do I need a nameplate on my referee jersey?

KHO has no requirements for nameplates. KHO asks that the officials on each game match each other: all officials have a nameplate on their back or all officials have nothing on their back.

What crests to I need for my referee jersey?

All KHO games are sanctioned by USA Hockey, so a current USAH crest is acceptable for all games assigned by KHO. The ACHA does produce a crest, but it is not a requirement to use an ACHA crest on a collegiate game. It is only recommended that you obtain an ACHA crest to match your partners as you advance further into the collegiate level.

Does KHO have a dress code?

KHO expects its officials to look professional and presentable when arriving to and departing from the rink for every game. That is the standard, plain and simple. Appearances matter significantly in officiating, and “looking the part” goes a very long way in earning respect. Dressing down and having the teams make a poor judgment of you before even stepping on the ice is not worth the hassle. As a general rule, officials should dress at or greater than the level of the players and coaches for that game. It takes as much time to put on a decent pair of slacks as it does to put on old shorts. A black track suit is acceptable on nearly every KHO game, so comfort is not discarded entirely at your expense. Lastly, good appearances among the ranks produces benefits for all: a higher level of respect, a greater sense of professionalism, improved sense of camaraderie, and increased likelihood of pay increases.

Can I block rinks/leagues/teams/partners in Horizon?

In short form, yes… KHO allows its contracted officials to block any of these. Officials are absolutely expected to block rinks that are not near their home, and KHO schedulers always consider travel when assigning games. It is also incumbent upon officials to block leagues and, in particular, teams for which a conflict-of-interest exists. For example, if an official’s brother is the coach of Team A, the official should block Team A in the Horizon system.

Partner blocks are much more arbitrary and must be limited primarily to those situations in which a true conflict between partners means that it is best for all parties to keep those two officials from skating together; it is not a means to “pick your partners.”

In respect to all forms of blocks, those who have too many – or too impactful – blocks will ultimately receive far less game assignments overall, and KHO schedulers still withhold the ability to override a block in an attempt to fill a game. In most instances, the scheduler will contact the official before overriding a block, but for officials who have unreasonable blocks, silently overriding a block is often a soft signal that your ability to receive games is being hampered.

When does a conflict-of-interest truly exist for a game?

It is well known that hockey is a relatively small, tight-knit community. As such, it is virtually impossible for officials who skate a lot of games and/or have been involved in the game for several years to avoid every possible conflict that could be detected. Many leagues have rules to provide some guidance, and these generally point to “first-degree relationships” as to where the line is drawn: spouses/partners, parents, kids, siblings, co-workers, supervisors, etc. Similarly, an official should not skate a game if he/she works for -- or coaches – for the school/organization that oversees the team. This extends to officiating games in the same division of a team in which you have a conflict, even if that specific team is not playing in the game. In some instances, playing within the same organization as a team in the game is a disqualifier, which usually applies when the organization is smaller. As a general rule, if you feel like skating a game could put you in a bad spot or could put someone else in a bad spot, consider that a conflict of interest. It is virtually impossible for KHO to track the possible conflict for each and every official, so the onus is on the official to use proper discretion. Always err on the side of caution, as appearances matter a lot when it comes to our impartiality and integrity. There are more than enough games available for officials; eliminating the few that could damage your reputation is worth the trade-off.

Does KHO report my earnings to the IRS?

KHO is required by law to report the earnings to the IRS of any contracted official who has been paid more than $600 in the calendar year. This does not make any earnings of less than $600 in a calendar year tax-exempt; it is the responsibility of all citizens to report all earnings to the IRS. Tracking mileage and any other applicable deductions for IRS filing purposes is solely the responsibility of each official.