Dear USA Hockey Official,

Congratulations on another successful season.

First, if you're a new Level 1 official completing your first year. We want to encourage you to come back next season. We understand that there are many challenges facing new officials. From the education process, to getting through those first few games. Hopefully you received some degree of mentorship that assisted you along the way. With that said, our research has supported the fact that those officials that reach Year 3 in their career stick with officiating for a long time. Therefore, consider this your invitation to stick with your local team of officials and continue to serve the game and support your local hockey community. We want you back!

For all of our returning officials, we wanted to share some updates regarding the 2025-26 Membership Registration process. As promised during Summer 2024, this season will feature the launch of the new online USA Hockey Learning Center. We took a brief hiatus from online education requirements last year, but the Online Education Modules and new Playing Rule Exercises (replacing the Open Book Exam) have now returned, bringing our education program back to the world-leading product our membership deserves.

Please note, the USA Hockey Learning Center will replace the old USA Hockey Courses system that supported online classroom seminar registration and checking your membership registration progress. Accessing the system will require USA Hockey "Single Sign-on" (SSO) credentials which will be provided to you through direct email either prior or following the 2025-26 Membership application process. Once you receive these SSO credentials, we strongly encourage you to record this information in your rulebook.

Speaking of which, this season begins a new four-year playing rule cycle. Which means all officials will receive a new rulebook within 5 - 10 business days of submitting your 2025-26 Membership application. A PDF copy of the 2025-29 Playing Rules and supporting Rule Change Summary document can be downloaded at USAHockey.com, and a new USA Hockey Rulebook mobile application is in early development with expected launch by August 2025. Please note, the 2025-29 Playing Rules do not take effect until August 1, 2025.

Lastly, access to the USA Hockey Game Reporting system will work through your USA Hockey Single Sign-on credentials using a link that will be placed in the drop-down menu under the Officials tab at USAHockey.com once the USA Hockey Courses system is shut down.

We wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable off-season and look forward to your return starting May 2025. And thank you for your dedication to USA Hockey.

Sincerely,

Officiating Section RIC's and National Office Staff

USA Hockey