Referee Program
The Referee Development Program is designed to establish a sustainable system for the education, certification and development of ice hockey officials in Qatar.
Current Development
The Growing Need
Referee development is an essential part of the long-term growth of ice hockey in Qatar. As the number of youth, women’s and men’s competitions increases, there is a growing need for qualified and certified officials.
Strategic Priority
One of the current priorities is to increase the number of trained officials and reduce reliance on a limited number of experienced referees.
Key Areas
Recruitment of new referee candidates
Basic hockey rules education
Practical on-ice training
Development of game-management skills
Teamwork and communication within the officiating crew
Continuing education for existing officials
Preparation for certification
Regular practical experience during national competitions
Volunteer Development
The programme also focuses on volunteers and members of the hockey community who can receive structured training and gradually progress into official officiating roles.
A clear pathway — Volunteer → Trainee Official → Certified Referee — will help expand the officiating base and provide more qualified officials for national competitions.
Officiating Pathway Progression
Volunteer
Community members & hockey enthusiasts
Trainee Official
Rules education & practical on-ice training
Certified Referee
Accredited national competition official
International Development
Future development includes cooperation with international specialists, implementation of IIHF standards, educational seminars, practical on-ice sessions and preparation of local officials for international certification.