I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but kept putting it
aside.  For the past two years, I've been the head of officials for the
RPI intramural ice hockey program.  Here at RPI, we currently have 5
levels of hockey: A, B, C (all checking), C-non and D (non-checking).
"A" league is comparable to JV hockey, and is quite a challenge to ref.
"D" league are people who can barely skate, but want to play hockey anyway.
 
Each team pays about $450 for the season, and must have a team jersey, with
unique numbers on the back.  The referees that I hire are all students, as
I am myself.  (In fact, our entire intramural program is run by students).
Referees are required to buy the official jersey, whistle, and black pants.
Helmets are not required, but strongly recommended.  All referees make
$5.00 a game, where a game is exactly an hour.  Our games are scheduled
late at nite, from 10pm to 2am.  We have 45 teams and 15 officials.
I hold a meeting at the beginning of the season with all the officials,
and I'm responsible for training in new ones.  We usually have 2 referees
at each game, but for the A league games, we go all the way with the
3-man system (one ref, two linesmen).  It looks very professional.  In
fact, we've had some of our "3-man" games videotaped, and it really
looks like an ECAC game.
 
Now, I'd like to find out how intramural ice hockey programs are run at
other colleges, especially with regards to officiating.  I've been told
that Yale hires outside refs, and pays them $18 a game.  I've also been
told that our "student" ref staff here at RPI is fantastic, and I myself
can say that some guys on the staff are officiating much better than some
AHAUS refs that I've seen (I've refereed some AHAUS and NIHOA during the
summer and over Christmas break.)  Some of the refs complain about making
only $5/game, and when I hear about Yale, I can see why.
 
So let's hear it...  I'd like as many responses as possible.  If anyone on
this list is also directly involved with your college's ice hockey intramural
program, that would be a plus.
 
Comment on the size of the program, number of officials, requirements for
both players and officials, cost to play, referee salaries, etc.  I really
appreciate any info you can give.  Thanks.
 
    Kenny
 
---
Kenny Zalewski -- Head Referee, RPI Intramural Ice Hockey Program
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 65 13th Street, 1st floor, Troy, NY, 12180
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