Joining MACHOA

Founded in February of 2004, MACHOA was created to manage officiating for the Atlantic Coast College Hockey League (ACCHL), Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC), as well as additional independent college ice hockey teams in Virginia, DC, and the Carolinas.

Our primary focus has been to improve the quality of officiating and referee training, as well as the level of college ice hockey in the region, and we hope you will view our mission and goals pages.

The ACHA seeks USA Hockey certified Level 3 and Level 4 referees.

MACHOA always seeks out new officials who are of great skating ability, excellent perception of the game, high confidence and leadership on and off the ice. If you are interested in joining MACHOA, please contact your local referee in charge.

BRHC Requirements

NO official who played within the past season (recent grad) on a BRHC team may officiate (with bands).

Any official who wants to officiate (with bands) who played on a BRHC team in the last three seasons (at least one year after playing their last BRHC game) must have the approval of the BRHC commissioner. This will be determined on a case by case basis.

If that official is granted approval by the commissioner, they will be placed on probation for their first season, and the commissioner may limit or remove them all together from officiating games within the BRHC.

After they complete their one year probation they are eligible to officiate any league game at the discretion of their RD.

All former BRHC players (regardless of the date of their last BRHC game) may line (no bands) BRHC games assuming they have a USA Hockey Level 2 certification and have successfully completed written tests for the ACHA and MACHOA. However, they too will be placed on a one year probation and the commissioner may limit or remove them all together from lining games within the BRHC.

Any official, who played on a BRHC team within the past three seasons, who may have already officiated prior to these rules, must re-apply to the commissioner prior to the start of this season.

Violations will be directed to the BRHC Board of Directors.