The first step is to contact your local association Referee-in-Chief and let them know you are interested - note however that there is no intake for new referees in 2017 (no Level 1 clinics are being offered in Ottawa this fall).

Ref in Chief for GCRA:  Travis Smith (email) 

• You must apply to the ref-in- chief during August, as the level 1 clinic is usually held in September. The Ottawa area only holds one level 1 (or less) clinic a year, so spots are limited. You must apply to the ref-in- chief, and they will let you know if you have been accepted to the clinic.
• From there, you will need to register for the clinic, by making a profile with Ringette Canada at the link below .

The Level 1 officiating clinic is designed to educate the new official in the basic techniques of officiating. The clinic material is covered in approximately six (6) hours, plus one (1) hour of ice time to test attendees on the required skating skills.

The topics covered include:

• Qualification and pre-game duties
• Positioning and on-ice mechanics
• Violations and rules
• Body contact principles
• Signals
• Skating skills assessment

The clinic is wrapped up with a Level 1 quiz, with a 50% pass required to certify.

Ringette Canada crests, rulebooks, casebooks and other helpful material canbe purchased at the  clinic.  

Required items include skates, black CSA certified helmet, whistle, black pants and an officials jersey. 

When you complete the clinic it is up to you to contact your local Referee-in-Chief, complete a registration form and get on the ice.