Banter between rival sides is as much a part of hockey as the ice itself. But it’s the biggest team that takes the bulk of all scrutiny—the officials.

Much like the players we watch on the ice, referees clock-in a serious amount of time to their job. Climbing the ranks is no easy task as a combination of skating ability, intuition, knowledge of the game and discretion are all needed simultaneously. Whether you are a level-I or level-IV, officials are told to work as many games as possible because repetition is the key to consistency.

The message is the same at the annual WSHL California Officials Camp. One of five camps held, the California camp is the largest bringing in roughly 80 to 120 officials with various levels of experience. The main objective at the camp is to foster the right philosophy that will guide you from your first stretch of games to your last...

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