“All the women and men – supervisors and mentors that have helped you – but specifically the women that have come before you,” said Hanley. The NFL has been around for 95 years, and only hiring one full-time female ref this season. The Mississippi native’s officiating career began in 2007 as a high school football referee. Times have changed, however, and so has the attitude towards female athletics and the idea of female officials in the major league. By reaching out to a number of former players in the U.S., Cooke played an important role in this year’s exposure combine class having a record 11 women attend. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Female on-ice officials are coming to the NHL, it’s not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when”. While we haven’t yet seen the first female referee in the NHL, it seems increasingly likely that we may see the glass ceiling broken in the near future, and there are many reasons to be optimistic and hockey becomes an ever more inclusive sport. The 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition in St. Louis in January was the first to host an all-women’s event. Many said trying to beat out 50,000-plus men's officials for spots in the minor leagues and the NHL just isn't practical. Toronto native and rookie linesman Kirsten Welsh is a perfect example of the kind of new candidate the combine is hoping to bring in: recently retired college players, strong skaters, and people with a passion for the game. No female officials in the NFL (though apparently Sarah Thomas looks to break that trend), MLB or NHL. For centuries, women have fought an uphill battle for equality in most aspects of life. It’s now been such a successful transition to a point where it is normal to have female referees! “They’re out there on that ice with you. The NBA has had six female full-time officials, starting with the historic hiring of Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner in 1997. Sandra Hunt, Nancy Lay and Kari Seitz worked as center referees in MLS roughly two decades ago. Once that happens, it could open up a myriad of opportunities for other women who have dreamt of getting on the ice in a professional game. I’m just enjoying every opportunity…. Now, women have the chance to prove themselves in the highest levels of female competitive leagues, and that may open the door for officiating in men’s professional leagues in the future. The number of female referees in English football has increased by 72% since 2016, the Football Association has revealed. October 27, 2017. She’s currently on the men’s and women’s Div. There has literally been ZERO discussion of female officials in the NHL. In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs basketball team brought on former WNBA star Becky Hammon as … Thirteen of the 31 referees in the WNBA are women. Tennis This is an average payment of $1,402 to 2,682 per game. All rights reserved. For centuries, women have fought an uphill battle for equality in most aspects of life. The first female NBA referees PHOTO: Chuck Solomon/Getty Images In 1997, Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner became the first women to serve as referees in the NBA. Hanley said she’s in the gym five to six days a week during the off-season and on the ice as much as possible year-round to continually work on her skating and endurance. There are still people that hold these views, but they seem to be getting pushed to the side in favor of progress, fairness, and equality. Sarah Thomas will be one of nine rookie NFL officials in 2015. Current NHLOA Staff The NHLOA currently consists of 34 full time referees and 34 full time linesmen. In NA's four major leagues, there's one female official (Violet Palmer in the NBA). Simon, the founder of Brave Stick Hockey, started playing hockey in 2003. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an administrative role rather than an enforcement role. Because people are more likely to advocate for equality these days, we’ve seen female referees climbing the ranks throughout female hockey leagues. First published on … Look around the major North American leagues, and you’ll see women beginning to break into the big leagues in officiating roles. Statista. This may not seem like much, but these are positions that, despite being in female leagues, were usually filled by men in the past. As more women start officiating junior leagues, women’s leagues, and professional minor leagues, we are seeing the push towards the first female referee in the NHL. Referees have come under heavy scrutiny during the 2021 playoffs for controversial call/no-calls on pass interference and hits to the head. While they never really get to play “home games” per se, NHL refs are required to live within one-hour commuting distance to an NHL city of the employer’s choosing – in this case, Anaheim. How many nhl referees was on the ice in 1970? The combine targets primarily former players, partly because officiating is an excellent way for them to stay in the game, and partly because of the rigorous physical demands for on-ice officials. “We need great people and athletes from the game to get into officiating and our goal is to deepen the pool of aspiring young officials, both men and women,” Walkom said via email. Complete 2020 NFL roster of officials. NFL Experience (including 2020) 122. The rise in popularity of female hockey leagues, as well as their increased amount of media coverage, may be another factor that contributes to an eventual female NHL official. Cooke played two seasons with the CWHL and one with the NWHL, and now works as a lawyer and also serves as the director of the player-safety committee for the NWHL. In 2015, she became the first full-time female referee in the NFL. McDaniels’ retirement from refereeing left it looking bleak for the future of female referees, as we didn’t see a female official in a men’s professional game until 2014, when Katie Guay and Erin Blair both officiated a game in the SPHL. Ask just about any referee, and they’ll tell you the same thing: The best games are the ones in which the officials go unnoticed. The MLB is close, with umpire Jen Pawol becoming the first female to work a spring training game in 2018. news Four women officials to work games at NHL prospect tournaments Guay, Cooke, Welsh, Hanley come from group of 30 who attended Exposure Combine However, it was not an NHL game. Despite a shortage of female referees, women have made significant progress in the world of men’s soccer in recent years. Below are the officials for the 2020-21 NHL season. Yes, that is a female hockey league, but it is the largest number of female referees that has ever been seen in one season for any league. Kelly is brilliant and dedicated — a role model for all of us. via: theaustralian.com.au. “I think the question is, you know, when will it happen in the NHL?” said Guay. Play Off / Super Bowl Fees: Play Off or Super Bowl matches are a superb occasion for the NFL referees to earn bigger. The rookie referees who are generally at entry level gets $800 for operating a NFL match. September’s milestone with the NHL opened up a whole other world of possibilities to Guay, her peers, and many others. Please contact us. While Nicole Kirnan didn’t make it into the elite ranks of the NHL, she did manage to … Thomas didn’t feel like she had room for advancement in the role. She remembers exactly when she learned she would become the first female official in NFL history. The NBA has had several female referees over the years, and the NFL – long seen as the most “macho” and man-centric of the big four sports, introduced its first female referee in 2015. Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke were selected as referees… As the road to Isobel continues, I want to salute Kelly Cooke: Cup-winner with the Pride, pioneering ref in the @NHL, Director of Player Safety in the @NWHL. Which NHL referees do the NHL players rank highest? The female referees are paid 1.5 thousand USD per game. Umpire Pam Postema was the first woman to call a Major League Baseball spring training game back in 2000, and while there are a few other women coming down the prospect pipeline, the league has yet to bring in a female umpire for a regular-season game. The NHLOA (National Hockey League Officials’ Association), was born in 1969 out of a need to improve working conditions, salaries and other benefits for officials of the National Hockey League. You can change your selections at any time. From one lady raising to the top, to two introducing the 2012 World Championships to today where … You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. So that was a lot of fun,” said Guay, whose 14 years as a referee at various levels has seen her travel the globe to work various world championships. The work isn’t limited to the rink, either. For women like Kelly Cooke – who actually started officiating in recreational leagues as a 12-year-old and continued through her playing days in high school and collegiate career at Princeton – the combine is an opportunity to test skills and perhaps reach the next step in pursuing more officiating opportunities in the pros. Chasing Her Dreams Kendall Hanley became one of the first four female referees in NHL preseason tournament history when she officiated the 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament in … So far information leaked in year 2014 by sports magazine. On-ice … For referees like Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke, and linesmen Kendall Hanley and Kirsten Welsh, a little time in the spotlight can go a long way. For people to see the amount of opportunities that are out there, I think will encourage more former players to consider it…. “As an official, you’ve gotta have that explosivity, but at the same time you’ve also got to have stamina.”. “No matter who it is that’s going to break that barrier, I think we’re all going to be there watching and supporting that person. Now each of them is in a unique position to be able to influence many others. NHL referees make a lot more, $165,000 and $360,000 per year but have to put many years of work just for a small chance to get to that level of play. “To have four of us do the rookie tournaments is a huge step in having a female have the opportunity to do a regular-season [NHL] game,” said Guay. "Number of qualified female football referees in selected national associations in Europe in 2017, by country." The NHL for the first time selected four female officials to work on the ice at prospect tournaments held this weekend. First published on September 28, 2020 / 10:38 AM pic.twitter.com/eLOiGxwsBb, — Dani Rylan (@DaniRylan) November 22, 2019. You can change your selection at any time. NCAA referee Katie Guay recently officiated a men’s Division I game in the Beanpot between Harvard and Boston College, paving the way for a discussion about female referees in pro hockey. Here’s the 12 hottest female referees on the planet. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. NFL Officials: Preparing for Success Every week, officials take the field ready to put months of preparation, training and hard work on display, knowing that the whole world — and the Officiating Department — is watching. Director of officiating Stephen Walkom and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman have emphasized the need to expand the league’s officiating prospect pool and eventually break the gender barrier, and bringing in more women to the combine is a strong first step. The expectation is that you’re an athlete, and obviously the other aspects of officiating: knowledge of the game and feel for the game,” said linesman Kendall Hanley, who’s currently based in Minneapolis but got her first taste of officiating while in Texas. Q&A: Kayla Alexander on Olympic qualifying, writing her children's book, %2Fhockey%2Fnhl%2Ffemale-officials-katie-guay-kelly-cooke%2F, When submitting content, please abide by our, Canucks' Eriksson, Senators' Anisimov placed on waivers, Analyzing how Maple Leafs, Canadiens have risen to top of North Division, Maple leafs' Travis Dermott to return from leg injury vs. Canadiens, A history of the Maple Leafs-Canadiens rivalry, 31 Thoughts: What Hextall, Burke hirings say about the Penguins, Looking back on Ron Hextall's most notable moves as Flyers GM, Canadiens, Leafs ready to bring long overdue fireworks back to rivalry, Report: Patrik Laine's benching followed comment towards a coach, {* backButton *} Friday’s NHL Referees and Linesmen for the lone game in the National Hockey League: Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks – January 29, 2021 Read More Today’s NHL Referees and Linesmen – 1/28/21 Recently VAR technology introduced in the Premier League and become quite controversial after few goals rejected with the help of VAR technology. While nobody can predict the future, recent trends suggest that things are looking up for the possibility of a female referee in the NHL. McDaniel reffed games in the Central and West Coast hockey leagues. How many female NBA referees are there? The NHLOA (National Hockey League Officials’ Association), was born in 1969 out of a need to improve working conditions, salaries and other benefits for officials of the National Hockey League. Now, this isn’t to say that some women aren’t just as qualified as some of their male counterparts, it’s just to say that this topic hasn’t really ever been Brough up before today. The Australian was the first female to officiate the A-League series in 2015. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. In ice hockey, an official is responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining order. We wouldn’t have these opportunities without them.”. Referee Katie Guay watches a Boston College line change during an NCAA college hockey game. AP Photo/Stephen Brashear NFL match umpire salary ($5,000) made him highest paid among all other match officials during the game. She was originally assigned officiating uniform number 153, but currently Thomas is a down judge with the NFL officiating uniform number 53, worn in past seasons by umpire Garth DeFelice, line judge Bill … Many of our younger referees have adopted the hashtag #GirlsThatRef to share their experiences on a weekend and seeing their pride in being a referee is something I find so inspiring. The first came after the 2004-05 lockout. About. Referees are identified by their red or orange armbands. College. While there are still many barriers to be toppled, we have seen much progress in recent history, and the trends seem to favorable moving into the future. It may not happen in the immediate future, but maybe one day all of this progress will lead to us seeing the first all-female officiating crew at an NHL game. No female officials in the NFL (though apparently Sarah Thomas looks to break that trend), MLB or NHL. Any individual is fully capable of learning the NHL rulebook, but not everyone is able to be a referee. Navigation. Friday’s NHL Referees and Linesmen for the lone game in the National Hockey League: Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks – January 29, 2021 Read More Today’s NHL Referees and Linesmen – 1/28/21 “Whether it’s through our NHL Exposure Combine or the NHL Rookie tournaments we look to provide opportunities for officials to elevate their performance outside of their regular leagues. Thereof, how many female NFL referees are there? The league’s commissioner wants 50% of NBA referees to be women, and a similar increase in coaches. However, in 1994, NHL officials returned to wearing solely numbers on their shirts, a procedure adopted by other sports leagues. In 2018, she achieved her goal of working an Olympic women’s tournament when she was among those sent to PyeongChang. Top 15 Female Authorities in Professional Sports When it comes to professional men’s sports, you’ll see a lot of female fans in the stands, but not many of them on the field making the calls. It’s been a blast, for sure.”. From getting back to the ice, to spending much of their time alone in their hotel rooms, NHL referees are adjusting to life in a bubble. Sarah Thomas is one of the best paid women referee in NFL. 2 Qualification. Terms of Service. The NHL hasn’t had a female referee in its nearly 104 year history, though they did bring on 4 female officials in 2019 for NHL-affiliated events. Walkom, a former NHL official himself, has led two big recruiting efforts for officials in his time with the league. While Sarah Thomas is the FIRST official, full-time female ref for the NFL this year. Why, exactly? Natalie Sago and Ashley Moyer-Gleich joined during the last NBA season; Jenna Schroeder came on board this year. TSN … There are now 2,146 women refereeing across all levels of the sport. In the 2015-2016 season, 23 of 36 regular season NWHL games had a female referee. Although hockey seems to have fallen behind the NFL and NBA in this regard, things actually started to look like they were moving forward in the 1990s. There is one female NFL referee, Sarah Thomas. I circuit, officiating ECAC games around her home base in the Boston area. The average pay for a referee is between $115,000 to $255,000 each year. In ice hockey, an official is responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining order. “Katie Guay, Kelly Cooke, Kendall Hanley and Kirsten Welsh have all proven themselves on the ice and we hope they inspire other women to follow in their footsteps.”. Today, however, girls and women alike are joining competitive hockey leagues at a record pace, and they are being accepted into the hockey culture like never before. In 2019, Thomas was the first female official to work in NFL postseason history. Who is the NFL's female referee? Players in the NHL and in other male professional sports leagues don’t hold the same antiquated beliefs about sex and gender as many of their predecessors from generations past. Click to see full answer. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Premier league referees salaries increment and earn (£38,000 – £40,000) in a year. AP Photo/Stephen Brashear "That call came Thursday, April 2 at 10:47 a.m.," said the 41-year-old Thomas. “So I think it’s just a matter of the first female having the experience and proving the ability to compete at that level.”. Currently, there are 70 full-time referees in the NBA, four of whom are women. “It’s super important to be an athlete these days with how fast the game has evolved. Copyright © 2021 HockeySkillsTraining.com, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Behind the Scenes – Role of the Equipment Manager, 10 of the Best NHL Hockey Enforcers of all Time. Kirsten Welsh '19 is one of the first four female officials to ever get NHL rookie tourney assignments! NFL referees and all other officials are not full-time league employees, as they technically work part-time from May through the end of each season with a dark period in between. Our work over the last four seasons has built strong foundations and I believe there’s never been a better time to be a referee, especially a female referee. Lacking Number of Female Refs in Professional Sports Throughout the years of the NBA there has only been THREE official, full-time FEMALE refs in the last 69 years. Find out in this video. The question, naturally, turns to what’s next. “Being part of this group that’s forging the path, I think, has been a lot of fun. “Only time will tell.”. Guay, Cooke, Welsh, Hanley to officiate NHL prospect games. These were professional minor leagues that to that point had only seen male referees on their ice rinks. In the 2015-2016 season, 23 of 36 regular season NWHL games had a female referee. “I’ve heard from so many people that saw the game and saw the officials. The quartet made history in September, becoming the first women to work an NHL-affiliated event when they officiated at various NHL rookie tournaments around the U.S. Guay went to Anaheim, Cooke was sent to Nashville, and Hanley and Welsh were in Traverse City, Mich., and Buffalo, respectively. 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