The Salmon Arm Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) is looking for more people to help call the shots. 

The organization is "always in need of refs," according to administrator Roy Sakaki who has put out the call to anyone interested in becoming a referee in advance of the certification clinics coming up in early October. 

Though it's voluntary in how much time a person commits according to their schedule, they do get paid somewhere between $24 to $80 per game, depending on the level of play. In return, refs have to be able to skate, know the game and supply their own gear of helmet, striped jersey, shin pads, skates and whistle. They also have to attend a clinic to certify every year, but are reimbursed for that after reffing a certain number of games. 

With minor hockey ranging from U7 up to U18, refs can start as young as 12 years old and continue indefinitely.The younger refs start by officiating the lower level games and advance through the ranks to junior A, college hockey and potentially beyond. 

"Over the years we've had some good young refs who've moved on," Sakaki said. "We've seen a lot of people come through the ranks, and I think we've developed some really good refs." 

One of those is Ty Slaney, who started reffing locally and has since moved to Kamloops where he's coaching those higher levels with his "goal to probably ref at the professional level." His brother, Cole Slaney, a ref and manager of hockey operations, confirmed that aspiration. 

"That's his full-time job now... so it can turn into more than you're expecting," he said, adding Ty started at 14 and now at 19, he's looking at reffing for the Western Hockey League. "So you can progress fast if you do a right job. There's lots of room for progression, and lots of room for recognition."

Girls are also welcome to become referees, with a lot of opportunities available to them as well, according to Slaney.

"Actually, females will shoot up the ladder very, very fast because they're in high demand," he said. "Female hockey's growing, they want to see female referees a part of that."

Reffing isn't, however, just for kids, with adults also needed and encouraged to join, with Slaney saying they have a lot of hockey parents turned empty nesters joining as they now have more free time on their hands.

"It's a good way to get back in the game at an older age," he said.

Sakaki added that while the kids tend to become refs for the pay, "the older refs do it because they love it, they love the game."

Though there's regular games and tournaments throughout the year, there's no specific time requirement and refs can list set their own schedules, with that flexibility another added benefit. Refs submit their availability to SAMHA ref assignor Sean Russell, who then appoints them to games accordingly.

"Sometimes you'll do three games, sometimes you'll do one if you're only available for one," Slaney said.

Games range from around an hour to just over two hours, depending on the level, but as refs have to cover all the action it can be quite the workout, which he sees as another advantage of the job.

"It's great exercise, especially for adults. It's a way to get paid to exercise You do have to work pretty hard out there, because kids are faster than you think," Slaney said with a laugh.

"All in all, I think it's a positive thing to do for a lot of people."

Anyone interested in becoming a ref are encouraged to contact referee-in-chief Matt Davies at ric@salmonarmminorhockey.com, with the certification clinic for new refs on Saturday, Oct. 5 and returning refs on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Additional information also available on the SAMHA website at .