NextGen Stripes didn’t start as a “business idea.”
It started out of frustration.
Frustration watching young officials thrown into games with no roadmap. Frustration seeing good officials get
zero feedback, while bad habits went unchecked. Frustration listening to the same conversations every season:
- “Refs are terrible.”
- “Kids don’t want to officiate anymore.”
- “We can’t keep officials.”
And almost no one asking the obvious question:
Who’s actually developing them?
Most officials are handed a rulebook, complete a seminar, online modules, and a possibly a skate test, and then thrown to the wolves. The ones who survive do so by trial and error. The rest burn out early—confused, discouraged, and convinced they’re the problem.
They’re not… The system is.
NextGen was built by people who’ve been on the ice, in the stands, and behind the scenes—who understand that officiating is a skill
, not a personality trait you either have or don’t.
We didn’t see a lack of effort.
We saw a lack of coaching.
So we built what didn’t exist:
- A place where officials get real mentorship
- Feedback that’s specific, respectful, and honest
- A development path that doesn’t rely on luck, politics, or survival instincts
This isn’t about tearing anyone down.
It’s about raising the standard—and giving officials the tools to succeed.
Because when officials improve:
- Games improve
- Respect improves
- Retention improves
- And the next generation actually wants to step on the ice
That’s why NextGen Stripes exists.
