The Illinois Hockey Officials Association was founded as the governing body of Illinois amateur hockey referees in 1974. IHOA has grown to become one of the largest state wide referee organizations in USA hockey with over 1,500 members throughout the State of Illinois.   IHOA strives to maintain a uniformity of rule interpretations and to create a better understanding between the on ice officials, coaches and players. Our goal is to develop more efficient officials, maintain the highest standards and to provide a forum for discussion and a medium for the dissemination of information on hockey and its rules. The purpose of IHOA is to register hockey officials in the State of Illinois for the purpose of improving the quality of amateur hockey officiating in the state.