Background

After piloting Refr Sports at a smaller scale, Iowa Hockey adopted it as their full-time platform. Ian Carlson, the Iowa State Hockey Supervisor, notes that the system has continually improved and that he now actively recommends Refr to other assignors: “I’m telling every single assignor…this is something you guys really need to be looking at, because it’s so much easier than our old systems”. Since moving to Refr, Iowa Hockey has phased out its previous tools and now relies on Refr for all referee management.

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Challenge

Before Refr, Iowa Hockey’s assignors faced a heavy administrative burden. Key pain points included:

• Manual account creation & database work: Every new official had to be added and managed by hand in outdated systems, rather than via self-service.
  
  
• Disconnected scheduling & communication: Updates (cancellations, reschedules, etc.) were communicated by email, phone, or text. This made it hard to keep everyone informed.
  
  
• Inefficient payment processing: Tracking each referee’s games and pay rates was a time-consuming, manual task, leading to inconsistent or delayed payments.
  
  
• Fragmented tools & platforms: The team relied on a myriad of older referee management systems that lacked integration and were less user-friendly.
  
  
• Difficulty scaling for tournaments: Handling third-party tournaments amplified these issues. Carlson recalls it was “just a nightmare, getting everything communicated.”
  
  

Many of these chores – manually updating spreadsheets or chasing down officials for logs – took time away from more valuable officiating activities.

“Before we switched to Refr, I had to go in and manually create the entire account for each official. It was a massive time sink.” – Ian Carlson, Iowa State Hockey Supervisor 

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Solution

Refr Sports provided Iowa Hockey with a single, integrated platform that directly addressed each of these challenges. Key solutions included:

1. Self-Service Onboarding

New referees can now create and manage their own profiles in Refr, eliminating the old manual account setup. Officials enter their availability and credentials themselves, so the assignors no longer spend hours inputting data. This self-serve approach freed Carlson’s team from repetitive, routine data entry.

2. Automated Payments & Payroll

Refr’s built-in payment and payroll tools automatically tally games worked and apply the correct rates. This eliminated tedious manual calculations and reduced errors. Assignors can run payroll with a few clicks and issue timely electronic payments instead of chasing data entries in spreadsheets.

3. Centralized Scheduling & Communication

All assignments, schedule changes, and notifications now flow through Refr’s system. Officials view their games and receive alerts via the mobile app. Carlson’s team no longer juggles emails, texts, and multiple calendars – everything is consolidated in one hub for efficient communication.

4. Improved Usability

Refr’s intuitive interface made the platform easier for both administrators and referees. Carlson noted the software keeps getting “more user-friendly” with each update. New features roll out regularly – and “everyone appreciates that,” he adds.

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Outcomes

“It’s given me so much of my time back ... It just makes life so much easier.” – Ian Carlson, Iowa State Hockey Supervisor

Refr Sports transformed Iowa Hockey’s operations, delivering results across the board:

• Significant time savings: Ian reports that Refr has significantly cut his admin tasks. He says the platform has “given me so much of my time back”, especially during the busy months of the season. Routine tasks that used to take hours per week are now handled automatically.
  
  
  
• Timely, transparent payments: Payment delays and coordination problems have been eliminated. With Refr taking care of payouts, Iowa Hockey no longer has referees waiting weeks for pay.
  
  
• Higher referee participation. Because officials know exactly when they will be paid, more are willing to take on tournaments. Ian explains that now “they know that on this date they’re going to get paid, so they’re more willing to work more tournaments”. The guarantee of prompt payment has made officials more eager to accept assignments.
  
  
• More balance: All of these improvements freed Carlson and other assignors at Iowa Hockey to focus on life outside hockey during the season. This work–life balance means he can devote more time to family and coaching, without stressing about logistics.
  
  
  

Overall, Refr Sports has helped Iowa Hockey reduce administrative overhead and streamline its operations. The team now spends less time on logistics and more on supporting officials. These outcomes leave Iowa Hockey better able to serve its referees and expand their reach across Iowa.