Play by the rules
The biggest factor in angry players, coaches and parents would be the interpretation of the rules. I am not saying that referee’s like myself get it right all the time but if you don’t know the rule book you are playing out of, how can you argue anything rule related?
Now a days, kids play on multiple teams that compete in multiple leagues. So guess what, that means multiple rules. Unfortunately that is an issue in youth hockey as coaches do not have the time to educate the players on the rules that they are playing.
Our goal here is to try to sort out the most common rule books, teach you the difference between them and hopefully keep you out of the penalty box.
This is a place where the ref’s will put away the whistle and try to show you how we see the game out of our eyes. Being a former player and coach, if you think there is not a difference, take a referee seminar and try it.
If you need a rule clarified or just a question about the rules of the game, feel free to contact us and we will answer it. Please give us the league and rule book you are playing out of.
As a 2 nd year official I have a question. Using the NCAA rule book If I called matching penalties, one on each team during the same stoppage, do the teams play 4 on 4 (I have seen a memo at one of the rinks saying that it should be 4 on 4) or is it 5 on 5 like Usa hockey. I have seen other refs including myself that keep the teams 5 on 5. Is this correct??? Or should it be 4 on 4.
Good Question Brian and there has always been confusion with this situation. The NCAA blue book states that the teams play 4 on 4 assuming they were before the infractions, you will have to check the league you are officiating to see if they modified that rule. While on that subject, you should know that the face off location in this situation is the nearest dot when the puck was last played. The same holds true if you have separated penalties during the same stoppage of play. Some coaches will argue that the faceoff goes in the zone of the first team penalized….not true and don’t fall for it.
Reader Steve asks the question:
During a change, a player leaving the ice is standing by the player bench door in the offensive zone waiting to enter the bench. His replacement has already entered the ice in the nuetral zone as the puck moves into the offensive zone, meaining both players have their skates on the ice. The player leaving the ice is standing on the ice in the offensive zone but legally ok as he is at the door. Is this an offside situation, or is he technically off the ice as he stands by the door leaving the ice. If he is ruled offside, then that means he is still in play, and if his replacement is on the ice, then this should be maybe called too many players on the ice.
It’s off side; player is technically in play however, the player is causing a stoppage for his team. The player would only be considered for too many men if he plays the puck or makes contact with another player.