We are coming down the home stretch of the High School season and I just wanted to clarify a rule that seems to get a lot of grumbling from the stands. Although I took the rule out of the Federation book, this basically applies to every rule book in hockey. So lets get to it.

Rule 6-40 article 3 states that a penalty shall be assessed to a player who intentionally or recklessly contacts a player to the head, including with the stick or by an illegal body check. Penalty-minor or major if flagrant.  Continue reading »

There has been a lot of talk about hits from behind, high hits and head contact this season in all levels of hockey and today I want to talk about the youth level. From a referee’s prospective on a hit from behind, it is cut and dry. You either did it or you didn’t and the only variable should be the severity of the hit and whether it takes place around the board or the open ice.

For those of you that don’t know, the penalty for a hit from behind can be a minor with a misconduct for the less severe hits like at open ice or a major plus a game misconduct and possibly a disqualification or match(USA Rules). Referee’s have to look at intent, injury and whether the offending player was trying to back off of the hit as well as the area of the ice on where the hit took place. Continue reading »

Every two years USA Hockey makes some adjustments to their rule book and this year was no different. Judging by the chirping in my ear over the weekend, it seems to me that there are numerous linesman that have missed their calling…or not and for those of you that are unaware of the changes, I will break  down some of the more common ones  for you.

403(b) Major Penalty

For a player that is assessed a non-coincident major penalty and game misconduct, the offending team is not required to immediately place a substitute on the penalty bench and may do so prior to the expiration of the penalty. No player may enter the game except from the penalty bench with a bench minor penalty being assessed for a violation.

**this is basically saying that bench players will no longer have to serve the entire major penalty of another teammate. The coach has the option of putting a player in the box through out the penalty but be aware that if the coach fails to place a player in the box before the major expires, the team will remain shorthanded until the next whistle, this applies to match penalties as well.

409(b)

Calling of Penalties Requires a delayed penalty that is nullified as the result of a goal being scored to be recorded on the game sheet and count towards the 5/15 penalty

**at one time if you were called for a penalty and during the delayed call, the other team scores and you have a big sigh of relief . Your not off the hook anymore, those penalties will now be counted on the score sheet.

601(i.2) Abuse of Officials and Other Misconduct

Allows for game misconduct to be assessed to a Team Official for persisting in any course of conduct for which the team has previously been assessed a bench minor penalty.

**Needless to say, this is my favorite. Lets say the head coach argues a call( I know, coaches never scream)   and gets the bench minor. The asst. coach disagrees (go figure) and also argues, the assistant now has to leave the game. This rule applies to all coaches on the bench. FYI….if all coaches on the bench are dismissed, you have now forfeited the game.