Hey Ref

Hey Ref – A new rulebook year

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Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By Duncan Ryhorchuk

To all my USA Hockey certified on-ice officiating “brothers,” it’s that time of year again to register, pay your dues, take your open book test, attend a seminar, take your closed book test and depending on the level you are taking, you may need to do a skating test. But this is a bonus year. This year when you pay your registration fee (anywhere from $50 to $100) you will receive your new 2011-13 USA Hockey rulebook. 

USA Hockey is still using the U.S. Postal service to get their thousands of registered officials their new rulebooks. The rulebook itself weighs approximately one pound. I am not sure of the cost of postage, but now I know where a portion of my yearly fee goes.

Although all rules, casebook, faceoff locations, penalties and playing rules (plus everything else that is in the rulebook) are accessible online at the USA Hockey website; I still appreciate having a hard copy of the rulebook.  When discussions arise, between coaches and officials or officiating partners in the official’s locker room, before, during or after games, it is always nice to have a rulebook handy.

Reading through the casebook portion of the rulebook, it is hard to imagine that some of these situations actually could and have happened in a game. Example: “Leaving the Players Bench or Penalty Bench” – What penalty would be assessed a penalized player who leaves the penalty bench on his own before his time is up, and checks a player who has a breakaway?

Or “Players in Uniform” – A team has 16 players listed on the game scoresheet. A player who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in the game. What action should the referee take when it is brought to his attention?

Please read your rulebook for the correct answer.

In no particular order, here is a brief summary of some of the major rule changes:

a. Suspend game if no Team Official or responsible adult is on players bench.

b. Amends penalty for equipment violations from a Minor to a Misconduct penalty.

c. Permits affiliate to reduce minor penalties to 1:30 minutes for games played with periods up to 15 minutes in length.

d. Requires teams to immediately place a player on the penalty bench for Major and Match penalties.

e. Adds 2 Referee / 2 Linesman as an approved officiating system;

f. Requires 3 game suspensions for second fight and authority review for third fight with same team in the same season.

g. Increases penalty for removing helmet prior to fight to Match penalty.

h. Tag-up offsides in Youth/Girls U14 classifications and older.

i. Prohibits body checking in the Youth U12 and under classifications.

Please remember this is just a summary of the rule changes. Please read your new rulebook for all the changes to the playing rules for USA Hockey.

Over the years, things happen and changes occur.  USA Hockey is very proactive in adapting to change with new penalties and updated playing rules. This ability to adapt helps USA Hockey maintain its reputation as a great and highly respected organization.

To all the on-ice officials, have a great season and make the correct call, all the time.

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