USA Hockey Officiating Program

Roles • Responsibilities • ProceduresPrepared by the Southeastern District Officiating Program Staff

for use by off-ice officials assigned to theUSA Hockey 16-and-under National Championships

Reston and Ashburn, VAMarch 30 – April 3, 2011

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Introduction

• The purpose of this presentation is to help prepare off-ice officials for their roles and responsibilities during the national championship and to help ensure that the on- and off-ice officials work together as a seamless integrated officiating team.

• Off-ice officials perform vital services on an unpaid volunteer basis, to ensure games run smoothly and results are reported accurately.

• Services are less visible than those performed by on-ice officials and are almost always under-appreciated.

• Off-ice officials serve under the immediate supervision of the Referee and the general supervision of the Tournament Director.

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Definitions

• On-ice officials:– Include one referee and two linesmen for each national championship

game– The referee has primary responsibility for controlling and overseeing the

game in progress– The referee is assisted by the linesmen for aspects of the game that

occur primarily on the ice, and by the off-ice officials for aspects of the game that occur primarily off the ice

• Off-ice officials:– At a minimum, includes an official scorer (scorekeeper), a

timekeeper/clock operator, a public address announcer, and two penalty box attendants (one for each penalty box)

– If circumstances permit, an assistant scorer and dedicated clock operator may also be assigned

– The official scorer generally supervises the other off-ice officials and has primary responsibility for coordinating and communicating with the referee

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Off-ice Officials: Principal Roles

• An extension of the on-ice officiating team• Assist on-ice officials in conducting and

controlling the game• Serve as a liaison between on-ice officials and

competing teams• Ensure good order and compliance with the

playing rules in and around the scorer’s bench and penalty benches

• Maintain a record of the game (score sheet)• Obtain required signatures and distribute

completed and signed score sheets in accordance with tournament policy

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Assignment of Off-ice Officials

• Assignment of off-ice officials is the responsibility of USA Hockey Tournament Director, through the Tournament Committee

• Although some off-ice officials may have ties to local teams or clubs, they must remain totally impartial in both appearance and actions while serving in an off-ice officiating capacity.

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General Guidelines

• Try to arrive at your assigned game site 30 minutes before the scheduled game time

• Casual clothing in good taste is appropriate but avoid wearing clothing with team names or logos, even if the team is not competing in the tournament

• A warm jacket is suggested as some rinks tend to be colder than others

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Off-ice Officials

Dutiesand

Responsibilities

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Official Scorer

• Responsible for preparation, completion, and distribution of the game score sheet.

• Prior to the game:– Obtain the proper game scoresheet from the tournament

committee (scoresheets should be partially filled out in advance, including game number and pre-printed player rosters)

– Roster should have, at a minimum, each player’s last name and uniform number

– Captain and up to two alternates must be designated by inserting the letter “C” or “A” beside their names

– Visit the on-ice official’s dressing room to establish initial communication, review lineups, and familiarize the on-ice officials with any unusual matter that might have a bearing on the game. Examples may include scoreboard irregularities, player/coach suspensions, and similar issues

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Official Scorer

• During the game:– Record goals, assists, and penalties– Record times of goals and penalties– Advise the referee when--

• Any player has received a total of five penalties, regardless of type or duration.

• Any player receives a second major penalty in the same game• Either team has received a total of 15 penalties, regardless of

type or duration– Record saves and shots on goal– Complete all blocks on the score sheet– Advise the referee if a suspended player or player who is not

listed on the score sheet is present on a team bench– Make roster alterations as necessary at the direction of the

referee– Assist on-ice officials by observing altercations and other

unusual or disruptive events– Provide your version of events, if requested by the referee

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Roster Alterations

• Names of players who are listed on the score sheet but who were not physically present at any time during the game must be removed from the score sheet

• Players who were not listed on the score sheet but who appear after the start of the game may play, provided--– They were inadvertently omitted from the roster– There are less than 20 players listed on the score sheet. (A

player already listed on the score sheet may not be deleted to make room for the additional player)

– The affected team agrees to accept a bench minor penalty

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• After the game: – Assist on-ice officials by observing players and benches at the end

of the game, especially--• Handshake line• Exiting of teams from the ice

– Give your version of events, if requested by the referee– Add any additional penalties assessed at the end of the game – Check score sheet for accuracy and completeness. Double-check

for--• Excessive penalties (5 per individual and 15 per team)• Two majors to a single player

– Line-thru unused portions of goal, assist, and penalty blocks– Enter all summary information (goals, assists, penalty minutes, etc.)– Obtain all necessary signatures– Present the completed score sheet to the referee in the officials

dressing room– After the referee signs the score sheet, distribute copies to each

team in accordance with tournament procedures

Official Scorer (cont.)

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Assistant Scorer

• Record saves and shots on goal• Record plus/minus information• Provide other assistance as requested

by the official scorer

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Game Timekeeper

• Responsible for operating the game clock and penalty clocks

• Before the game:– Ensure game and penalty clock(s) are in operating order– Ensure availability of stop watches and whistle in the event

game clocks malfunction or fail.– Familiarize yourself with clock console, if necessary.– Set warm-up & period times.

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Game Timekeeper

• During the game:– Start clock at every faceoff. Stop clock on every whistle– Post penalties to penalty clocks. Display shorthanded

penalties only– Monitor penalty situations. – Manage delayed (stacked) penalty situations to ensure that

penalized players return to the ice at the proper times and in the proper order

– Communicate with penalty bench attendants regarding expiration of penalties

– Be alert for clock malfunctions. Promptly report anomalies involving game or penalty clocks to the referee

• Should the game clock fail to start after play resumes, keep track of time manually and report the situation to the referee at the next stoppage of play.

• As directed by the referee, post correct clock time before play resumes• If the malfunction cannot be corrected, use stopwatches to maintain time

and whistles or air horns to signal ends of periods

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Penalty Bench Attendants

• Responsible for penalty bench areas and ensuring that penalized players are released at the correct times

• Open/close penalty bench doors to admit or release penalized players

• Coordinate with the timekeeper to ensure penalty expirations are handled correctly

• In situations where a player has received a major plus game misconduct or match penalty, keep the referee and official scorer informed during stoppages if a team has not placed a substitute for the disqualified player on the penalty bench before the major penalty (or time portion of a match penalty) expires.(Note: the onus for placing a player in the penalty box is 100% on the offending team and not on the off-ice officials. Off-ice officials monitor the situation and keep the referee informed)

• Report any misconduct in or around the penalty bench area to the referee

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Public Address Announcer

• Responsible for communicating information directly or indirectly relating to the game with spectators

• Check with teams before the game for proper name pronunciations

• Announce goals, assists, penalties, and other pertinent information

• Announce information relating to interpretations of the rules as requested by the referee

• Make announcements only during stoppages• Ensure that music or sound effects are operated

in accordance with established protocols

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Communicating Effectively

• Effective communication between and among off-ice officials and between off- and on-ice officials avoids confusion

• Pre-game meeting between official scorer and on-ice officials should address questions, concerns, and other issues

• Once game is underway:– Try to avoid sounding horn to get officials’ attention– Use verbal and non-verbal techniques instead

• Promptly report any misconduct in the penalty bench area to the referee.

• Do not hesitate to ask the referee for explanations or clarifications as may be necessary

• Thanks for your participation. Now HAVE FUN!!