Directive for Ice Hockey Officials

The NCAA accepted for printing, 1965, in its Ice Hockey Guide (present day rules book) an article entitled “Directive For Ice Hockey Officials” written by Herb Gallagher, a NIHOA official and former Athletic Director at Northeastern University. The “Directive” has often been referred to as the “Bible for Hockey Officials”. It was included in the Guide for many years. Any year that it was not printed in the Guide it was included in NIHOA’s Directory-Manual. 

 

1.   Your personal appearance on the ice is most important. The official dress is black trousers, the official sweater and a black ice hockey helmet with chinstrap fastened. Keep your trousers pressed, your sweater clean, your skating boots shined and your hair groomed. Each official is required to supply his officiating equipment; shabby or torn equipment is not acceptable.

 

2    Be punctual and insist on that quality from everyone.

 

3.   The officials’ dressing room is strictly private and reserved for the use of the officials. No one else has any right to be there. It is no place for casual visitors, including personal friends. Our rules do not provide for meetings of officials with coaches between periods of a contest. Adhere to the NCAA rules in this case. Only good judgment will dictate exceptions in this regard.

 

4.   The news media is a very important factor in the success of the sport of intercollegiate a situation in which you could be quoted. Leave the public relations business of the game you officiate to the schools, colleges and leagues involved.

 

5.   If you have any complaints, or suggestions relative to the operation of any league or any of the teams, do not hesitate to make them known to the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Committee. Be sure to refrain from public criticism of college hockey leagues or teams or players or of fellow officials. This principle is intended to protect your interests and those of the parties involved.

 

6.   It is advisable to offer constructive criticism and expert advice to younger, less-experienced officials. They should be particularly attentive to correct interpretations of the rules.

 

7.   Never place yourself in the position of asking personal favors of any particular teams or the rinks in which they play. If there is an attraction you want to see — pay your own way. As an ambassador of the sport of ice hockey, you should conduct yourself in a manner so as to increase the prestige and reputation of the sport and enhance good will toward all of its activities.

 

8.   It is improper for you to indulge in any alcoholic beverage on the day of the assignment.

 

9.   Independence and impartiality. If at any time you find yourself in a situation where you are in the employ of any college, either directly or indirectly, or where any economic or other pressure is brought on you by anyone to influence your officiating, you should not accept those officiating assignments. It is most important that you discharge your duties with absolute impartiality, objectivity and professionalism.

 

10.   You are the men in charge of the game, and you must ensure that it is conducted in accordance with NCAA rules.

   A strict standard of rules enforcement is the policy of the NCAA, and all officials are required to enforce the rules literally.

   There is no justification for officials making decisions based on rules that apply to the National Hockey League, Canadian Amateur or American Hockey Associations or any other league.

 

11.   Know the rules thoroughly! Discuss interpretations regularly with your fellow officials. If you are in doubt about any part of them, refer the point involved to the secretary-rules editor of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee at the earliest possible opportunity. A ruling will then be made, and if necessary, will be circulated to all officials, coaches and league offices. This is the only way that uniform interpretations of the rules can be assured.

 

12.   All officials in the game should interpret the rules properly and execute their duties dully and impartially. The greater disparity in standard arises in connection with the proper use of signals by officials. This requires constant cooperation by you and your fellow officials.

 

13.   The official NCAA rules specifically describe the correct hand and arm signals. When employing these signals, make your gestures in a decisive manner.

 

14.   In the presence of spectators, maintain an alert, active and dignified appearance. Lolling against the sideboards or other similar slovenly habits detract from the event. Avoid fraternizing with players or rinkside spectators. This is not necessary and is frequently misinterpreted by the spectators as well as the players and coaches.

 

15.   Refrain from all unnecessary talk and discussion with captains and other players when on the ice. Answer questions by the captain concisely and tot the point. Jesting and wisecracking with players on the ice is forbidden. Officiating is a serious business, and you must treat it as such. Remember that the NCAA rules limit all discussions between captains and the referee to points “relating to the interpretation of rules.”

 

16.   At the beginning of the warm-up and at the beginning of the game, the officials should appear together. One official should check each goal. They also should check the presence of the minor officials and all other required equipment such as the goal, lights, time clocks, etc., as required by NCAA rules.

 

17.   Check the player list of each team with the official scorer; note the names and numbers of the captain and designated alternate.

 

18.   You are not obligated to go to either bench to consult with the coach(es) about any ruling or decision; that is the captain’s function. Nevertheless, there may be circumstances when a misunderstanding can be resolved easier that way. But, if you go to the bench, maintain a dignified attitude without any gesture of hostility or aggression. Be firm and quick. Do not tolerate any unreasonable delay.

 

19.   From the standpoint of the spectator, probably the most important occurrence in the game is the scoring of goals. If you have occasion to disallow a goal for any infringement of the rules (not merely the ruling that the puck did not enter the net while the play was in progress), report the reason to the official scorer and have the reason correctly announced.

 

20.   All penalties must be reported to the penalty timekeeper and must be correctly announced on the public address system before play is resumed. If there is an incorrect announcement, immediately have the correct announcement made.

 

21.   If at any time, programs, paper or other debris are thrown onto the ice such that it endangers the players of either team or interferes with the conduct of the game, you have the authority to stop play and, if necessary, order the teams to their dressing rooms while the ice is cleared. While such a decision may be a powerful deterrent to further exercise with great discretion. In any event, officials are not scavengers, and it is not part of your job to clear the ice. Simply withdraw to the side of the rink and allow the rink attendants to assume that responsibility.

 

22.   We are confident that there is no official who is so lacking in physical strength or courage that he could not give a competent account of himself in case of a threat or attack. It is the responsibility of the home team to provide “adequate police protection at all times.” Do not get involved in altercations of any kind with spectators. If the required police protection is not provided, report the fact to the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the director of athletics at the home institution and the league office.

   When a fight or high-sticking incident breaks out, it is the duty of the officials to intervene immediately to restrain the participants with the minimum amount of force necessary. Be sure that your involvement does not expose the players so restrained to unfair blows from an unrestrained opponent. You must not strike any blows yourself, nor take any unnecessary violent action that might provoke retaliation on the part of any player. Primarily, you are a mediator and you should maintain that attitude. When you have occasion to assess a penalty on any player, do so firmly and decisively, but avoid any action or attitude that could be considered hostile or aggressive. Having assessed the penalty, be sure to keep out of the path of the penalized player who is required to proceed directly to the penalty box. If the player disputes the penalty, do not hesitate to call a further penalty under the rules.

 

23.   Broken sticks should be deposited with the penalty box attendant. Do no remove broken sticks from the playing surface in any other manner.

 

24.   Refrain from insulting, abusive or vulgar language to players or spectators regardless of the provocation. If the language or other conduct of a spectator is such that it is likely to provoke an assault, instruct the rink management to remove that spectator from the building.

 

25.   Remember that the main attraction of our game is speed and skill. Conduct the game with that objective always uppermost in your mind and you will improve the spectacle and eliminate many of the troubles that result from slow, indolent and dilatory actions.

 

26.   Officials should work as a team in closest possible cooperation. Support each other at all times, and never by word or gesture indicate any disapproval of a decision of a fellow official even though you might not agree completely with him. You particularly are alerted to infractions occurring in your end after the play has moved out of the zone. When you are asked by another official to give your opinion about any matter, give it impartially and objectively.

 

27.   Face-Offs. It is important to know all of the rules governing the location of each face-off. Remember that it is your responsibility to conduct fair, controlled face-offs for all players involved.

 

28.   All face-offs after an intentional offside occur at the special spot face-off location of the team making the offside.

   You are cautioned against “safety calls” on offside at the attacking blue line. Your skill in this regard rests in your ability to call offsides correctly. In short, be sure the play is offside before you blow the whistle. Also, do not eliminate the opportunity of the non-offending team to advance the puck even though an offside has occurred.

   A failure to give full effect to this rule is due to the tendency to blow the whistle too quickly. Likewise, this rule causes some confusion to the spectators; they observe what appears to be an offside and think the referee is negligent when he does not call it immediately.

   To improve the officiating execution of this play form all stand-points, the following signal will be given: When the play enters the attacking zone and is offside, the referee or linesman shall raise his arm above his head immediately to indicate to all that is offside. If the puck is clearly intercepted and carried or passed by the defending side back into the neutral zone, then the whistle will not be blown. When the puck leaves the attacking zone or all offside players make skate contact with their attacking zone line, then the arm shall be lowered sharply. If there is no interception or the interceptor is checked before the puck leaves the zone, the whistle shall be blown for the offside. This is an important rule, and it is one of the best indicators of a good official.

   Alert and deliberate actions look good and also maintain a proper competitive atmosphere. Timid and sloppy actions cause delays that produce arguments. Make all of your movements intelligently and when the play is stopped, recover the puck and commence play as soon as possible.