OFFICIALS' ROLE

  The basic role of the official can be broken down into two simple words --"safe" and "fair". By viewing and officiating the game with these two

words in mind, an official should be able to call a game that is acceptable to all of the participants.

 There is no good excuse for an official not to penalize any infraction that threatens the safety of another participant and Hockey Canada calls upon all officials to strictly enforce these types of infractions.

The word "fair" does allow some flexibility in determining which infractions will and will not be penalized. Any infraction that takes away a good scoring chance should be penalized. However, some infractions, although obvious infractions by the wording in the rule book, can be over looked if no advantage is gained. Remember that it is the "spirit" or "intent" of the rule that determines an infraction, not the literal wording. This will be interpreted differently in each game, depending on the official, the level of play and the style of play. As officials develop their officiating skills, their "feel for the game" and "judgement" will help them determine the officiating style needed in each game.

 Infractions after the whistle should also be penalized accordingly, with emphasis placed on penalizing the instigator of such activity.

Ice Hockey Referee Signals

Icing Intentionally shooting the puck from behind the centre red line over your opponent's goal line. The play is halted and a face-off taken on the side of the infraction, nearest the goal line in the defending team's end. Off -Side When a player precedes the puck into the attacking zone i.e. crosses the opponents blue line without the puck. The play is halted and restarted with a face-off outside of the attacking zone.

DELAYED PENALTY Delayed calling of penalty or other violation.  Arm extended fully above head (hand without whistle).   CHECKING FROM BEHIND A forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands open and facing away from the body, fully extended from the chest at shoulder level.   MATCH Flat part of hand patted on head.   HIGH STICKING Holdings both fists clenched, one immediately above the other at the height of the shoulders.   GOAL Referee points into the net.   POSSIBLE ICING Pass out of defensive zone.     PENALTY SHOT Arms crossed above head, giving signal of stoppage in play.   HAND PASS Open part of hand displayed in a pushing motion.   HOLDING Clasping either wrist with the other hand in front of the chest.   ICING THE PUCK The back referee of linesman signals a possible icing by fully extending his arm without the whistle over his head.  The front referee or linesman indicates the icing is completed by extending his arm over his head.  The back referee or linesman will then blow his whistle and skate to the face the spot.  When he is standing on the face-off spot, he extends his arms to indicate the icing.   SLASHING A chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.   HOOKING A tugging motion with both arms, as if pulling something from in front of the stomach.   ROUGHING Fist clenched and arm extended out of the side of the body.   BUTT ENDING A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other.   CROSS CHECKING A forward motion with both fists clenched extending from the chest.   BOARDING A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other.   CHARGING Rotating clenched fists around one another in front of the chest.   TRIPPING With both skates on the ice striking right leg with the right hand below the knee.   SPEARING A jabbing motion with both hands thrust out directly in front of the body.   KNEEING Slapping either knee with the palm of the hand whilst keeping both skates on the ice.   INTERFERENCE Crossed arms with closed fists stationary in front of the chest.   ELBOWING Tapping either elbow with the other hand.   WASHOUT No goal or no icing.