Preface: This guide was put together to help the volunteers, who are in "the box" during the games,  have a better understanding of their responsibilities during the game. The rules presented here have been placed on the page as they are in the rulebook. There have been no embellishments on the webmasters part. I placed them on the page in order of importance and what would seem to be the most effective and logical order (in my opinion) for the volunteers. I included only those rules and/or subsections that would pertain to the minor officials. If you have any questions (interpretations, clarifications etc. etc.) please contact the webmaster. If you do have a question or comment I'll do my very best to address it and answer you as quick as possible.

Please note there have been rule changes, effective for the 1999-2001 seasons, that effect the minor officials. Those sections that were changed are in the Under lined bold print

WHEN IN DOUBT....ASK THE REF!!!!!!!!!!!

Information found in this hand out can be found in the USA Hockey Official Rules of Ice Hockey, and the USA Hockey Officials Handbook. (Ed. Note: Please be aware the online versions of both the handbook, and the rulebook DO NOT reflect the rules changes for th1999-2001 seasons as of 9/20/99)

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Rule 502. Referee
 

  (a) The REFEREE shall have general supervision of the game, and shall have full control of all game officials, team officials and players before, during and after the game, including stoppages; and in case of any dispute, his decision shall be final.

On-Ice Officials should enter the ice surface prior to warm-ups and remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period until all players have proceeded to their dressing rooms. Penalties may also be assessed during the warm-up period.

(h) The Referee shall see to it that players of opposing teams are separated on the penalty bench to prevent feuding.

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Rule 505. Penalty Timekeeper

  (a) The PENALTY TIMEKEEPER shall keep, on the official forms provided, a correct record of all penalties imposed by the On-Ice Officials including the names of the players penalized, the infractions penalized, the duration of each penalty and the time at which each penalty was imposed. He shall report to the Referee any player of Team Official who is in
violation of Rule 404(d) (Game Misconduct) -- Except for Juniors. He shall report in the Penalty Record each penalty shot awarded, the name of the player taking the shot and the result of the shot.

  (b) The Penalty Timekeeper shall check and ensure that the time served by all penalized players is correct. He shall be responsible for the correct posting of all penalties on the scoreboard at all times and shall promptly call to the attention of the Referee any discrepancy between the time recorded on the clock and the official correct time and he shall be
responsible for making any adjustments ordered by the Referee.

He shall, upon request, give a penalized player correct information as to the unexpired time of his penalty.

  (Note 1) The infraction of the rules for which each penalty has been imposed will be announced twice over the public address system as reported by the Referee. Where players of both teams are penalized on the same play, the penalty to the visiting player will be announced first.

  (Note 2) Misconduct penalties and coincident minor or major penalties should not be recorded on the timing device, but such penalized players should be alerted and released at the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalties.

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Rule 506. Official Scorer

  (a) Before the start of the game, the OFFICIAL SCORER shall obtain from the Manager or Coach of both teams a list of all eligible players of each team, which information shall be made known to the opposing team Manager or Coach before the start of play, either personally or through the Referee.

The Official Scorer shall secure the names of the Captain and Designated Alternate from the Manager or Coach and will so indicate by placing the letter "C" or "A" opposite their names on the score sheet. The Official Scorer shall indicate the name of each head coach of each team on the score sheet. This information shall be presented to the Referee for his signature at the completion of the game.

For Juniors only -- All references to Junior rules have been removed as there are no Junior teams or leagues we keep time for or officiate for.

  (b) The Official Scorer shall keep a record of the goals scored, the scorers, and player to whom assists have been credited, and shall indicate those players on the lists who have actually taken part in the game. He shall also record the time of entry into the game of any substitute or temporary goalkeeper. He shall record on the Official Score Sheet a notation where a goal is scored when the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice.

  (c) The awards of points for goals and assists shall be announced over the public address system and all changes in such awards shall also be announced in the same manner.

No requests for changes in any award of points shall be considered unless they are made at or before the conclusion of actual play in the game by the team Captain.

  (d) The Official Scorer shall also prepare the Official Score Sheet for signature by the Referee and forward it to the Proper Authorities.

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Rule 507. Game Timekeeper

  (a) The GAME TIMEKEEPER shall signal the Referee and the competing teams for the start of the game and each succeeding period, and the Referee shall start the play promptly in accordance with Rule 637 (Time of Match). To assist in assuring the prompt return to the ice of the teams and On-Ice Officials, the Game Timekeeper shall give a preliminary warning three minutes prior to the resumption of play in each period.

  (b) If the rink is not equipped with an automatic gong, bell or siren, or if such device fails to function, the Game Timekeeper shall signal the end of each period by ringing a gong or bell or by blowing a whistle.

  (c) He shall cause to be announced on the public address system at the appropriate time in each period that there is one minute remaining to be played in the period.

  (d) The Game Timekeeper shall not sound the horn or buzzer during play to notify the Referee of a malfunction of the clock or any other equipment. He shall note the time and, when play is stopped, notify the Referee of the problem. In the event of any dispute regarding time, the matter shall be referred to the Referee for adjustment, and his decision shall be final.

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Rule 402. Minor Penalties (From the USA Hockey Officials Handbook, and the rulebook)

(c) The penalty which terminates automatically is the first minor penalty or bench minor penalty (non-coincident) then being served by the "shorthanded" team. Thus, if an equal number of players from each team is serving a penalty(s) (minor, bench minor, major or match only), neither team is "shorthanded".
      This Rule shall not apply when a goal is scored on a penalty shot or an awarded goal.

Order of players returning to the ice when a goal is scored:

  Is the team that was scored upon below the on-ice numerical strength of its opponents?

  IF  NO,  Take no action

  IF YES, ASK: Is there at least 1 non­coincident minor or bench minor penalty being served by the team that was scored upon?

  IF  NO,  Take no action

  IF YES, Terminate the minor or bench minor penalty with the least time remaining on the clock.

The following guidelines are set up to aid the Referee in making the correct decision as to which penalty, if any, expires whenever a question arises:

(1) When both teams are at equal on-ice numerical strength, no penalty can expire as the result of a goal.

(2) The penalty that expires is the minor or bench minor penalty then being served with the least time remaining on the penalty clock.

(3) A major penalty cannot expire as the result of a goal scored.

(4) A double minor penalty is always treated as two separate minor penalties, not one four-minute penalty.

(5) Any time two minor penalties to different players of the same team expire at the same time, the Captain has his choice as to which player will return first.

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Rule 408. Delayed Penalties

  (a) If a third player of any team shall be penalized while two players of the same team are serving penalties, the penalty time of the third player shall not commence until the penalty time of one of the two players already penalized shall have elapsed. Nevertheless, the third player penalized must at once proceed to the penalty bench and may be replaced by a substitute until such time as the penalty time of the penalized player shall commence.

  (b) When any team shall have three players serving penalties at the same time, and because of the delayed penalty rule a substitute for the third offender is on the ice, none of the three penalized players on the penalty bench may return to the ice until play has been stopped. When play has been stopped, the player whose full penalty has expired may return to the
play.

Provided, however, that the Penalty Timekeeper shall permit the return to the ice in the order of expiration of their penalties, of a player or players when by reason of the expiration of their penalties the penalized team is entitled to have more than four players on the ice.

  (c) In the case of delayed penalties, the Referee shall instruct the Penalty Timekeeper that the penalized players whose penalties have expired shall only be allowed to return to the ice when there is a stoppage of play.

When the penalties of two players of the same team will expire at the same time the Captain of that team will designate to the Referee which of such players will return to the ice first and the Referee will instruct the Penalty Timekeeper accordingly.

When a major and a minor penalty are imposed at the same time on players of the same team, the Penalty Timekeeper shall record the minor as being the first of such penalties.

  (Note) This applies to the case where the two penalties are imposed on DIFFERENT players of the same team. See also Rule 402(e)(Note), (Minor Penalties).

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