Northern Ontario Hockey Association End Zone Positioning Northern Ontario Hockey Association

New Procedure – Hockey Canada Hockey Canada has introduced a new end zone positioning procedure for the Referee or lead Official in the two Referee system; this system is called the cone as shown in the illustration below

The Cone Although the cone area is below the goal line at certain points, the Referee is encouraged to stay at or above the goal line as much as possible. The piston is still used, however, officials will be given a wider range and will be allowed to float. The referee in the 3 man system must adapt and not always go deep getting trapped in the corner and not able to follow the play. This is to prevent officials from going to high or not getting to the net and in position.

WHEN PLAY IS IN THE END ZONE FOLLOW NORMAL END ZONE POSITIONING At The Net Half Piston Home Base

Half Piston Area between Home Base and the near goal post, at the bottom of the face-off circle, usually in line with the face-off dots On an imaginary line joining home base and the near goal post When the puck is on the opposite side of the ice

HALF PISTON HP AND GOOD POSITION AND ICE LOCATION SHOULD THE PLAY MOVE OUT AS PLAY MOVES BEHIND THE GOAL LINE OUR SIGHTLINE IS RESTRICTED BY THE NET WE NEED TO CREATE A ZONE TO WORK IN TO GIVE US BETTER VIEW OF THE PLAY

HALF PISTON HP WHEN PLAY GOES BEHIND THE GOAL LINE TOO MANY OFFICIALS GO INTO “NO MAN’S LAND TO GAIN SIGHTLINES WHILE THEY DO GAIN SIGHTLINE THEY LOSE ICE ADVANTAGE THIS IS NOT GOOD POSITIONING

Home Base 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) off the boards, half way between goal line and face-off circle hash marks Puck is on the official’s side of the net

HOME BASE HP HB WHEN PLAY MOVES TO YOUR SIDE OF THE ICE YOU MOVE TO HOME BASE CREATING A ZONE USING THE BUMP AND PIVOT TO GIVE YOU GOOD ICE ADVANTAGE WHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE ZONE

At the Net Anywhere around the net that gives the official the best view to see if the puck goes over the goal line Closer to the net than half piston Ideally at the corner of the net 2-3 feet from goal line Never switch sides or cross over to other side during play

AT THE NET ATN HP WHEN PLAY IS AROUND THE NET CREATE A ZONE TO WORK IN TO GET THE BEST VIEW OF THE PUCK ENTERING THE NET BE READY TO SKATE BACKWARDS QUICKLY WHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE NET AREA WHICH PUTS YOU IN GOOD POSITION SHOULD THE PLAY LEAVE THE ZONE

WHEN PLAY ENTERS THE ZONE MANY OFFICIALS TEND TO “CHEAT” AND DON’T COME INTO THE END ZONE ANY FURTHER THAN SHOWN HERE. THIS LEAVES THEM IN BAD POSITION TO VIEW A PLAY AT THE NET WHEN PLAY ENTERS THE ZONE R

End Zone Maneuvers The Bump The Pivot Move along the boards from Home Base, in either direction, to stay out of the play “Bump” no further than top of circle or goal line The Pivot Used to maintain position while allowing play to pass quickly behind Step off boards as play approaches enough to allow play to pass behind As play passes, pivot to keep the play in sight and back to the boards, then move back to Home Base

BUMP HB HB AS PLAY MOVES TOWARDS YOU, BUMP THE BOARDS TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY WHEN PLAY MOVES, RETURN TO HOME BASE OR HALF PISTON

WHEN PLAY PASSES, PIVOT TO KEEP THE PLAY IN SIGHT HB HB HB WHEN PLAY PASSES, PIVOT TO KEEP THE PLAY IN SIGHT AS PLAY APPROACHES, PIVOT OFF THE BOARDS TO LET THE PLAY PASS YOU

Puck Possession How does it affect your positioning?

L L WHEN THE DEFENDING TEAM GETS CONTROL WE MUST ANTICIPATE THE CHANGE OF PLAY AND PREPARE TO MOVE WITH IT ATTACKING TEAM IN CONTROL OF THE PUCK WE MAINTAIN STANDARD END ZONE POSITIONING AS PLAY BEGINS TO MOVE OUT, WE MOVE WITH IT L A HOLDS POSITION UNTIL PUCK CROSSES THE LINE THEN MOVES WITH THE PLAY A D D D A HP L HB THIS LINESMAN MUST NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FLOATER AND CREATE A ZONE TO WATCH FOR AN OFFSIDE

Pursuit of Play Play on your side – 15-20 feet behind play Play on far side – 8-10 feet behind play Blue line to goal line – MUST KEEP SKATING Crossing over to other side of rink (behind net or middle of ice) is not acceptable! Use tight turns (vs. stops and starts) when play changes direction

PURSUIT OF PLAY R R R R R THE REFEREE MUST SKATE HARD THROUGH THE NEUTRAL ZONE, LOOKING BACK AT VARYING LOCATIONS TO WATCH PLAYERS BEHIND THE PLAY WHEN PLAY LEAVES THE ENDZONE AND CONTINUES INTO THE OPPOSITE ENDZONE UNTIL HE ASSUMES GOOD END ZONE POSITIONING

Common Mistakes Over skating (over reacting) Not anticipating movements/failure to get back to home base Not moving to the net quickly enough on close plays

True or False – Page 107 The maneuver that is used when the player comes around the board in the direction of the Referee standing at home base is the slide step. The three positions in the piston system are “at the net”, “on boards” and “at the face-off dot” The area located between home base and the nearest goal post, inline with the face-off dot is called “half piston” The pivot consists of taking a stride out away from the boards, crossing under and waiting for the play to move up ice There are three maneuvers and two positions in end zone positioning False False True False False

Multiple Choice – Page 107 When the Referee is “at the net” and play moves to his/her side of the ice, what must the Referee do: Skate backwards quickly to home base to avoid being caught in the play Take a couple of strides, then coast to see how the play is developing Wait “at the net” for play to develop and then move Turn, skate forwards to the boards and then assume the home base position