1. BASIC JUDGMENT

2. JUDGMENT The ability to enforce and interpret the playing rules
Requires knowledge and experience
of the playing rules
(Rule Book/Casebook)
of procedures and mechanics
(Basic Manual—.pdf file)
Also requires game experience
Begin by learning the rules
other skills will come with time

3. NEW OFFICIALS Learn the playing rules
Become familiar with the USA Hockey Standards of Play
Emphasize player safety
Recognize serious infractions
Know the criteria for Minor and Major penalties
Know what Game Misconduct and Match penalties are, and when to assess them
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

4. STANDARD OF PLAY BODY CHECKING
The sole purpose of a body check is to separate an opponent from the puck
Only the area between the hips and shoulders can be used to deliver a body check
A body check must be delivered only in the area above the knees and below the shoulders of an opponent
Players who gain a positional advantage over an opponent as a result of a body check cannot be penalized if the check was delivered within the rules
In addition to the body checking standard, players must also be held accountable for any act of an intimidating or dangerous nature

5. STANDARD OF PLAY RESTRAINING FOULS
The ONLY legal way to use a stick is to play the puck
Players cannot use their sticks to impede an opponent’s progress (Hooking)
A player cannot use a free hand or arm to grab an opponent or impede an opponent’s progress (Holding)
Officials must ensure that a player who has gained a positional advantage because of anticipation, skating ability, or other physical skills does not lose that advantage because of illegal acts committed by an opponent (Interference)
In addition to restraining fouls, players must also be held accountable for other any act of an intimidating or dangerous nature.

6. MINOR OR MAJOR? Decision Criteria:
Intent
Degree of Violence
Injury to Opponent
Major plus game misconduct is mandatory for infractions that cause injury to an opponent (except interference)

7. GAME MISCONDUCT
Player(s) or Team Official(s) ejected from game in progress and suspended for the next game already on the schedule of his/her team at the time of the incident.
Assessed to players for:
Fighting
First to intervene in fisticuffs, "3rd man in”
Intentional or reckless head contact
Unintentional injury to an opponent
Five or more penalties in the same game (youth, girls, and adult women’s classifications only)
Second major or misconduct in the same game
Helmet/facemask comes off during an altercation (not deliberate)
Deliberately removing own or opponent’s helmet/facemask prior to or during an altercation (adult male only)
Physically interfering with any game official (on-ice or off-ice) performing their duties.

8. MATCH PENALTIES Apply to these infractions:
Deliberate injury to an opponent or game official
Deliberate attempt to injure an opponent or game official
Kicking an opponent
Detrimental conduct to include:
Verbally threatening a game official with physical harm
Spitting at an opponent, spectator, game official, or team official
Deliberately removing own or opponent’s helmet prior to or during an altercation
Penalized player is immediately ejected. Substitute for penalized player serves a 5-minute time penalty
Penalized player remains suspended from games and practices until a hearing on the incident is held by the proper authority. If no hearing is held, player is reinstated after 30 days

9. CATEGORIES OF INFRACTIONS
Rules infractions can fall into one of four categories
INJURY POTENTIAL
AGGRESSIVE
RRESTRAINING
ALTERCATIONS

10. INJURY POTENTIAL The “Big Four" Major plus game misconduct only
Butt-ending
Spearing
Head-butting
Rubbing, grabbing or holding the facemask
Major plus game misconduct only
A match penalty may be imposed if the referee considers the act to be a deliberate injury or deliberate attempt to injure
There is no minor penalty option

11. AGGRESSIVE Boarding, charging, checking from behind, head contact:
Minor plus misconduct or
Major plus game misconduct
There is no option for a minor only or major only
Kicking
Major plus game misconduct if using skate to push-off an opponent
Match penalty
Body Checking (in body contact & adult no-check classifications); Cross-Checking, Elbowing, Kneeing, High Sticking, Slashing:
Minor or major
Major plus game misconduct (if injury occurs)

12. AGGRESSIVE
Deliberate attempt to injure or deliberate injury of an opponent:
Match Penalty
Roughing (altercations short of fighting):
Minor or Double Minor
Roughing (deliberate contact after the whistle, avoidable late hit to player not in possession & control, and checking in a non-check game):
Minor
Major
Major plus game misconduct (if injury to an opponent results)

13. RESTRAINING Interference and Holding
Minor only
Hooking, Tripping, Clipping, Leg Checking:
Minor or Major
Major plus game misconduct (if injury to an opponent results)
(If, in the referee's opinion, a player is unquestionably poke-checking the puck and gains possession and control of the puck as a result, there is no penalty if the puck carrier falls as a result of the poke check)

14. ALTERCATIONS Participants: Instigator: Third player in:
Minor or double minor (Roughing) OR
Major plus game misconduct (Fighting)
Instigator:
Additional minor
Third player in:
Game misconduct
Leaving player’s bench or penalty bench during an altercation:
Major plus game misconduct
Own helmet accidentally comes off during an altercation:
Deliberately removing own or opponent’s helmet during an altercation:
Game Misconduct (adult male classifications only)
Match Penalty (all other classifications)

15. GAME REPORTS
An official who assesses any major, game misconduct, or match penalty must also submit a game report through the USA Hockey online Incident Reporting System.
This includes major penalties that do not also carry an automatic game misconduct penalty
The narrative section of the report dialog does not need to be completed for any game report that involves only major penalties (i.e., no game misconduct or match penalties)
Game Reports must be filed within 24 hours of the time the game ends
Game reports are not required for minor or double minor penalties

16. EXPECTATIONS Learn the rules
Become familiar with the Standards of Play
Know the penalty options that apply
Understand the basic enforcement standards
Injury-potential fouls must be penalized every time
Skating and puck-handling skills cannot be neutralized because of restraining fouls by opponents
Become familiar with the USA Hockey online Incident Reporting System
Get game experience
Have the courage to make the call
Learn from your mistakes
Give it your best effort
Have fun!

17. QUESTIONS