Off-Ice Officials in 16U National Hockey Championships

1. Off-ice Officials USA Hockey Officiating Program Roles • Responsibilities • Procedures Prepared by the Southeastern District Officiating Program Staff for use by off-ice officials assigned to the USA Hockey 16-and-under National Championships Reston and Ashburn, VA March 30 – April 3, 2011

2. Introduction • The purpose of this presentation is to help prepare off-ice officials for their roles and responsibilities during the national championship and to help ensure that the on- and off-ice officials work together as a seamless integrated officiating team. • Off-ice officials perform vital services on an unpaid volunteer basis, to ensure games run smoothly and results are reported accurately. • Services are less visible than those performed by on-ice officials and are almost always under-appreciated. • Off-ice officials serve under the immediate supervision of the Referee and the general supervision of the Tournament Director.

3. Definitions • On-ice officials: • Include one referee and two linesmen for each national championship game • The referee has primary responsibility for controlling and overseeing the game in progress • The referee is assisted by the linesmen for aspects of the game that occur primarily on the ice, and by the off-ice officials for aspects of the game that occur primarily off the ice • Off-ice officials: • At a minimum, includes an official scorer (scorekeeper), a timekeeper/clock operator, a public address announcer, and two penalty box attendants (one for each penalty box) • If circumstances permit, an assistant scorer and dedicated clock operator may also be assigned • The official scorer generally supervises the other off-ice officials and has primary responsibility for coordinating and communicating with the referee

4. Off-ice Officials: Principal Roles • An extension of the on-ice officiating team • Assist on-ice officials in conducting and controlling the game • Serve as a liaison between on-ice officials and competing teams • Ensure good order and compliance with the playing rules in and around the scorer’s bench and penalty benches • Maintain a record of the game (score sheet) • Obtain required signatures and distribute completed and signed score sheets in accordance with tournament policy

5. Assignment of Off-ice Officials • Assignment of off-ice officials is the responsibility of USA Hockey Tournament Director, through the Tournament Committee • Although some off-ice officials may have ties to local teams or clubs, they must remain totally impartial in both appearance and actions while serving in an off-ice officiating capacity.

6. General Guidelines • Try to arrive at your assigned game site 30 minutes before the scheduled game time • Casual clothing in good taste is appropriate but avoid wearing clothing with team names or logos, even if the team is not competing in the tournament • A warm jacket is suggested as some rinks tend to be colder than others

7. Off-ice Officials Duties and Responsibilities

8. Official Scorer • Responsible for preparation, completion, and distribution of the game score sheet. • Prior to the game: • Obtain the proper game scoresheet from the tournament committee (scoresheets should be partially filled out in advance, including game number and pre-printed player rosters) • Roster should have, at a minimum, each player’s last name and uniform number • Captain and up to two alternates must be designated by inserting the letter “C” or “A” beside their names • Visit the on-ice official’s dressing room to establish initial communication, review lineups, and familiarize the on-ice officials with any unusual matter that might have a bearing on the game. Examples may include scoreboard irregularities, player/coach suspensions, and similar issues

9. Official Scorer • During the game: • Record goals, assists, and penalties • Record times of goals and penalties • Advise the referee when-- • Any player has received a total of five penalties, regardless of type or duration. • Any player receives a second major penalty in the same game • Either team has received a total of 15 penalties, regardless of type or duration • Record saves and shots on goal • Complete all blocks on the score sheet • Advise the referee if a suspended player or player who is not listed on the score sheet is present on a team bench • Make roster alterations as necessary at the direction of the referee • Assist on-ice officials by observing altercations and other unusual or disruptive events • Provide your version of events, if requested by the referee

10. Roster Alterations • Names of players who are listed on the score sheet but who were not physically present at any time during the game must be removed from the score sheet • Players who were not listed on the score sheet but who appear after the start of the game may play, provided-- • They were inadvertently omitted from the roster • There are less than 20 players listed on the score sheet. (A player already listed on the score sheet may not be deleted to make room for the additional player) • The affected team agrees to accept a bench minor penalty

11. Official Scorer (cont.) • After the game: • Assist on-ice officials by observing players and benches at the end of the game, especially-- • Handshake line • Exiting of teams from the ice • Give your version of events, if requested by the referee • Add any additional penalties assessed at the end of the game • Check score sheet for accuracy and completeness. Double-check for-- • Excessive penalties (5 per individual and 15 per team) • Two majors to a single player • Line-thru unused portions of goal, assist, and penalty blocks • Enter all summary information (goals, assists, penalty minutes, etc.) • Obtain all necessary signatures • Present the completed score sheet to the referee in the officials dressing room • After the referee signs the score sheet, distribute copies to each team in accordance with tournament procedures

12. Assistant Scorer • Record saves and shots on goal • Record plus/minus information • Provide other assistance as requested by the official scorer

13. Game Timekeeper • Responsible for operating the game clock and penalty clocks • Before the game: • Ensure game and penalty clock(s) are in operating order • Ensure availability of stop watches and whistle in the event game clocks malfunction or fail. • Familiarize yourself with clock console, if necessary. • Set warm-up & period times.

14. Game Timekeeper • During the game: • Start clock at every faceoff. Stop clock on every whistle • Post penalties to penalty clocks. Display shorthanded penalties only • Monitor penalty situations. • Manage delayed (stacked) penalty situations to ensure that penalized players return to the ice at the proper times and in the proper order • Communicate with penalty bench attendants regarding expiration of penalties • Be alert for clock malfunctions. Promptly report anomalies involving game or penalty clocks to the referee • Should the game clock fail to start after play resumes, keep track of time manually and report the situation to the referee at the next stoppage of play. • As directed by the referee, post correct clock time before play resumes • If the malfunction cannot be corrected, use stopwatches to maintain time and whistles or air horns to signal ends of periods

15. Penalty Bench Attendants • Responsible for penalty bench areas and ensuring that penalized players are released at the correct times • Open/close penalty bench doors to admit or release penalized players • Coordinate with the timekeeper to ensure penalty expirations are handled correctly • In situations where a player has received a major plus game misconduct or match penalty, keep the referee and official scorer informed during stoppages if a team has not placed a substitute for the disqualified player on the penalty bench before the major penalty (or time portion of a match penalty) expires. (Note: the onus for placing a player in the penalty box is 100% on the offending team and not on the off-ice officials. Off-ice officials monitor the situation and keep the referee informed) • Report any misconduct in or around the penalty bench area to the referee

16. Public Address Announcer • Responsible for communicating information directly or indirectly relating to the game with spectators • Check with teams before the game for proper name pronunciations • Announce goals, assists, penalties, and other pertinent information • Announce information relating to interpretations of the rules as requested by the referee • Make announcements only during stoppages • Ensure that music or sound effects are operated in accordance with established protocols

17. Communicating Effectively • Effective communication between and among off-ice officials and between off- and on-ice officials avoids confusion • Pre-game meeting between official scorer and on-ice officials should address questions, concerns, and other issues • Once game is underway: • Try to avoid sounding horn to get officials’ attention • Use verbal and non-verbal techniques instead • Promptly report any misconduct in the penalty bench area to the referee. • Do not hesitate to ask the referee for explanations or clarifications as may be necessary • Thanks for your participation. Now HAVE FUN!!