I’m in my early 40s and my friend who refs (and does the schedule) finally convinced me to give this a shot. I haven’t played in 20 years but kept up on skating and watching hockey so I figured why not.

Had my first games yesterday, both 10U but the second game were travel teams. Felt like I did better in the first game than the second. Second game I called a ridiculous off side that resulted in a center ice faceoff. I owned the mistake and apologized to the coach of the affected team, thankfully it didn’t mess with a scoring chance. My partner said I did well but looking back I feel like I missed some penalties and it’s giving me anxiety about my 10u and 12u games I have scheduled next weekend. I struggled to identify some calls that could have been checking/roughing but we’re likely just kids losing balance when getting bumped or just running into one another.

Is it easier to call penalties when hitting is allowed? I feel like that would be more clear about what is and isn’t allowed. Anyway, any tips to get confidence up before my next games?

I had a coach in a 10U game yesterday questioning the other team taking slap shots. I'm just looking for a point of reference, my partner and I allowed them.

I do not see anywhere in the rulebook(USAH) defining a reverse check as a infraction/penalty. Anyone know somewhere in the rulebook where it's defined?

Ok guys my first game back in like 8 years is tomorrow. I’ve never reffed 2-man before, so this is also new to me. It’s only u13 so I should be fine but what are some tips to show up confidently and call correctly?

(They also gave me a u13 game on Sunday to do solo, rip. But I’m hoping to make the most of the Saturday game so I’m ready for Sunday.)

Thanks in advance!!

I am looking to upgrade to a wheeled bag. Finding an ebag is not an option since they’re now out of business. What bags are refs getting now? Any help is appreciated.

I've completed all level 1 requirements and have received my crest. Do I just email some PAHL assignors to get started?

For some reason I still remember this years later.

I was once reffing a game and there was an ever-common post-whistle scuffle in front of the net with all 10 skaters converging. We broke it up quickly, no penalties. I go to line up for the faceoff inside the circle and the defensive coach yells that the faceoff should be outside the zone. I didn’t pay him any attention because I thought he was just griping and dropped the puck, and then I realized what he meant.

The attacking defensemen had gone below the circles. Not once in my years of officiating had I ever enforced that nor had a coach ever called it out. I wondered how he even knew about the rule. Coaches don’t read the rulebook!

And then I remembered. He should know the rule very well.

He was a former professional defenseman.

Admittedly nerdy one here… with reference to the current (2024-2026) Hockey Canada rule book - where is the face-off location if the attacking team accidentally dislodges the net from its moorings? With some of the end zone face-off location changes this year, I cannot find it anymore.

I would previously (e.g 2022-24) have gone to 6.3 (e) (iv) “or a stoppage of play has been caused by an attacking player in their attacking zone the ensuing face-off will be in the neutral zone at the nearest face-off spot.” however, that “or stoppage of play” has been removed from the new 6.3. (d) (iv) and it only covers an infringement of a rule.

Accidentally causing the net to be dislodged is not an infringement of a rule, unless the net being dislodged is “puck going out of play or becoming unplayable” which I’m not convinced of. Do I have a miss-interpretation or is it undefined?

Had this happen in one of my beer league games last night. Thought it would be a good talking point for some of the new refs in the crowd. All happened in the same stoppage.

Team A

1. 4 min for Head Contact

Team B

1. 2 min for Holding
2. 2+10 min USC (he doubled down with a 10 for USC since the warning and minor didn't work.. )

So, who goes in the box, and for how long?

Are all level 3 seminars sufficient for level 4 requirements? Does anyone know if that information is specified in writing anywhere?

Some are listed as level 3..with level 3 and 4 in details, but some just say level 3. The level 4 seminars are few and mostly full. Theres a couple level 3 I could make the time for.

So I'm a new ref, I also play on a men's league twice a week. Wondering what is a good skate sharpening depth for using the same skates/blades for both. I'm trying to avoid having two sets of blades and definitely looking to avoid two sets of skates. Right now I have a 5/8th cut. Thinking about going down to a 3/8th. PS, I used to be a decent player but now I'm 46.... I'm a much better ref than a player now. But I'm also far from the worst in my league. Looking for a good middle ground.

Im about to start my first year of reffing after not playing for 20 years. I’ve been reading the rule book and noticed that the minimum penalty for charging is 2 minutes plus a misconduct (rule 607a). Is that correct? Can you not issue only a minor penalty for charging?

I doubt I’ll run into this as my first games are 10u and 12u but it was surprising to see. I’m certain I was dealt a few charging penalties as a player and they didn’t come with a 10 tacked on but again, that was two decades ago.

I’m not actually a ref but I have a question about varsity hockey rules. I want to get an uncertified cat eye cage for varsity, but I’m not sure if they’re legal. I know they aren’t in USA hockey but I’ve heard they’re allowed in varsity. Does it depend on location or is there a set rule for everywhere? Any advice is appreciated so thanks!

I'm thinking of getting a helmet camera... I prefer something sleek and blends in with the lines of the helmet.

For those of you that use them, which one do you use? What is your preference if you had to buy another one?

There a hand signal for this? Feel like a T is for unsportsmanlike & hands on the hip is a misconduct , feel like neither apply as both of those are more severe.

Have a question about the rules?

Run into any interesting situations or have a story to tell?

Share them here!

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Yesterday, It started with a face off after a goal. I sent the blue center off for not having a mouthguard, and then his replacement DIDN’T HAVE ONE EITHER… Should that have been an automatic 2 for delay of game and the second center gets a 10 for equipment violation?

Imagine a scenario where the goalie makes a save, holds his save position, but the puck trickles behind him (and the low ref can see it), the ref yells "loose" and before the attacking player can get to it, the goalie hears the ref, and moves to cover the puck.

Would you yell loose in that situation? Do you feel it gives the Defensive team an unfair advantage? or do you think it prevents conflict by communicating that the puck is loose around the net?

I worked with a good ref tonight and we were at opposite ends of this subject. I won't say which side I am on. I would like to hear what you would do. Also, what have you been told to do in this scenario?

ps. I know that as the high ref, many refs will yell "loose" if the puck is on the low refs blind side of the net... but thats not what I am looking for discussion on.

Defending team clears puck past there own blue line & the puck goes back into defending end with an attacking player still in the zone , my arm goes up & yell offiside until attacking player clears, second question similar scenario , puck clears defending teams blue line , attacking team has possession now waiting on blue line while an attacking player is still in the offensive zone . Does my hand go up for this one aswell or do I just yell offside ?

Big CCM tourney this past weekend. So lots of high quality play and amp'ed up boys. Here's situation: puck is in Red defensive zone about to break out into neutral zone and into Blue defensive zone. Red players were on ice for a bit and knew that once Red got the puck out into neutral zone into Blue defensive zone, some Red players would on the fly line change. I am the blue line ref right beside Red bench. Red player is ready to jump on and he's sitting on the boards, skates hanging over boards. He didn't jump down onto the ice. I tell him to get back inside the bench. At no point did he actually interfere with my ability to move along the boards, no puck hit him, no player hit him. But any of it could have happened. I kept telling him to get back inside the bench.

My thought was that if he interfered, he could be called for an interference. Plus a safety thing for other players that his skates were dangling down. Plus, depending on how the play broke out, it could have broken out near me causing me to possibly skate into the hanging player. I looked at Rule 204(b) but it really say. I then thought maybe Rule 601(b)(7) "interfering in any non physical manner with any game official...in performance of my duty" because it was distracting, posed a safety issue, and I always needed to check if he jumped early maybe to get a pass and get a breakaway.

Thoughts?

Hello everyone.
Can you help me with the situation? Should goal be allowed???
https://youtu.be/psLpWOVTub8

So what happens??
Attaking player bats the puck with the hand it hits the opposing
goalie in the back and rebound to the same player that bat the puck initially
after that player scores, what official should do in this situation?

In USA Hockey, can a high stick be negated as a result of a shot or pass? I thought so but can't find it in rule or scenarios. I believe it's how the NHL runs.

I struggle with calling penalties quickly and so I was wondering if anyone has any videos of plays where the viewer is supposed to make a call, and then the correct call is shown?

Where is the face off when the play is in the ozone and penalties are assessed to each team. No dman in - not looking for the unique circumstances here.

I’m pretty certain this is rule 6.3.b and face off stays inside but anyone have anything different on this?

Just wondering how long it can take to get to Member's High Performance in Canada. I'm currently a Level 2 official with experience playing and coaching. I reffed for two years while I was 13 y/o and started again this year.

Anyone willing to share their experience?

Thanks!

Let’s say ref calls a delayed penalty, and his non-whistle hand is in the air.

But before play is stopped, another foul occurs. Same referee sees it and intends to call it.

Does he make another hand signal to signify another foul?

I like to imagine him skating around the rink looking like he’s announcing a touchdown, but I can’t imagine that’s correct.

Does anyone have a similar experience-

Our son (10u Squirt USA Hockey) was an assessed a penalty after the game ended- Cross Checking- Minor- 1.5 minutes. After the handshake line one of the kids on the other team gave our guy a shoulder, he fell, and the other kid turned and laughed at him. He got up, chased the kid down, and shoved him in to the boards. Totally innapropriate behavior.

2 days later we found out the penalty had been escalated to a Match Penalty and that he was suspended until he attended a disciplinary hearing. About 5 days later we recieved the incident report that was submitted.

The Head Coach of the team we were playing put himself down as one of the game officals and is the person who changed the penalty to a Match Penalty. This feels weird because he wasn’t reffing and the Live Barn footage shows him not seeing the penalty. The angle of the actual incident was also obscured from the live barn footage, so I’m not really understanding how he was able to determine the ref didn’t make the correct call.

Our organization hasn’t been very helpful with understanding what’s going on and what to expect during the hearing. Would love any insight about the situation and what to expect at a hearing!

I'm planning to do 8u and 10u, do I need to get a girdle and elbow/shin guards?

1. Do I simply just stay around the neutral zone during play?

2. If I raise my hand for an icing, does my partner or me blow the whistle? (or other calls, I'm a bit lost)

3. Who and where do they need to retrieve the puck?

4. Who needs to drop puck and how do I know if I need to?

those are the current ones, pretty sure I got more cooking in my head, any help would be great