USA Hockey Officiating Seminar

1. USA Hockey Officiating Seminar Presentation Designed by Leonard Edling Edited for USA Hockey by Bob Fryer Additional editing by Joanne Nakaso

2. Welcome to Level 1 Seminar • Purpose • To review the basics and fundamentals of officiating • To establish uniformity in officiating • To eliminate “creativity” in officiating • Introduction of staff • Review of schedule • Breaks • Ice Time • Lunch

3. Welcome to Level 1 Seminar • What is expected of me ? (as an Official) • Be on time! • Take notes • Ask questions • Work hard • Have fun • Who are you and why are you here?

4. Officiating Program Overview

5. Local Officiating Program • All volunteer program • District Referee-in-Chief • Greg Lucker • Local Supervisor of Officials • Chris Leahy

6. Registration Procedures • Mail completed USA Hockey form with fee to national office • Take open-book exam from USA Hockey • Minimum passing score – 35/50 for Level 1 • Register and complete district seminar • Completion of seminar list is sent to USA Hockey • When completed with all requirements • Card and crest are sent from national office

7. Member Benefits • Insurance (medical and liability) • Summer Officials’ development camps • Regional • National • Women’s Camp • Select • Regional & National Championships

8. Member Benefits • International Program • Elite Officiating Experience • International tournaments • Olympic Games • Publications • Manuals • American Hockey Magazine • Stripes Newsletter

9. Member Benefits • District Officiating Seminars • Instructor Training sessions • Evaluation Program • Mentor Program • Local events

10. Personal Appearance

11. Looking the Part • Positive impression • Build credibility • Defines role as an official • Good looks complement good skills • Commands respect

12. Personal Appearance • Face • Hair • General condition

13. Equipment Needs • Helmet • Mandatory • Black in color • Good condition • Visor- strongly recommended • Sweater • Long-sleeved • Trousers • Black

14. Equipment Needs • Girdle protection • Skates • Well maintained • Clean white laces • No goalie skates! • Cup and supporter • Leg guards • Elbow guards

15. Officials’ Supplies • Whistles • Finger type • Minimum of 2 • Rule book (USA Hockey & League) • Referee’s manual(s) • Equipment bag • Tape

16. Officials’ Supplies • Telephone numbers • Assignors • Supervisors • Officials • Pen and Note pad (“riot pad”) • Cut skate laces • Soap and towel

17. Off-Ice Dress for Regular Games • What to wear • Nice clothing • Neat, clean and tidy • No team jackets • Avoid T-shirts and jeans (if possible) • Why? • Good first impression • Shows that officials take pride in work

18. Well groomed neat appearance Proper On-Ice Attire Black helmet Sweater Crest Finger whistle Clean white laces Black trousers Well maintained skates

19. Physical Conditioning

20. Stretching • Purpose of stretching • To obtain or maintain flexibility • To reduce potential of future injury • Basic stretching principles • Stretch major muscle groups from head to toe • Stretch slowly with controlled movements

21. Basic Stretches • Neck • Arms and shoulders • Trunk and back • Groin • Quadriceps • Calves • Ankles

22. Importance of General Fitness • Promotes overall good health • Enhances performance on the ice • Enhances creditability of performance through physical appearance

23. General Fitness Exercises • Aerobic • High heart rate for a period of time (cardiovascular-based) • Anaerobic • Muscle-based with short bursts of cardiovascular activity • Best combine both aerobic and anaerobic • Average 3 times per week

24. Fundamentals of Skating

25. Importance of Skating Well • Basic building block • Helps to enhance position • Which enhances vision • Which enhances judgment • Helps to establish credibility when you keep up with the play

26. Referee Skating vs.Player Skating • View • Referees always turn and stop facing the play • Posture • Head must always be up • Tight skating lanes along the boards • Different arm swing from players • Always front to back to increase efficiency

27. Balance • Knee bend most important • Use inside edges • Shoulder, knee and ball of foot aligned • Head up

28. Ready Position • During stoppages (2 types) • Standing upright with hands at sides (ready position) • Hands on knees • During play • Never have hands on knees • Always stand upright with body angled toward the play (45 degree angle)

29. Arm Swing • Similar to runner (front to back) • Strive to eliminate • Stick carrying posture • Side to side arm swing • Dog paw • Clenched fists

30. Forward Stride • Long powerful strides are key • Exaggerated knee bend • Thrusts start with pressure (weight) on heel then extends through the blade to toe thrusting down “through the ice” • Full recovery • Weight transfer • Thrust out with opposite skate • All skating takes place from the hips down • Upper body stays “disciplined”

31. Pre-Game Responsibilities

32. Officiating Etiquette • Punctuality • 30 minutes prior (minimum) • Second check of equipment when arriving in room • Officials’ dressing room • No visitors • Private headquarters • Politely ask unwanted visitors to leave

33. Sociability • Short conversations with players and coaches: be polite • Avoid opinions of other officials • Avoid controversial matters

34. Stretching • Before every game • Every major muscle group • Heighten heart rate • Good warm-up a must

35. On-Ice Warm-up • Go onto ice 3-5 minutes before teams • Skate at warm-up pace • Practice turns, stops, starts: forward and backward • Practice skating in Officials’ skating lanes • Watch and monitor warm-ups

36. Visual Inspection of Playing Area • Check for: • Defective ice, boards, glass, door openings • Clock and bench locations • Off-Ice Officials in position • Illegal face masks and helmets • Checking the goals • Holes in netting (fix, if necessary) • Posts properly anchored • Warped goal frames • Familiarize yourself with arena

37. Conducting Face-Offs

38. Officials’ Stance • Feet shoulder width apart • Shins parallel • Puck held in non-whistle hand • Puck hand forearm rests on hip bone • Head up and looking forward

39. Holding the Puck • Two accepted methods • Thumb on top, forefinger along the side • Thumb and small finger on the side, other finger tips on top • Thumb must remain in contact with puck • Officials should try different techniques • Both players must have an equal view of the puck • Puck must always land flat • Face-off should be fair

40. Dropping the Puck • Officials must be ready first • Simultaneous out and down motion • Bend knees as puck starts first • Puck must land flat and remain stationary • Puck must land on center of face-off spot • Do not flick wrist prior to puck drop • Push the puck to the ice

41. Players’ Positions • Centers • Attacking player’s stick down first • Stick stationary on white half moon • When no spot exists: one stick length apart • Shoulders square with end boards

42. Players’ Positions • Other players • Same side of circle as center • Outside of circle: includes sticks • On their side of the hash marks • Which official is responsible for which players? • Official conducting face-off • Centers and players in front of him • Partner • Players behind the official conducting the face-off

43. Moving into PositionAfter Face-Off • Drop puck • Pause to view play • Look behind you • Back to side boards • Keep play in front of you • Proceed to position facing play • Hustle only when clear to move

44. Center Ice Face-Off Technique • Start of the period • Signal Goalkeepers (Goal Judges) • Face and signal Timekeeper • Following a goal • Face the players’ benches

45. Puck Hand-Offs • Hand shake technique • Place the puck flat in palm of partner • Receiving official closes hand firmly on puck • Professional look when clean and crisp • Everyone is watching you during this time

46. Referee Position: 3 Man System

47. Importance ofProper Positioning • Fundamental building block • Field of vision • Enables Official to see as much action as possible • Provides Official with safe viewing areas • Keeps Official out of the way • Officials’ “No-Man’s-Land” • Area that Officials must stay out of during play

48. Field of Vision

49. No-Man’s-Land

50. Starting The Game • Center Ice face-offs • Beginning of game: face the Timekeeper • Conduct face-off • Back toward side boards keeping play in field of vision