Rule 501 Appointment of Officials

(a) Except for Juniors-For Regional and National Championships, the District Referee-in-Chief or his duly appointed representative shall appoint the Referees and Linesmen.

Tournament officials shall appoint a Game Timekeeper, a Penalty Timekeeper, an Official Scorer and two Goal Judges.

Referee System-The official method of refereeing USA Hockey games is with a Referee and two Linesmen. However, Districts or Regions are authorized to use two Referees for games under their jurisdiction. When reference is made to Linesmen under Rule 503 fail clauses) the duties of the Linesmen will be carried out by both Referees in the two-man system.

(b) For Juniors only-The Referee-in-Chief or his duly appointed representative shall appoint the Referees and Linesmen. Member clubs of the League shall appoint a Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer and two Goal Judges for each game. Failure to appoint an Off-Ice Official may result in a fine not to exceed Fifty Dollars $50.00) per unassigned official.

(Note) The official method of refereeing Junior Hockey League games is the three-man system: one Referee and two Linesmen.

Rule 502 Referee

(a) The "REFEREE" shall have general supervision of the game, and shall have full control of all game officials, team officials and players before, during and after the game, including stoppages; and in case of any dispute, his decision shall be final.

On-Ice Officials should enter the ice surface prior to warm-ups and remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period until all players have proceeded to their dressing rooms. Penalties may also be assessed during the warm-up period.

(b) All On-Ice Officials shall wear black trousers, official sweaters and a black hockey helmet, with helmet strap fastened. All On-Ice Officials shall wear the current USA Hockey officiating crest on the left chest of the sweater during all games. Any other crest that is worn must be located on either arm of the sweater. They shall be equipped with whistles and metal tape measures with minimum length of six feet. The wearing of name-plates shall be regulated by each League.

(c) The Referee shall order the teams on the ice at the appointed time for the beginning of a game, and at the commencement of each period. If for any reason there are more than fifteen minutes delay in the commencement of the game or any undue delay in resuming play after the fifteen minute intervals between periods, the Referee shall state in his report to the proper authorities the cause of the delay, and the team or teams which were at fault.

(d) When he becomes aware of any lack of conformity to the regulations on equipment, it shall be his duty to see that the required equipment is in use.

(e) The Referee shall, before starting a game, see that the appointed Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, Official Scorer and Goal Judges are in their respective places, and satisfy himself that the timing and signaling equipment is in order.

(f) It shall be his duty to impose such penalties as are prescribed by the rules for infractions thereof, and he shall give the final decision in matters of disputed goals. The Referee may consult with the Linesmen or Goal Judges before making his decision.

(g) The Referee shall announce to the Official Scorer or Penalty Timekeeper all goals and assists legally scored as well as penalties, and for what infractions such penalties are imposed.

The Referee shall cause to be announced over the public address system the reason for not allowing a goal every time the goal signal light is turned on in the course of play. This shall be done at the first stoppage of play regardless of any signal given by the Referee when the goal signal light was put on in error.

The Referee shall report to the Official Scorer the name or number of the goal scorer and any players entitled to assists.

(Note) The name of the scorer and any player entitled to an assist will be announced on the public address system. In the event that the Referee disallows a goal for any violation of the rules, he shall report the reason for disallowance to the Official Scorer who shall announce the Referee's decision over the public address system.

The infraction of the rules for which each penalty has been imposed will be announced correctly, as reported by the Referee, over the public address system. Where players of both teams are penalized on the same play, the penalty to the visiting player will be announced first.

(h) The Referee shall see to it that players of Opposing teams are separated on the penalty bench to prevent feuding.

(i) If, through misadventure or sickness, the Referee and/or Linesmen appointed are prevented from appearing, the Managers or Coaches of the two teams shall agree on a Referee and Linesmen. If they are unable to agree, they shall appoint a player from each team who shall act as Referee and Linesman; the player of the home team acting as Referee, and the player of the visiting team as Linesman.

(j) If the regularly appointed officials appear during the progress of the game, they shall at once replace the temporary officials.

(k) Should an appointed Linesman be unable to act at the last minute or through sickness or accident be unable to finish the game, the Referee shall have the power to appoint another, in his stead, if he deems it necessary, or if required to do so by the Manager or Coach of either of the competing teams.

(l) If for any reason one Official is unable to continue to officiate (three-man system); the game shall be officiated with one Referee/one Linesman or with two Referees as mandated by the local governing body.

(m) The Referee shall check team rosters and all players in uniform before signing reports of the game.

Rule 503 Linesman

(a) The duties of the "LINESMAN" are to determine any infractions of the rules concerning off-side play at the blue lines, or center line, or any violation of the "Icing the Puck" rule.

He shall stop play when the puck goes outside the playing area, when it is interfered with by any ineligible person, and when it is struck above the height of the shoulder, when it is passed to a teammate with the hand and when the goal post has been displaced from its normal position. When he is in the near vicinity of the goal, he shall stop play when he observes the puck enter the goal. He shall stop play for off-sides occurring at the face-off circles. He shall stop play when there has been a premature substitution for a goalkeeper under Rule 2O5(a} {Change of Players), for injured players under Rule 206(e}, and interference by spectators under Rule 622(a).

(b) He shall conduct the face-off at all times, except at the start of the game, at the beginning of each period and after a goal has been scored.

The Referee may call upon a Linesman to conduct a face-off at any time.

(c) He shall, when requested to do so by the Referee give his version of any incident that may have taken place during the playing of the game.

(d) He shall not stop play to report any penalty except any violation of Rule 205(a) and (c), Change of Players (too many players on the ice) and any violation of Rules 601(c.2) and 601(h.3) (articles thrown on the ice from vicinity of players' or penalty bench), and he shall report such violation to the Referee who shall impose a bench minor penalty against the offending team.

He shall report immediately to the Referee his version of the circumstances with respect to Rule 609(c) (delaying the game by deliberately displacing the goal post from its normal position).

He shall report to the Referee at the next stoppage of play his version of any infraction of the rules which he believes constitutes a bench minor major, match, misconduct, game ejection (Juniors only}, game misconduct, gross misconduct penalty or penalty shot under these rules, or any Injury Potential Penalty (See Glossary) that occurs behind the play and is not observed by the Referee The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a penalty for such infractions.

(e) Should an Official accidentally leave the ice or receive an injury which incapacitates him from discharging his duties while play is in progress, the game shall be immediately stopped by an On-Ice Official.

Rule 504 Goal Judge

(a) There shall be one "GOAL JUDGE" at each goal. They shall not be members of either team engaged in a game, nor shall they be replaced during its progress unless after the commencement of the game it becomes apparent that either Goal Judge, on account of partisanship or any other cause, is guilty of giving unjust decisions, in which case the Referee may appoint a replacement.

(b) Goal Judges shall be stationed behind the goals during the progress of play, in properly screened cages, so that there can be no interference with their activities; and they shall not change goals during the game.

(c) In the event of a goal being claimed, the Goal judge of that goal shall decide whether or not the puck has passed between the goal posts, under the crossbar and entirely over the goal line. His decision is simply "goal" or "no goal."

Rule 505 Penalty Timekeeper

(a) The "PENALTY TIMEKEEPER" shall keep, on the official forms provided, a correct record of all penalties imposed by the On-Ice Officials including the names of the players penalized, the infractions penalized, the duration of each penalty and the time at which each penalty was imposed. He shall report to the Referee any player or Team Official who is in violation of Rule 404(d) (Game Misconduct)-Note: this sentence is not applicable in Juniors. He shall report in the Penalty Record each penalty shot awarded, the name of the player taking the shot and the result of the shot.

(b) The Penalty Timekeeper shall check and ensure that the time served by all penalized players is cot rect. He shall be responsible for the correct posting of all penalties on the scoreboard at all times and shall promptly call to the attention of the Referee any discrepancy between the time recorded on the clock and the official correct time and he shall be responsible for making any adjustments ordered by the Referee.

He shall, upon request, give a penalized player correct information as to the unexpired time of his penalty.

(Note 1) The infraction of the rules for which each penalty has been imposed will be announced twice over the public address system as reported by the Referee. Where players of both teams are penalized on the same play, the penalty to the visiting player will be announced first.

(Note 2) Misconduct penalties and coincident minor or ma for penalties should not be recorded on the timing device, but such penalized players should be alerted and released at the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalties,

Rule 506 Official Scorer

(a) Before the start of the game, the "OFFICLAL

SCORER" shall obtain from the Manager or Coach of both teams a list of all eligible players of each team, which information shall be made known to the opposing team Manager or Coach before the start of play, either personally or through the Referee.

The Official Scorer shall secure the names of the Captain and Designated Alternate from the Manager of Coach and will so indicate by placing the letter "C" or "A" opposite their names on the score sheet. The official Scorer shall indicate the names of each head coach of each team on the score sheet. This information shall be presented to the Referee for his signature at the completion of the game.

For Juniors only-he shall also be responsible to obtain and record the starting lineup of each team.

(b) The Official Scorer shall keep a record of the goals scored, the scorers, and players to whom assists have been credited, and shall indicate those players on the lists who have actually taken part in the game. He shall also record the time of entry into the game of any substitute or temporary goalkeeper. He shall record on the Official Score Sheet a notation where a goal is scored when the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice.

(c) The awards of points for goals and assists shall be announced over the public address system and all changes in such awards shall also be announced in the same manner.

No requests for changes in any award of points shall be considered unless they are made at or before the conclusion of actual play in the game by the team Captain.

(d) The Official Scorer shall also prepare the Official Score Sheet for signature by the Referee and forward it to the proper authorities.

Rule 507 Game Timekeeper

(a) The "GAME TIMEKEEPER" shall signal the Referee and the competing teams for the start of the game and each succeeding period, and the Referee shall start the play promptly in accordance with Rule 637 {Time of Match). To assist in assuring the prompt return to the ice of the teams and On-Ice Officials, the Game Timekeeper shall give a preliminary warning three minutes prior to the resumption of play in each period.

(b) If the rink is not equipped with an automatic gong, bell or siren, or if such device fails to function, the Game Timekeeper shall signal the end of each period by ringing a gong or bell or by blowing a whistle.

(c) He shall cause to be announced on the public address system at the appropriate time in each period that there is one minute remaining to be played in the period.

(d) The Game Timekeeper shall not sound the horn or buzzer during play to notify the Referee of a malfunction of the clock or any other equipment.

He shall note the time and, when play is stopped, notify the Referee of the problem. In the event of any dispute regarding time, the matter shall be referred to the Referee for adjustment, and his decision shall be final.

Rule 508 Proper Authorities

(a) The term "proper authorities" or "proper disciplinary authority" as applied under these rules is defined as the immediate governing body of the team or teams involved.