USA Hockey

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USA Hockey

• Four Official System
• Positioning Mechanics

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Four-Official System

• When can it be used
• Youth (boys and girls) games at the 16 Under
  age level and above.
• Recommended when the flow of play requires an
  additional referee for proper coverage of the ice
  and observation of play.
• It should not be used
• To create more job opportunities for officials
• To assign under-qualified officials to high level
  games (two average referees do not equal one
  excellent referee).

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Four-Official System

• Principles of the Four-Official System
• End zone/goal line positioning is essentially the
  same regardless as to what officiating system is
  used.
• The R2 (official in the neutral zone) must
  compliment the site lines of the R1 (official in
  end zone) to ensure the entire play area is
  covered.
• Instead of following play up the ice, the Lead
  Referee (R1) will have to use excellent backward
  skating skills to lead the play into the zone
• There should be no competition between the two
  referees to assess penalties,
• The referees must work together to consistently
  apply the rules and share equal responsibility
  for managing the game.

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Four-Official System

• Terminology
• FRONT / LEAD REFEREE (R1) responsibility
  first priority is the action area
• BACK / TRAILING REFEREE (R2) responsibility
  compliment R1s site lines including play away
  from the action area
• ACTION AREA the area and play in the immediate
  vicinity of the puck 

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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 1
L2
R1
L1
R2
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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 2 Linesman 1 (L1) is conducting the
face-off.
L2
R1
L1
R2
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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 3 Linesman 1 (L1) is conducting the
face-off.
L2
R1
L1
R2
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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 4 Linesman 1 (L1) is conducting the
face-off
L1
R2
R1
L2
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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 5 Linesman 1 (L1) is conducting the
face-off
L2
R1
L1
R2
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Positioning Face-offs
Figure 6 Dots and arrow mark direction of play
R2
R1
R1
R2
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Positioning End Zone
Figure 7 Dot marks location of play
R2
R1
Golden Triangle
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Positioning End Zone
Figure 8 Dot marks location of play
R2
R1
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Positioning End Zone
Figure 9 Dot marks location of play
R2
R1
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Positioning End Zone
Figure 10 Dot marks location of play
R2
R1
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Positioning End Zone
Figure 11 Dot marks location of play
R1
R2
R1
R2
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Positioning Play Transitions
Figure 12 Dot and arrow marks direction of play
between Player A1 and A2
R2
R1
15 20 ft
A2
A1
R1
R2
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Positioning Play Transitions
Figure 13 Dot and arrow marks location and
direction of play
R1
R2
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Positioning Play Transitions
Figure 14 Dot and arrow marks direction of play
between Player A1 and A2
R1
R1
A2
A2
II
A1
R2
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Positioning Play Transitions
Figure 15 Dot and arrow marks direction of play
between Player A1 and A2
A2
R1
A1
R2
R1
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Positioning - Stoppages
Figure 16 Dot and arrow marks direction of icing
play
R1
R1
LINE CHANGE
R2
R2
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Positioning - Stoppages
Figure 17 A1 and A2 simulate an offside pass X
marks location of face-off
R1
R1
A2
A1
LINE CHANGE
X
R2
R2
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Positioning - Stoppages
R1
R2

LINE CHANGE
R2
II
R1
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Positioning - Stoppages
Figure 19 Dot marks location of stoppage after
delayed penalty R2 has called a penalty against
the defending team
R1
R2
LINE CHANGE
R2
II
R1
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Positioning - Stoppages
Figure 20 Dot marks location of goal
R1
R2
LINE CHANGE
R2
R1
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Positioning Penalty Shot
Figure 21 Player A1 is awarded penalty shot
L2
R1
A1
II
L1
R2
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Areas of Responsibility
Figure 22 Player A1 is the puck carrier
R1
A1
B1
R2

• BLUE AREA Primary responsibility of Lead Referee
  (R1)
• YELLOW AREA Primary responsibility of Trailing
  Referee (R2)
• GREEN AREA Shared responsibility by both referees

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Areas of Responsibility
Figure 23 Dot marks location of play
R1
R2

• YELLOW AREA Primary responsibility of Lead
  Referee (R1)
• BLUE AREA Primary responsibility of Trailing
  Referee (R2)
• GREEN AREA Shared responsibility by both referees

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Calling Penalties

• Either referee may assess penalties. Sight lines
  will dictate who makes the call (not proximity).
• Only one referee must raise their arm for
  penalties. However, the other referee should
  raise his/her arm if they witness another
  infraction.
• If both referees raise their arm for one
  infraction.
• If play is stopped in the end zone, the Lead
  Referee will assess.
• If play is stopped in the neutral zone, the
  Trailing Referee will assess.

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Calling Penalties

• Communication between the referees is critical to
  ensure consistency and proper judgment.
• When injuries and altercations occur the referees
  (and linesmen) must communicate to ensure the
  correct calls are made.
• Although it should rarely occur, Linesmen may
  still report major penalties to the referees.
• The referees must support each others calls at
  all times, and be willing to admit that the other
  official may have had a better look at the play.

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Altercations
Figure 23 Dot marks location of altercation
R1
Benches Defensemen
R2
R2
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QUESTIONS???