This is your chance to ask the referees questions about ISHL games. If you have a question you would like answered please email the question to Ben Caldwell

 Note: The ISHL is governed by USA Hockey rules. All rules quoted here are from the USA Hockey Official Rules of Ice Hockey 2001-2003 and the USA Hockey Advanced Officials Manual.

Question 1: What are the rules for equipment in ISHL games?

 Answer:   The highlights of rules for equipment are:

1. All players must wear a HECC (Hockey Equipment Certification Council) approved helmet and HECC approved full face mask for all games plus any chin protection that accompanies the mask – with chin strap properly fastened.   No alternations to helmets, face mask or chin-cup is allowed.  Ear Flaps must be in Place. Players cannot use laces or tape as helmet straps.
2. All players must wear a colored (non-clear) internal mouth guard attached to the facemask.
3. No player or goalkeeper shall be permitted on the ice while wearing jewelry unless it is completely covered by equipment or taped to the body so as to remain visible (ie. Clear Tape).
4. A glove from which all or part of the palm has been removed or cut to permit the use of the bare hand shall be considered illegal equipment.
5. The use of pads or protectors made of metal, or of any other material likely to cause injury to a player, is prohibited. The wearing of casts or splints made of hard or unyielding materials is prohibited, even if padded, unless directed in writing by a licensed medical physician. Such casts or splints must be covered on all exterior surfaces with no less than 1/2-inch thick, high-density, closed-cell polyurethane or an alternate material of the same minimum thickness and similar physical properties to protect an injury.
6. Only Goalkeepers are allowed to wear ‘goalie’ skates.

Question 2: How many players and coaches are allowed on a team for an ISHL game?

Answer:  

1. Each team is allowed up to 20 players of which only 18 may be skaters (non-goalkeepers).
2. Each team is allowed one team ‘captain’ plus not more than 2 alternate team captains.  Goalkeepers are not allowed to be captains or alternate captains.
3. Each team must start the game with at least 6 players (with or without a goalkeeper). If a team does not have at least 6 players at the start of the game, they must forfeit the game.
4. Up to 4 ‘Team Officials’ (1 Head coach and 3 assistants) are allowed on the bench.

Question 3: Sometimes it seems like a penalty should have been called but wasn’t. What is the criteria for a penalty to be called during an ISHL game?

 Answer:  
In a higher-level hockey game (such as an ISHL game) an experienced referee will use the following 4 criteria when deciding whether to call a penalty:  

1. Did the infraction cause a loss of a scoring opportunity?
2. Did the infraction create a potential for an injury?
3. Was the infraction blatantly obvious?
4. Did the infraction cause an immediate change of possession?

 Infractions that do not meet any of the 4 criteria may or may not be called depending on the type of game being played.  In a close game where the players are concentrating on clean hockey, the referee may choose not to call a penalty.  

Referees work hard to avoid calling an excessive number of penalties during a game. Normally a referee who calls every penalty strictly by the rules will be extremely unpopular because the game will have numerous unnecessary stoppages that will add to the frustrations of the players, coaches and fans.  Referees attempt to maintain a good ‘flow to the game’ by minimizing penalties without compromising the safety and fair play of either team.

Question 4: What is the difference between a Referee and a Linesman during an ISHL game?

Answer: 
There is one Referee who ‘shall have general supervision of the game’.  The Referee wears orange armbands on each sleeve of the officials’ jersey.  The Referee calls the majority of the penalties and awards goals and assists.

There are 2 Linesman.  They do not wear orange armbands on their officials’ jersey. Their primary duties include:

1. Calling Off-sides

2. Calling Icing

3. Conducting the majority of face-offs

Linesmen are ONLY allowed to stop play and access a penalty for the following 2 infractions:

1. Too many players on the ice

2. Articles thrown on the ice
   

Linesmen cannot call a penalty for any other infraction – they can however report a rules infraction that he believes constitutes a bench minor, major, match, misconduct, game misconduct or penalty shot, or any Injury Potential Penalty that occurs behind the play and is not observed by the Referee.  The Referee after hearing the report may or may not access a penalty.  By the way, Injury Potential Penalties include Butt-Ending, Checking from Behind, Head-Butting, Spearing, Board Checking, Charging, Cross Checking, Elbowing/Kneeing, High Sticking, Holding the Face Mask, Slashing and Roughing

Linesmen may blow their whistles to stop play for the following

1. Off-sides

2. Icing

3. Puck goes outside playing area

4. Interference by any ineligible person

5. Puck struck with a stick above the height of a shoulder

6. Puck passed to a teammate with the hand outside the defensive zone

7. Goal post dislodged from its normal position

8. When the Linesmen is in the vicinity of the goal and observes the puck enter the goal

9. A Premature substitution for the goalkeeper

10. Injured players

11. Interference by spectators
    

The Referee may ask a Linesman for their version of any play(s).

Referee's  jersey

Linesman's Jersey

Question 5: How can a person  who wishes to officiate hockey games get started?

Answer: 
Contact the Houston Ice Hockey Officials Association (HIHOA) at www.hihoa.org for more information. HIHOA will conduct new officials seminars in the Summer of  2003.  Anyone interested should drop a note to Daryl Henley via the HIHOA website and he will add your e-mail address to a notification list.  HIHOA is always interested in helping new or returning officials to get on the ice for the ‘best game you can name!’