Officiating Signals


Officiating Signals

Signals

Signals are how we communicate our decisions on the ice with the other participants in the game. Therefore, it is critical that we know the correct signals for our decisions and execute them well enough that we can be understood.

The game runs more smoothly when the players and coaches know what’s going on and coming next.

Tips for Excellent Signals:

  1. Come to a complete stop. When your whistle blows, heads will turn to where it came from. Stay there. You have everyone’s attention.
  2. Let each signal have its moment. Don’t rush. Give people time to read and understand it.
  3. Don’t make two signals at once. Clarity is important. Signal the reason for the stoppage first, put that signal away, and then signal either “goalkeeper ring” or the “direction of play” signal.
  4. Your signals will be clear and confident if you flex your core a little and execute them deliberately.

 

Take the time to practice your signals in the mirror. It feels weird to do, but it will help you establish what the signals feel like when they look right. Try really hard for straight lines and sharp angles.

General Signals

 

All Clear

When: Before starting play on a free pass.

How: Extend both arms horizontally from the body, palms down.

All Clear

Delayed Penalty

When: The team not in control of the ring commits a penalty. (i.e. body contact, boarding, etc.)

How: Extend your arm (ideally, the hand without the whistle) straight up, palm toward you, with your thumb tucked towards your palm.

Delayed Penalty

Delayed Violation

When: The team not in control of the ring commits a violation (i.e. 4-in, crease, etc.)

How: Lift one arm to shoulder height and bend your elbow 90º upward so that forearm and hand are upright with the palm facing forward.

Delayed Violation

Five-Second Count

When: Following the whistle to start play on a free pass or goalkeeper ring. Anytime the ring enters the crease in the course of the game.

How: One arm will move at shoulder height, from the shoulder or chest, outward and back with the palm down. One stroke of the arm should equal one second.

Five Seconds

Delayed Calling of a Violation with a Five-Second Count

When: The team not in control of the ring committed a violation with a five-second count, and they’ve corrected the violation. (ie. 4-in, crease, early check, contact after crossing blue line, etc).

How: Make one arm signal the Delayed Violation (as above). The other arm performs a five-second count (also as above).

 

Delayed Violation with Five Seconds

Goal

When: The ring crosses the goal line, and you deem it a good goal. (Or following an awarded goal scenario).

How: Extend your arm out at shoulder height, pointing at the net with your hand, thumb tucked towards your palm.

Goal

Goalkeeper Ring

When: A stoppage occurs during the game where the ring is awarded to the defensive team, in the defensive zone, as a goalkeeper ring.

How: Raise both arms above your head, and towards either side at 45º, keeping your arms in line with your body.

Goalkeeper Ring

Hand on Lower Third/Bottom Third

When: The ring carrier commits a violation by placing their front hand too low on their stick while an opponent is close enough to check them.

How: Clench both fists beside your body at chest height and bring them together, thumb to thumb, in front of your chest.

Bottom (Lower) 1/3

Timeout

When: A team requests a timeout (during a stoppage in play), and you approve it.

How: Form a horizontal “T” with your hands in front of your chest.

Timeout

Two Blue Line Pass

When: As the back official, when it looks like a two-blue-line pass is imminent. As the lead official, when the ring fully crosses the 2nd blue line. Also, as the lead official, if play is stopped due to a violation related to two blue lines, repeat the “two blue line pass” signal to communicate your decision.

How: Fully extend your arm straight out and up from your shoulder height at 22.5º (halfway to 45º) with your index and middle fingers extended. Be sure to vocalize the word “two.”

Two Blue Lines

Wash Out

When: A goal is nullified. It is also used during a two blue line pass when the team eligible to play the ring fails to skate directly to it and play it or when the player skating to the ring misses and skates past.

How: Sweep both arms sideways, in opposite directions, across the front of your body at shoulder height with your palms down.

Wash Out

Shot Clock Reset

When: The shot clock should be reset, but it hasn’t been.

How: Using the arm nearest the shot clock operator, make a modified “Delayed Violation” signal: Bend your arm 90º so that forearm and hand are upright with your index finger extended, making a circular motion with your wrist.

Shot Clock Reset

Line Violation

When: Play is stopped due to a line violation such as blue line, free play line, crease or circle.

How: Fully extend your arm downwards, towards the ice at 45º, with your thumb tucked towards your palm.

Too Many Skaters

When: Play is stopped due to too many skaters entering the restricted area

How: Raise your non-whistle hand at shoulder height, palm out and arm relaxed, fingers indicating the number of skaters found to have been in the restricted area for the violation.

Too Many Skaters in Restricted Area

Toe Kick

When: A player makes contact with the ring with the toe of their skate with the intent to propel it forward.

How: Raise the toe of one skate upward and point towards it with the non-whistle hand fully extended, with the thumb tucked towards the palm.

Toe Kick

Five-second expiration

When: The five-second count completes on a goalkeeper ring or free pass, and the ring has not been successfully passed out of the crease or circle.

How: Raise your non-whistle hand outward at shoulder height, palm out and arm relaxed, with the fingers and thumb extended and spread to indicate “five seconds.”

Five Seconds Expiration

Touch

When: On a potential two blue line pass, blue line violation (including the goalkeeper throwing the ring), or similar where a ring glances off a player or is barely touched by a stick where your partner might not be able to see it.

How: Reach both hands out in front of your forehead and brush the fingers of the non-whistle hand over the other. Be sure to vocalize the word “touch.”

 

Touch

Direction of Play

When: At the end of all other signals at a stoppage in play, if the ring is not being granted as a goalkeeper ring.

How: Fully extend your arm in the direction that the ring will travel when play resumes. Your arm should be at shoulder height, fingers pointing forwards, and thumb tucked towards your palm.

Direction of Play

Hold

When: Before beginning play, whether “all clear” has been signalled or not, if there is a reason not to start play. For example, if the goalkeeper is fixing required equipment, a gate has become unlatched, a player has removed her glove, etc.

How: Fully extend your arm in front of your body at shoulder height with palm out and your fingers raised upwards.

Hold

 

Penalty Signals

For when you are reporting a penalty.

Boarding

How: In front of your chest, strike the clenched fist of one hand into the open palm of the other.

Boarding

Body Contact

How: Clench your fist and extend your arm to the side of your body, at shoulder height.

Body Contact

Charging

How: Clench your fists and rotate them around each other in front of your chest once.

Charging

Cross Checking

How: Clench both fists at chest height, shoulder-width apart. Then extend both arms simultaneously.

Cross Checking

Delay of Game

How: Clench your fist and place it just below your opposite shoulder. Your arm will form an approximately 45º angle in front of your body.

Delay of Game

Elbowing

How: Raise an elbow to chest height, place the opposite hand below it and bring them together.

 

Elbowing

High Sticking

How: With both fists clenched, raise them such that one is at about the height of your forehead while the other is at the height of and immediately beside the elbow of the first.

High Sticking

Holding

How: Place one fist in front of the centre of your chest and clasp your wrist with the other hand.

Holding

Hooking

How: Reach both fists out to one side of your body at belly-button height. Draw both towards your belly button.

Hooking

Illegal Substitution

How: Pat the palm of one hand on the top of your helmet.

Illegal Substitution

Interference

How: With hands open but palms towards your sides, cross your arms over your chest with hands even with your shoulders.

Intereference

Slashing

How: Place one hand across your body in front of your chest, with your thumb tucked towards the palm and the palm facing your chest. With your other hand shaped the same, chop down towards the arm in front of your chest.

Slashing

Tripping

How: With both skates on the ice, bend your knees slightly and lean forward. With the edge of one hand, strike the leg on the same side of your body below the knee.

Tripping

Penalty Shot

How: Clench both fists and cross wrists above the head.

Penalty Shot

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

How: Place the fist of one hand in the small of your back.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Major Penalty

How: Form a “T” with your hands in front of your chest. Afterwards, signal the related minor penalty signal or the rough play signal below.

Major Penalty

Rough Play

How: Clench one fist and extend your arm out in front of your body at shoulder height.

Major Rough Play

Misconduct/Match Penalty

How: Place both hands on the hips.

 

Misconduct or Match penalty