Penalties Calls and Referee Signals Are you and your family new to hockey? Ever wonder what the referee just called? Hockey has a variety of different offenses that can be committed by players or even coaches. These can play a major role in the how games are played as penalties result in a team having to play shorthanded giving the other team a significant advantage in manpower on the ice and usually an excellent opportunity to score goals. Below are the general types of penalties as well as an explanation of some of the more common calls you'll see in games as well as the signals the referee or linesman will use to signal them in a game. Types of Penalties: Minor Penalty Any player, other than a goaltender, shall be ruled off the ice for two minutes during which time no substitute shall be permitted. If the shorthanded team is scored upon before the two minutes elapse, the player in the penalty box is automatically released. A Double Minor penalty is 4 minutes. Major Penalty Any player, except the goaltender, shall be ruled off the ice for four or five minutes during which time no substitute shall be permitted. The player who is serving the major penalty must stay in the penalty box for the full five, regardless if a goal is scored upon their "shorthanded" team. Goaltender's Penalties A goaltender shall not be sent to the penalty box for an infraction, but instead the minor penalty shall be served by another member of his team, who was on the ice when the infraction was committed. Penalty shot No time served. Awarded for a player being fouled from behind and denied a breakaway scoring opportunity. Also called for deliberately displacing the goal post during a breakaway, or can be called when a defending player other than the goalie intentionally falls on the puck, ususually around the defensive net area. Coincidental minor and/or major penalties result when players of two opposing teams are simultaneously assessed penalties of equal duration. In this case, the players may be substituted for, but all penalized players must serve their full time in the penalty box and wait for a stoppage of play to come out of the box. Generally, the timekeeper will not post these penalties on the scoreboard and the players will be required to stay in the box for the amount of time assessed and until "the next whistle". Misconduct Penalty Any player, other than the goaltender, shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten minutes. A substitute player is permitted to immediately replace a player serving a misconduct penalty. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain in the penalty box until the next stoppage of play. These penalties are often called in tandem with a minor penalty and you may hear it referred to as a "Two and ten". What this means is that the player has committed a foul such as Checking from Behind and his/her team must play shorthanded for 2 minutes but the offending player must then also stay off the ice for an additional 10 minutes. Generally, a team will put two players in the penalty box with one coming out after two minutes. Match Penalty A match penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game and the offender shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately. A substitute player is permitted to replace the penalized player after five minutes of playing time has elapsed. Game Misconduct A penalty that involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game. A substitute is immediately permitted to take his place on the ice. Game Suspension IF a player receives 5 penalties in one game he/she must sit out the next scheduled game. If a coach receives 15 or more penalties he/she must sit out the next scheduled game.
Most Used Signals... Cross Checking Shall be imposed on a Player who holds the stick with both hands and hits an opponent using the shaft of the stick. Referee signal: A series of forward and backward motions with both fists clenched in front of the chest. Delayed Penalty When a penalty occurs, The Referee may signal a Delayed Penalty until the offending team gains possession of the puck. Referee signal: The non-whistle hand is extended straight above the head. The Referee may point at the offending player until stoppage of play. Goal Scored Referee signal: A single point, with the non-whistle hand, directly at the goal in which the puck legally entered, while simultaneously blowing the whistle. Hand Pass No penalty. Play will be stopped when a player illegally passes the puck with their hand. Referee signal: The non-whistle hand (open hand) and arm are placed straight down alongside the body and swung forward and up once in an underhand motion.
High Sticking Shall be imposed on a Player who lifts the stick above shoulder height and hits an opponent. Referee signal: Holding both fists clenched together at the height of the forehead. Holding Minor penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who grabs and holds onto an opponent (or his stick) with his hands or arms to impede the opponent s progress. Referee signal: Clamping either wrist with the other hand in front of the chest. Hooking Shall be imposed on a Player who attempts to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking any part of the opponent s body with the blade of his stick. Referee signal: A series of tugging motions with both arms as if pulling someone towards you. Interference Minor penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who attempts to impede the motion of an opponent not in possession of the puck, deliberately knocks a stick away, or impedes the goalie around the net area. Referee signal: Crossed arms stationary in front of chest with fists closed.
Roughing Shall be imposed on a Player who subjects an opponent to intentional and unnecessary roughness or uses excessive force to push or hit an opponent. Referee signal: One punching motion to the side with the arm extending from the shoulder. Slashing Shall be imposed on a Player who swings his stick at an opponent, whether or not contact is made. Referee signal: A series of chopping motions with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm. Time-Out Referee signal: Using both hands to form a T. Same signal as Un-Sportsman Like Conduct. Tripping Shall be imposed on a Player who places their stick, or a part of their body, under or around the feet or legs of an opponent causing the opponent to lose their balance. Will also be called if a Player kicks, uses a knee, or uses a leg to cause an opponent to fall. Referee signal: With both skates on the floor, strike right leg below the knee with right hand.
Washout From a goalie's perspective, one of their favorite signals - "No goal" (a goal that is ruled invalid by the Referee). Also used to wave off an infraction. Referee signal: A sweeping motion across the body, palms down. Other Signals... Boarding Shall be imposed on a Player uses any method (body check, elbow, or tripping) to throw an opponent into the boards. Referee signal: Striking the closed fist of the hand once into the open palm of the other hand. Butt-Ending Minor or major penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who uses the butt-end of his stick to hit an opponent. Referee signal: Moving the forearm, fist closed, under the forearm of the other hand held palm down. Charging Minor or major penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who runs, jumps into or charges an opponent, including the goalie. Referee signal: Rotating clenched fists around one another in front of chest.
Checking From Behind Minor or major penalty. (Usually a 2 minute minor and a 10 minute misconduct) Shall be imposed on a Player who deliberately checks an opponent from behind. Referee signal: Arm placed behind the back, elbow bent, forearm parallel to the ice surface. Delay Of Game Minor penalty. 1) Shall be imposed on a Player who delays the game by deliberately shooting or batting the puck outside the playing area or by deliberately displacing the goals from there normal position. A Penalty Shot shall be awarded to the opposing team if on a breakaway scoring opportunity the goals are deliberately displaced by a Player. 2) Shall be imposed on a Player, except the Goalie, who does not immediately drop a broken stick. A Player whose stick is broken may participate in the game provided they immediately drop the stick. A Player may not receive a stick thrown on the floor but must obtain one from the player bench. A Goalie may continue to play with the paddle portion of a broken stick until a stoppage of play. 3) Shall be imposed on any Player, other than the Goalie, who deliberately falls on the puck or gathers a puck to the body. A Penalty shall be imposed on a Goalie who deliberately falls on a puck, or gathers it into the body, when entirely outside the boundaries of the goal crease area. 4) Shall be imposed if a Player, except the goalie, closes their hand intentionally on the puck. If a Player picks up the puck in the goal crease, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team. A player is permitted to 'bat' the puck in the air with the open hand or push it along the floor unless, in the opinion of the Referee, it was deliberately directed to a team mate, in which case play shall be stopped and the puck faced-off at the spot where the offense occurred. Referee signal: The non-whistle hand, palm open, is placed across the chest and then fully extended directly in front of the body.
Elbowing Shall be imposed on a Player who uses their elbow in any way to foul an opponent. Referee signal: Tapping the elbow with the palm of the other hand. Grabbing Face Mask Shall be imposed on a Player who grabs the opponents face mask. Referee signal: Closed fist held in front of face, palm in, and pulled down in one straight motion. Kneeing Shall be imposed on a Player who uses their knee in any way to foul an opponent. Referee signal: Slapping the knee with the palm of the hand. Match A Major penalty. Shall be imposed on any Player who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner or starts a fight. A Major penalty shall be imposed on a Player who, having been struck, retaliates with a blow or attempted blow. However, at the discretion of the Referee, a Match penalty may be imposed if that player continues the altercation. When someone is assessed a Match penalty, they are removed from the game and may face additional disciplinary action. Referee signal: Patting flat of hand on the top of head.
Misconduct 10 minute penalty or removal from game. Shall be imposed on a Player who, at the discretion of the Referee, demonstrates improper behavior. Examples would be use of profanity and verbal abuse of an official. This is a penalty against an individual and not a team. A substitute player is permitted to immediately replace the offending player. Referee signal: Both hands on hips several times and point at offending player. Penalty Shot A free shot is awarded to a Player who was illegally interfered with during a clear scoring opportunity, or a team illegally delays the game by deliberately moving a goal post or falling on a puck in the crease (see Delay Of Game Penalty). The shot is taken with only the Goalie guarding against it. The Penalty Shot will be taken as follows: The Referee shall place the puck on the center face-off spot. The Player to take the Penalty Shot will, on the Referee's whistle, play the puck from there and attempt to score. The Goalie must stay in the crease until the Referee sounds the whistle. The Player taking the shot must keep the puck in motion in the direction of the opponents goal line. Once the shot is taken the play shall be considered complete. No goal can be scored on a rebound of any kind. Referee signal: Arms extended above the head, clenched fists and wrists crossed. Spearing Major penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who illegally jabs, or even just attempts to jab, the point of his stick blade into an opponents body. Referee signal: Jabbing motion with both hands in front of body then drop hands to side of body. Un-Sportsman Like Conduct Minor penalty. Shall be imposed on a Player who, in the Referee's judgment, does something unsportsmanlike. Referee signal: Using both hands to form a T. Same signal as Time-Out.