USA Hockey Rules Questions With Complete
Answers.
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed. Should the
game be played?
No. Rule Reference 201(a). A team is defined as having six players. If a team cannot put six players on
the ice at the start of the game, it is not considered a "team" and must forfeit the game to its
opponent.
During the game, through injuries and penalties, a team is unable to place four players on the ice. Can
the game proceed?
No. Rule References 201(a) and 408(a). Any time a team is reduced to below four players on the ice
during a game for any reason, the game shall be forfeited. Players in the penalty bench with delayed
penalties are not permitted to participate in the game (on the ice) or leave the penalty bench until
their penalties expire.
During the game a Team Captain advises the Referee that the opposing team has more than the
allowable number of Team Officials occupying the players' bench. What action should the Referee
take?
Once the Referee has become aware of the violation, they shall direct the offending team to reduce
the number of Team Officials on the players' bench to a maximum of four. Rule References 201(b) and
610(h). No penalty is assessed at that time. However, if the situation is not corrected or occurs again
during the same game, the Referee shall assess a bench minor penalty for delaying the game to the
offending team.
During the course of the game, a team no longer has a properly registered coach available to them on
the bench. Can the game continue?
Yes. Rule Reference 201(b). The game shall be allowed to continue provided that team has adult
supervision on the players' bench. This person may come from the stands and should be a registered
member of USA Hockey in some capacity. If no such person is available, the game should be
suspended and a report provided to the proper authorities.
During the course of the game the referee is notified that Players or Team Officials that have received
a previous suspension are participating in the game. The suspended individuals did not sit out or fulfill
their obligated suspension time. Should the referee penalize the offending team?
No. Rule Reference 201(c). The referee may not be aware of the time period that has taken place
between games and therefore cannot enforce suspensions to Players or Team Officials. The referee is
required to report the incident to the proper authorities for further review.
A player/coach is suspended for the team's next regularly scheduled game and because of
circumstances out of the control of the player/coach, the opponent forfeits the game. Does this
forfeited game count towards serving the suspension?
There may be some special circumstances that warrant the suspension being served (i.e. Game
forfeited while both teams are on site due to circumstances out of the offending player/ coach
control). It is best that the Proper Authorities take into consideration the circumstances involved and
the "good faith" effort of the suspended party to serve the suspension while reviewing each instance.
There are also situations (the game is forfeited days in advance) where the suspension would
definitely not be considered served.
The Referee notices that a team has three players with a "C" on their uniforms during the pre-game
warm-up. How many players should the Referee allow to act as Captain?
, One. Rule Reference 202(a). In this situation the Referee should look at the game sheet to determine
the Captain. If there is more than one Captain designated, the Referee must ask the Coach to appoint
only one of the three players to act as the team's Captain. The Referee must also inform the Coach
that the other two players will be allowed to have Captain's privileges, but they must be designated as
Alternate Captains.
The Team Captain and the Alternate Captain(s) are incapacitated by reasons of injuries or are
unavailable due to penalties and the Referee deems it necessary to convey a message to the bench.
With whom shall the Referee communicate?
Any player on the ice with whom the Referee elects to converse. Rule Reference 202(a). The Referee
has the authority to select a player on the ice to convey the message to the bench. Failure of a team
to have a captain available is not justification for a Referee to not communicate when doing so would
assist in managing the game.
A team refuses to designate a Captain at the beginning of the game. Should the Referee assess a
penalty?
No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain?
Yes. However, the goalkeeper cannot exercise the privileges of the Captain during the game as
outlined in this rule. Rule Reference 202(a). There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being
named a Captain or Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However, that
goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's privileges during a game. Doing so would unnecessarily delay
the game if the goalkeeper were allowed to leave the goal area for any discussion and then go to the
bench area to relay any message and finally back to the goal area and be prepared for the resumption
of play.
There is a question of a rule interpretation. The Referee wants to explain the rule to the Captain, but
notices that the Captain and both Alternate Captains are seated on the players' bench. What should
the Referee do?
If the Captain is still participating in the game (they are not removed from the game because of
penalty, injury, etc.), they should be invited from the players' bench to discuss the interpretation with
the Referee. Rule Reference 202(a).
There is a question of a rule interpretation and the Captain comes off the bench to protest the
decision of the Referee. What should the Referee do?
If the Captain leaves the bench for a discussion without being invited to do so, and makes a complaint
or protest, they must be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct under this rule. Rule
Reference 202(b).
A team has 16 skaters plus two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet. A skater who is not listed
on the scoresheet participates in the game. What action should the Referee take when it is brought to
their attention?
Add the skater's name to the scoresheet, and assess a bench minor penalty to the player's team. Rule
Reference 203(a). All penalties incurred and goals/assists awarded to that skater shall stand. The team
may not elect to send the skater to the dressing room and forgo the bench minor penalty because the
skater has already participated in the game.
A team has eighteen skaters and two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet. What happens if a
skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in the game and scores a goal?
Answers.
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed. Should the
game be played?
No. Rule Reference 201(a). A team is defined as having six players. If a team cannot put six players on
the ice at the start of the game, it is not considered a "team" and must forfeit the game to its
opponent.
During the game, through injuries and penalties, a team is unable to place four players on the ice. Can
the game proceed?
No. Rule References 201(a) and 408(a). Any time a team is reduced to below four players on the ice
during a game for any reason, the game shall be forfeited. Players in the penalty bench with delayed
penalties are not permitted to participate in the game (on the ice) or leave the penalty bench until
their penalties expire.
During the game a Team Captain advises the Referee that the opposing team has more than the
allowable number of Team Officials occupying the players' bench. What action should the Referee
take?
Once the Referee has become aware of the violation, they shall direct the offending team to reduce
the number of Team Officials on the players' bench to a maximum of four. Rule References 201(b) and
610(h). No penalty is assessed at that time. However, if the situation is not corrected or occurs again
during the same game, the Referee shall assess a bench minor penalty for delaying the game to the
offending team.
During the course of the game, a team no longer has a properly registered coach available to them on
the bench. Can the game continue?
Yes. Rule Reference 201(b). The game shall be allowed to continue provided that team has adult
supervision on the players' bench. This person may come from the stands and should be a registered
member of USA Hockey in some capacity. If no such person is available, the game should be
suspended and a report provided to the proper authorities.
During the course of the game the referee is notified that Players or Team Officials that have received
a previous suspension are participating in the game. The suspended individuals did not sit out or fulfill
their obligated suspension time. Should the referee penalize the offending team?
No. Rule Reference 201(c). The referee may not be aware of the time period that has taken place
between games and therefore cannot enforce suspensions to Players or Team Officials. The referee is
required to report the incident to the proper authorities for further review.
A player/coach is suspended for the team's next regularly scheduled game and because of
circumstances out of the control of the player/coach, the opponent forfeits the game. Does this
forfeited game count towards serving the suspension?
There may be some special circumstances that warrant the suspension being served (i.e. Game
forfeited while both teams are on site due to circumstances out of the offending player/ coach
control). It is best that the Proper Authorities take into consideration the circumstances involved and
the "good faith" effort of the suspended party to serve the suspension while reviewing each instance.
There are also situations (the game is forfeited days in advance) where the suspension would
definitely not be considered served.
The Referee notices that a team has three players with a "C" on their uniforms during the pre-game
warm-up. How many players should the Referee allow to act as Captain?
, One. Rule Reference 202(a). In this situation the Referee should look at the game sheet to determine
the Captain. If there is more than one Captain designated, the Referee must ask the Coach to appoint
only one of the three players to act as the team's Captain. The Referee must also inform the Coach
that the other two players will be allowed to have Captain's privileges, but they must be designated as
Alternate Captains.
The Team Captain and the Alternate Captain(s) are incapacitated by reasons of injuries or are
unavailable due to penalties and the Referee deems it necessary to convey a message to the bench.
With whom shall the Referee communicate?
Any player on the ice with whom the Referee elects to converse. Rule Reference 202(a). The Referee
has the authority to select a player on the ice to convey the message to the bench. Failure of a team
to have a captain available is not justification for a Referee to not communicate when doing so would
assist in managing the game.
A team refuses to designate a Captain at the beginning of the game. Should the Referee assess a
penalty?
No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain?
Yes. However, the goalkeeper cannot exercise the privileges of the Captain during the game as
outlined in this rule. Rule Reference 202(a). There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being
named a Captain or Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However, that
goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's privileges during a game. Doing so would unnecessarily delay
the game if the goalkeeper were allowed to leave the goal area for any discussion and then go to the
bench area to relay any message and finally back to the goal area and be prepared for the resumption
of play.
There is a question of a rule interpretation. The Referee wants to explain the rule to the Captain, but
notices that the Captain and both Alternate Captains are seated on the players' bench. What should
the Referee do?
If the Captain is still participating in the game (they are not removed from the game because of
penalty, injury, etc.), they should be invited from the players' bench to discuss the interpretation with
the Referee. Rule Reference 202(a).
There is a question of a rule interpretation and the Captain comes off the bench to protest the
decision of the Referee. What should the Referee do?
If the Captain leaves the bench for a discussion without being invited to do so, and makes a complaint
or protest, they must be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct under this rule. Rule
Reference 202(b).
A team has 16 skaters plus two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet. A skater who is not listed
on the scoresheet participates in the game. What action should the Referee take when it is brought to
their attention?
Add the skater's name to the scoresheet, and assess a bench minor penalty to the player's team. Rule
Reference 203(a). All penalties incurred and goals/assists awarded to that skater shall stand. The team
may not elect to send the skater to the dressing room and forgo the bench minor penalty because the
skater has already participated in the game.
A team has eighteen skaters and two goalkeepers listed on the game scoresheet. What happens if a
skater who is not listed on the scoresheet participates in the game and scores a goal?
