To:         Athletic Directors, Ice Hockey Coaches, and Officials

From:    MPA Ice Hockey Committee/NIHOA Executive Board

Subject: Communication/Pre-game Protocol Proposal

At the conclusion of each season, the Executive Committee of Maine-NIHOA meets to review the season and to discuss ways that we can improve our Association and our sport at the high school level in Maine. At this meeting, we identified two areas that we felt needed clarification and improvement:

 1) Pre-game / Between period protocol

  A.     Pre-game: Officials are to arrive at least (30) minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the game.

B.     Pre-game: Officials are to take the ice one minute before the teams at the start of the game.

C.     Pre-game: Teams will not enter the ice surface for the start of the game until directed to do so by the officials.

D.    Pre-game / between periods: Where possible, coaches and non-playing participants will not enter or exit their bench area via the ice surface. In arenas where there is no off-ice access to the bench areas, coaches and non-playing participants must proceed directly to their bench or to their locker room. Exception to this is the post-game handshake.

E.     Between periods: There will be a (12) minute intermission between periods. The referees will instruct the timekeeper to start the intermission time running once all participants have left the ice surface.

F.      Between periods: The officials will enter the ice surface with (1) minute remaining on the game clock.

G.    Between periods: Teams will not enter the ice surface until expiration of the (12) minute intermission. Under no circumstances are teams permitted to enter the ice surface if the officials are not on the ice.

2) Communication

The purpose of the following recommendations is to clarify when, where, and how officials and coaches communicate during the course of the game. The purpose is not to limit communication, but rather to provide guidelines that ensure that any communication or explanation that is necessary happens in a sportsmanlike fashion and does not unnecessarily delay the game.

A. During the pre-game warm up, officials will meet with captains from both teams at the officials crease; they will also meet with coaches at their respective player’s benches. During this time, coaches and captains are encouraged to address any concerns with the officials. Officials will be asking coaches to certify that their teams are properly equipped (mouthpieces, equipment, etc.).

B. During play, officials are instructed to communicate through the playing captain or their designated alternates unless the official feels that the situation requires a direct explanation to the coach. Any such explanation should minimize delay to the game.

C. At the conclusion of the first and second periods, all participants are to go directly to their locker rooms. Officials will speak to the playing captain on ice as needed, but no discussions will be held with coaches at that time.

D. Coaches and players should refrain from any off ice contact with officials during the course of the game.

E. Before the start of the second and third periods, coaches can address the officials for any needed clarification or explanation regarding situations that have occurred during the course of the game.  Strictly for rule interpretation clarification – not judgement. 

Penalty for non-compliance:

Each Offense:   Bench Minor 

This past season, we had a total of (31) game misconduct penalties assessed for verbal abuse of officials. Of that, (11) were assessed to coaches. By adopting clearly defined communication expectations, we are hoping to significantly reduce this number. Communication between coaches and officials is important. By defining when and how it will occur, we feel that we will minimize instances of unsportsmanlike conduct that largely happen in the heat of the moment. By the start of the next period, the coach may still not like the call, but sufficient time has elapsed whereby emotions have cooled and a conversation can be held in a sportsmanlike atmosphere.

The reason for eliminating on ice discussions between officials and coaches between periods is partly for the reasons noted above, but also to eliminate the perception created among opposing participants and fans that the center ice discussion influenced the official’s behavior in subsequent periods. If coach A has an issue, it’s important to be able to go to coach B and explain what was discussed. This isn’t possible in these on ice meetings at the conclusion of the period.