Proper Line Change Procedure (posted 12/25/06)

Gentlemen I would like to clarify the line change procedure. If you may recall below is the producer that we had disused and agreed as a chapter two seasons ago.

1) The official deep in the zone after the whistle will assess the situation then point to the face off spot to start the line change procedure (5 seconds). He will then proceed to the face off location. The official at the blue line ( unless he needs to go into the zone to help with a situation) will position himself between the blue and red line at the center of the ice and will start the 5 seconds, at completion he will raise his hand for the visiting team to signal their change is completed. At that time the home team has 5 seconds to complete their line change, he than lowers his arm and the official in the zone blows his whistle and has up to5 seconds to drop the puck, if the centers and teams are ready he does not need the full 5 seconds. If for any reason the center is tossed from the face off the official signals to the center to leave once again blows the whistle and restarts the 5 seconds. If a second violation accrues to the same team a minor penalty is assessed.

2) Center ice line change: The official at center ice will control the line change before dropping the puck. Please be aware of encroachment from players behind you before dropping the puck.
In closing we can discuss changes that we may we may what to and adopt them at our next meeting on January 14th.

Below is the positional set up for the official doing line changes:

Line Change Positions and Responsibilities
Face Off Location	Official doing line Change	Position of official doing line change
Center Ice	Official reporting goal	Pinch of boards facing teams- with benches on both sides
		Visual position of both teams off boards- teams across from each other
Neutral Zone	Official opposite face off	middle of the ice doing line change then pinch back to boards for face-off
End Zone	High Official	Middle of blue line, center of ice