Understanding the Officials in an Ice Hockey Game: Who Does What?

Watching an ice hockey game can be exhilarating, but it can also be confusing, especially if you don't understand who's who on the ice. Knowing the distinct types of officials in hockey and their responsibilities can help you follow the game better and may even help you appreciate it more. If you're a parent of a child who plays ice hockey, it's important to know what kind of officials are involved in the game. In this blog post, we'll discuss the three types of officials in an ice hockey game and what they do.

Referees

Referees are like the crew chief in a game, making sure everything runs smoothly. They will handle all issues around scoring, timekeeping, and any other issues that arise on the ice or from the coaches. Referees are responsible for enforcing the rules of the game and making penalty calls. When a penalty occurs, the referee will blow their whistle to stop play, assess the penalty, and announce/signal the infraction.

At the highest levels there are typically two referees assigned to each ice hockey game. In adult hockey leagues or minor hockey there can be one referee, or a two-person system where there are only two on-ice officials who perform the duties of the Referee and the Linesmen. Referees typically wear black and white striped shirts with orange or red armbands.

Linesmen

There are two linesmen in an ice hockey game. Linesmen have different responsibilities than referees but work closely with them. Their main duties include calling icing and offside violations and overseeing face-offs. In addition, they also assist referees in determining if a goal has been scored and the Referee may consult them on a penalty call. Linesmen typically do not call penalties, although there are a few penalties they can call including when a team has too many players on the ice. Linesmen wear black and white striped shirts like the Referee, but they do not wear orange or red arm bands.

Goal Judge

This is a single official who sits behind the goal (behind the boards) and observes the goal line and net to determine if a goal has been scored. The goal judge can only determine if a goal has been scored and cannot influence any other game decisions. If they determine that the puck has crossed the goal line, they will turn on a red light behind the goal, and the referee may signal a goal. The Referee makes the final determination if a goal has been scored, the Goal Judge can turn on the red light to signal the puck has crossed the goal line, but the Referee can still signal no goal for a variety of reasons. Generally, in recreational games or minor hockey games you will not have a goal judge.

Positioning and Movement on the Ice

Each official is positioned on the ice according to their duties. The referees usually skate backwards and forwards to follow the play up and down the ice. The linesmen are primary between the Blue lines while play is in progress. While the goal judge is off the ice behind the boards, in a fixed position, behind the goal.

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of each type of official can help you better follow the game and appreciate the effort that goes into making each contest run smoothly. A well-informed parent who understands the game's rules can also be a valuable aid to their child's development as well as a contributor to their child's safety while playing. While it may take some time to understand what each official does, learning how to distinguish their uniforms and positions can be the first step towards developing a deeper appreciation and understanding of the game of ice hockey.