What is a Minor Official?
No, it is not a teenage referee or linesman. A minor official is an off-ice official - a scorekeeper, time keeper or someone working the penalty box. At the youth level this is very likely a parent volunteer. In some cases a minor official may be a contracted individual who is paid for their services. However, for the purpose of this article, although this conversation applies to contracted minor officials as well, we will be focusing on the parent volunteer in the role of a minor official.
What You Should Do as a Minor Official
The off-ice or minor officials are considered part of the officiating team. They have very distinct responsibilities as part of that team. The scorekeeper keeps the scoresheet for the game so the on-ice officials and each team has an official record of what happened during that game. The scoresheet has significance for several reasons.
It is the official record of the game. That record includes who played in that game, who was absent and who was injured. These designations are critical to ensure a player’s eligibility for league playoffs and state tournaments.
Additionally, it is a record of penalties for that game. Depending on the type of penalty, the scoresheet can trigger a player suspension and must be recorded correctly to avoid a team playing a suspended player. A minor official should always get clarification from the referee if they are unsure as how to record a penalty.
The timekeeper’s role is quite simple; start and stop the clock and post penalties. The timekeeper should pay extremely close attention to the game to ensure clock accuracy. There is nothing worse than having parents and/or coaches yelling to start or stop the clock. This also puts the referees in a tough position as they now have to figure out how much time to run off or delay to get the game back on the correct time - this is difficult and a best guess, which can further upset parents and coaches. Additionally, the timekeeper should assist the scorekeeper. If there are no minor officials assigned to the penalty box, it is also the timekeeper’s responsibility to alert the player in the penalty box to prepare to go back into the game when penalty is over.
What should you NOT do as a Minor Official?
There are several things to avoid as a minor official. Do not be excessive when cheering for your team - no banging on the glass or boards. Do not engage in conversation with the players in the penalty box, other than to tell them when to exit or to clarify their jersey number if you did not hear the referee. If a player is misbehaving, let the on-ice official know and they will handle the situation. Do not engage either team’s coach, which is the on-ice official’s responsibility. Absolutely do not criticize the on-ice officials in anyway, you are held to a higher standard than the spectators.
Click HERE for a great summary of the duties performed by each minor official; scorekeeper, timekeeper and penalty box operator. While some of these duties are not performed at every game or at every level, the list is still valuable to read, know, and understand. Most of all, AHAI would like to thank the thousands of volunteer minor officials who work countless games each night across the state. Like with many things hockey, the game
HAYES-SUBURBAN DIVISION / IHSHL SCOREKEEPING – SCORE SHEET GUIDELINES
*** NOTE TO ALL TEAM MANAGERS ***
All score sheets MUST BE emailed to [email protected] within 48 hours of game being played.
Sheets with Game Misconducts, or other Suspensions should be submitted as soon as possible !!
Basic requirements:
1) Score sheets need to be neat and legible !! Please PRINT all information.
2) Jersey numbers on score sheet need to match players on ice jersey.
3) All players on bench must be listed on score sheet. (Including injured, suspended, etc..)
4) Indicate Absent (ABS), Injured (INJ), Suspended (SUS) as needed on score sheet “before” the game begins. Fill-in SUSPENSION BOX on sheet. Indicate suspension game being served. (example: game 1 of 3 )
5) If using stickers (encouraged) please put roster in descending jersey number order.
Goaltenders should be indicated with a “(G)”. ** Please NO CLEAR STICKERS **
JV players playing “UP” or Varsity “play-downs” should be hand written at bottom of list.
(*note** if using stickers please watch the overall length so it does not cover up the PENALTIES portion of the score sheet. Trim label as required.)
6) Use “H” for Home team and use the left side of column. Use “V” for Visitor and use the right side of column. Please do not use nick-names, or school names.
7) Please enter goaltender numbers and track shots on goal. If a change of goaltender happens note period / time of change on score sheet.
8) Varsity games are 16-minute stop-time periods in length. Junior Varsity games are 15-minutes.
Running time occurs when one team is ahead by 5 or more goals in the THIRD PERIOD ONLY.
The game clock may be stopped in case of an injury or to enter a penalty. Resume running time as soon as penalty is entered. Games remains running time for the duration despite further goals.
9) If games ends in a tie at the end of Regulation play a 3 person shootout shall determine the winner.
Please see separate SHOOTOUT RULES for detailed information.
10) For ALL levels. 15 penalties in a game. Head Coach receives Game Misconduct. If 20 total penalties for one team occurs. Game STOPS immediately. Other team awarded “forfeit” win. (1 – 0)
11) If player receives a SECOND 2-and-10 penalty in one game the second 10 minute misconduct becomes a GAME Misconduct and the player must leave the ice. Game Misconducts are recorded as 10 minutes on the sheet and shown as GAME MISC in the “offense” area.
Useful tips:
• When a penalty occurs make a note of the CLOCK TIME or mark the time in the “OFF” area on the scoresheet in case the game resumes before you can record the penalty on the sheet.
• All penalties must be recorded separately. There is no such thing as a 4 minute penalty.
A 4 minute ROUGHING penalty is entered on two lines each showing 2 minutes.
• The same for a Check from Behind that has a misconduct attached. Enter the minor on one line, and then enter the misconduct on the next line. Also the misconduct does not begin until the minor expires, or a power play goal is scored.
• If a Delayed Penalty happens and the other team scores that penalty is still recorded on the score sheet. (be sure to get both the goal and penalty)
• Use these codes (when possible) to indicate Power Play goal (PP), Short Handed goal (SH), or Open Net goal (ON). This helps our statistics staff.
• Do not mark out player number if that player is wearing a different jersey number.
Draw a line though the number and write the other number in the margin.
• Be sure anything written on top (white) copy appears on other (yellow, pink) copies.
• MANAGERS - Keep records of all doctor notes for all injured players.
• High School games can and do become intense. If your club uses a parent or volunteer system to staff the scorebox we strongly encourage the use of two people. One to run the clock, and one to write the information on the scoresheet.
Questions about scoring e-mail ROB INCE at: [email protected]
V19.1
Illinois High School Hockey League Hayes – Suburban Division 2019– 2020
How to reschedule/cancel a game
Absolutely NO canceling of games without following these procedures.
* Minimum 72 hour notice for all cancellations *
1. Contact the other team as soon as possible . The other team can deny your request and say no if they cannot rearrange their schedule to make-up the game. This may result in a forfeit.
2. **IMPORTANT ** If less than 48 hours before scheduled game you need to Contact the IHOA Referee Scheduler to cancel refs.
Dave Zednik - Phone # 224-808-0565 or if he cannot be reached.
Bill Fehrman - Phone# 847-767-9704. They will contact the refs.
3. Email: The league President Rob Ince at: [email protected] to advise us that you cancelled a game. Provide makeup date if the game has been rescheduled. Include a contact from each team in your email so we know that both teams are aware of the changes. The League will handle the rescheduling of the referees for the makeup date.
4. Rescheduling of the canceled game should be done BEFORE cancelled game date, at best, rescheduling should be done at the time you are canceling in step #1 above. All make up games that had a scorekeeper assigned shall have one provided by the CANCELLING team, this includes the canceling team paying the scorekeeper the allotted fee.
(exceptions: weather related, hardship…)
5. F E E S … Cancelled games may and can be subject to a $20.00 fee with payment due immediately to League Treasurer upon request.
6. Weather issues should be handled with care and good judgment.
7.
Rink problems such as tournaments or any unannounced changes by the rink will be handled by the Executive Board. This refers to League Ice ONLY and does not apply if the ice in question was brought in by an individual team.
V19.1