USA Hockey Rules Questions And
Answers With Verified Study Solutions
Rated A+
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed. Should the
game be played? - answer-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? - answer-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?
- answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain? - answer-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.
Answers With Verified Study Solutions
Rated A+
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed. Should the
game be played? - answer-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? - answer-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?
- answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-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? - answer-No
May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain? - answer-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.
