USA Hockey Rules 2025-2026 Exam
Questions and Answers
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-
handed. Should the game be played? - --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT ANSWER--Once the Referee
has become aware of the violation, they shall direct the offending team to reduce
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,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? - --CORRECT
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? - --CORRECT 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
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, forfeits the game. Does this forfeited game count towards serving the suspension?
- --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT 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? - --
CORRECT 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
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Questions and Answers
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-
handed. Should the game be played? - --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT ANSWER--Once the Referee
has become aware of the violation, they shall direct the offending team to reduce
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,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? - --CORRECT
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? - --CORRECT 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
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
, forfeits the game. Does this forfeited game count towards serving the suspension?
- --CORRECT 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? - --CORRECT 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? - --
CORRECT 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
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
