Judgement Pyramid
How your penalty selection should break down. Keep in mind that your first responsibility is the safety of the players. Secondly, maintain a fair game. SAFE & FAIR.
PERIOD ONE 60% of your penalties. Set your standard.
PERIOD TWO 30% of your penalties. Reinforce your standard.
PERIOD THREE 10% of your penalties. The players should know what is acceptable and what is not by this time.
LAST FIVE MINUTES Only necessary infractions. The score WILL be a determining
factor in your overall standard.
The players are responsible for their actions and THEY, not you, must be held accountable
There are many phrases used to make this point. I don’t make the news; I just report it, is one. Another is, Nobody blames the coroner when the murder rate is too high. You can not prevent a player from taking a penalty. When he does, he is responsible, not you. If a player commits a foul that must be called, call it. You have a job to do, regardless of whether or not it is the popular decision.
Reasons for calling a penalty. These criteria will help you in determining what “gray area” infractions should be called and which should not.
- Was a Scoring Opportunity Created or Taken Away?
- Was there a Change of Possession
- Was the play creating an Injury Potential Situation?
- Is the game tempo such that if a penalty is not called it will result in violent retaliatory measures?
Interference
- Is the checker ignoring the puck?
- Is an opponent checked out of the play to allow a teammate to gain possession of the puck? Or to give a teammate room to skate?
Cross-Checking
- Are the arms extended, driving the stick into the other player?
- Is the check delivered with the stick using force?
- If a player is being engaged from behind in the slot, how high is the checker’s stick?
- Is a player receiving a check bringing his stick up in self defense?
Roughing
- Is a punch thrown in retaliation for a good check?
- Is the check delivered to the opponent’s head or face area?
Charging
- Did the checker take three or more strides prior to contacting the opponent?
- Did the checker leave his feet to make contact with the opponent?
Hooking
- Is the hooking player moving his feet, or is he letting his opponent’s momentum drag him up the ice? Water-skiing.
- Is the hooked player moving his feet to try to fight through the hook, or does he quit working hard as soon as he feels the stick on him?
- Remember to always penalize laziness, and reward hard work.
Holding
- Is the player holding an opponent’s stick so as to deny him access to the puck?
- Is the player grabbing an opponent with his “free hand”?
- Again…penalize laziness, and reward hard work.
Slashing
- Where does the slash make contact with the opponent?
- How much force is used in the slash?
- How much wind-up is visible?
- Is the player making a strong play on the puck, or is he trying to intimidate his opponent?
Charging the Goaltender
- Was the contact with the goaltender avoidable?
- Did the goaltender TRY to interfere with the fore-checking player?
Interference with Goaltenders
- Was the goaltender interfered with in such a way as to NOT allow him to do his job?
- Did the player create the contact with the goaltender? Did the goaltender create the contact with the player? Did a teammate of the goaltender cause the contact between the two?
- The goaltender must be given the opportunity to stop the puck.
What are the top 2 reasons for brawling?
- Interaction with a goaltender.
- Fighting during an odd-man situation.