In an effort to make ice hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, the USA Hockey Youth, Junior and Senior Councils have instructed the Officiating Program to adhere to cretain points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, and officials, team officials and administrators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during, and after all USA Hockey-sanctioned games.
Thus, the following points of emphasis must be implemented by all On-Ice Referees and Linesmen.
Players
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct [Zero Tolerance] shall be assessed whenever a player:
Any time that a player persists in any of these actions, the player shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. A game misconduct penalty shall result if the player continues such action.
Coaches and Team Officials
A bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct [Zero Tolerance] shall be assessed whenever a coach or team official:
Any time that a coach or team official persists in any of these actions, a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed.
Officials
Officials are required to conduct themselves in a businnesslike, sportsmanlike, impartial and constructive manner at all times. The actions of an official must be above reproach. Actions such as ``baiting'' or inciting players or coaches are strictly prohibited.
On-Ice Officials are ambassadors of the game and must always conduct themselves with this responsibility in mind.
2. Violent Behavior
Ice hockey is a fast paced game that requires the participants to master many skills. Skating, stick handling, passing, shooting and body checking all require certain skills which are unique to the sport of ice hockey. When these skills are properly executed, the speed and beauty of the game are unmatched by any other sport. However, the game has changed recently with the inclusion of unnecessary violence at all levels.
USA Hockey is taking a strong approach towards eliminating the unnecessary violence. During our 60th anniversary season (1996-97), USA Hockey introduced the ``Heads Up Hockey'' program in an effort to promote a safer, smarter game. ``Heads Up Hockey'' requires all factions of the USA Hockey community to take an active role in improving our game. Eliminating unnecessary body contact away from the puck, checking from behind, boarding and violent stick infractions takes a commitment from players, coaches, parents and officials.
For the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, USA Hockey is putting a special emphasis on eliminating unnecessary violence. All on-ice officials are directed to penalize, in all instances, infractions that fall into the injury potential category. These infractions include boarding, charging, checking from behind, cross checking, elbowing/kneeing, high sticking, roughing and slashing. Special emphasis should also be placed on unnecessary body contact to players who are not in possession and control of the puck and any body contact that results in the opponent being thrown into the boards with excessive force.
Coaches are directed to teach proper fundamental skills with an emphasis on body contact (see Glossary) versus body checking. The use of the body check to punish an opponent or to intimidate an opponent will not be tolerated and should be penalized. Coaches and parents are also directed to encourage clean play at all levels and reinforce the decisions of the on-ice officials where players are penalized for the infractions noted above.
3. Conclusion
As you have probably noticed, the minimal number of rule changes that have been incorporated into the 1997-99 Official Playing Rules indicates that the game of ice hockey is not broken. The goal of USA Hockey is to promote a safe and positive playing environment for all participants with the emphasis on skill development. The above ``points of emphasis'' will support the continuation of these goals for the game of ice hockey at the amateur level well into the next century.