Body Checking
The ``Body Checking Task Force'' was commissioned in 1993 to determine how and when body checking should exist in our game. Their conclusion was that the prohibition of checking below PeeWee (12-or-under) was proper, and no adjustment up or down was needed. But with that decision came the mandate that the tolerable level of permitted body contact needed emphasis and tightening. Below is the text which appears in the Glossary:
A legal body check is one in which a player checks an opponent who is in possession of the puck, by using his hip or body from the front, diagonally from the front or straight from the side, and does not take more than two fast steps in executing the check.
Legitimate body checking must be done only with the trunk of the body (hips and shoulders) and must be above the opponent's knees and below the neck. If body checking is unnecessarily rough, it must be penalized.
In addition to that text, a new rule was added which allows for a penalty when an avoidable ``late hit'' occurs, even if the checked player is considered to be in possession of the puck. Remember that a player is ``in possession'' even if he no longer is deemed to be ``in possession and control'' of the puck, until such time as the puck is next played by another player. Officials are instructed to utilize this new rule, 640(b), to penalize the player whose sole intent is to punish an opponent. Coaches are instructed not to teach or sanction ``late hits.''
Major Penalties
The automatic misconduct or game misconduct no longer applies for a player's first major penalty in the game. This is NOT a step backwards. In many cases the previous rule was counter-productive, since many officials were reluctant to cross the line between assessing 2 minutes versus a minimum of 15 minutes to the offending player.
Our new rule gives the officials some added flexibility. There are still some significant differences between minor and major penalties, but we hope to reduce much of the gray area in the decision process. Also, in every instance where the rule was modified, a major plus game misconduct penalty is required if the opponent is injured.
Checking from Behind
The Body Checking Task Force requested elimination of the misconduct when a minor penalty is assessed for checking from behind. They felt that officials often made up a penalty to substitute for the check from behind, solely to assess only a minor penalty. No rule change occurred, for fear that such a move would be misinterpreted as sanctioning of this most dangerous of body checking techniques.
Officials are mandated to call this penalty if the situation occurs. Administrators, whether this is a District, Affiliate, League or local Association, must support this effort and not encourage officials to shy away from the rule or change a ruling. USA Hockey has a ``Checking from Behind'' video tape that should be viewed throughout our family.
We are all in a position to get this check out of our game and we must work to accomplish that task. The alternative is to turn it over to the lawyers and accountants.
``Zero Tolerance'' and ``Get Tough'' Policies
These are living concepts that must be revisited from time to time. Our ``Zero Tolerance'' policy deals with respect to officials and from officials. Our ``Get Tough'' policy is a directive to officials to manage the game reasonably within the rules. While a penalty call punishes the offending team, a non-call in an obvious situation punishes the non-offending team by denying them a deserved power play.
The Bottom Line
Just as we concluded our Points of Emphasis in the 1993-95 Rule Book, the growth of our game hinges on our ability to create a playing environment which is safe and fun for all participants.