Points of Emphasis, 1993-95

The Playing Rules Committee expresses concern over several items that take much of the skill out of the game of hockey. There were rule change proposals submitted which addressed these issues, but it was the opinion of the Committee that new rules were not needed. It was felt that awareness of the problems could be best handled by isolating them as ``Points of Emphasis'', and stressing the importance of eliminating them.

Body Contact With the Goalkeeper

Physical contact with the goalkeeper has evolved into a tremendous problem in our game. The following points must be addressed by Coaches, Players and Parents and enforced by the Officials:

1. A penalty for interference or roughing shall be assessed for all unnecessary body contact with the goalkeeper, regardless of his location on the ice and regardless of who is in possession of the puck.
2. Any player who is propelling the puck into the goal crease and body checks the goalkeeper before or after releasing the puck shall be assessed a penalty for charging.
3. Any player who makes intentional body contact with a goalkeeper when he is in a position to avoid such contact shall be assessed a penalty for charging.

The practice of ``going to the net'' has quickly turned into the practice of ``going to the net and taking out the goalkeeper''. Players must realize that body checking a goalkeeper is much different than body checking a player. It must be emphasized that players are expected to respect the rights and privileges of the goalkeeper. Proper respect for the goalkeeper will allow him to safely perform his function on the team.

High Sticking

Although some organizations have recently enacted rules penalizing players from carrying the stick above the waist, the Playing Rules Committee favored retention of the shoulder height definition so as not to create a different rule for high sticking the puck as for high sticking an opponent. The Committee demands a higher awareness level of the ``careless'' use of the stick around the head of an opponent.

Any player who contacts an opponent in the shoulder, neck or head area with the stick while it is carried in a careless or accidental manner shall be assessed a minor penalty. And if injury to an opponent occurs for a stick so carried, the offending player must be assessed the minimum of a major plus misconduct penalty, even if the contact was accidental.

Zero Tolerance

As we move into our second and third years with this Policy in effect, there can be no relaxation in standards by officials in dealing with verbal abuse directed to them, and in their conduct towards all team personnel.

No one element (players, coaches, officials) is exempted from the Policy. It is important that each group understands and respects the other two groups, and that without cooperation among all three we have a difficult, if not impossible, task to create an environment which is safe and fun.