Two Official SystemTwo Official System

Northern Ontario Hockey Association

Two Official System - RefereeTwo Official System - Referee

Ice is divided by the centre red line Referees will conduct all face-offs in the

half they are currently responsible for Referee not taking face-off will conduct

line change procedure Blow and Go, the referee will pick up the

puck in the half he is responsible for and conduct the face-off

General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines

Each referee covers 2/3 of the total ice surface

The coverage overlaps in the neutral zone

General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines As the front official, do not let the play pass you in the

neutral zone If you are in path of players and puck is in neutral

zone, move towards your blue line Never climb boards as it will leave you out of position

and puts you in vulnerable position Should always be at, or just inside the blueline prior to

the puck and players When you are front official, must be at centre red line

as puck approaches to effectively call icings As the back official watch for fouls in front of the net;

your partner may be watching play in the corner or along the boards

R2

R1

Positioning While Play is in Progress

To start game, or any face-off at centre ice, two officials should be positioned long centre red line facing each other.

The official taking the face-off should face the penalty bench so that the timekeeper can start the clock when puck is dropped

Timekeeper

When puck is dropped, R2 must go with the puck whether left or right in order to be at the blue line as the puck crosses and

R1 skates backwards to the boards after dropping the puck

R2

R1

As the puck moves into the end zone, R2 must follow the play and begin to implement his End Zone Positioning.

R1 moves up the boards and takes a position just outside the blue line, at an angle facing the play

In these positions, R2 can watch the play in the end zone and R1 can watch for off-sides and must also watch the end zone

play away from the puck

R2

R1

R2

R1

R2

R1

R2

R1

At all times the two officials are in a diagonal position relative to one another, no further than

one line apart

Positioning for Face-Offs

Neutral Zone

R2

R1

F.O.G – Free Official Goes

The official not conducting the face-off (R2) should be prepared to move in either direction while referee conducting face-off skates backward to board when safe

This allows for all lines to be covered

Positioning for Face-Offs

End Zone

R2

R1

Referee (R1) drops puck and backs to Home Base. If puck stays deep, practice End Zone Positioning.

HBReferee not conducting face-off (R2) is positioned just outside the blue line – 30cm to 1m from the boards. May move further from

boards to get a clear view of players behind R1.

30cm-1m

Face-Off Zone ChangesFace-Off Zone Changes Once official (R2) has taken his position

after centre ice face-off, he is responsible for face-offs and positioning in that half of the ice, R1 is responsible for other half

Officials maintain responsibility for face-offs until one of the following situations arise: Penalty is assessed Any neutral zone face-off (start of period, after

goal, off-side, hand pass, etc.)

R1 reports a penalty to the scorekeeper

R1

R2

R2 retrieves the puck and proceeds to the face-off spot for the ensuing face-off

R2

R1

R2 now assumes the responsibility for face-offs and positioning in this end zone, while R1 handles line

change procedure

R1 takes up position outside blue line or across from R2 in the neutral zone depending on where

the face-off takes placeIn this situation, the officials have

changed ends

Positioning when a Penalty is Assessed – Positioning when a Penalty is Assessed – Example #1Example #1

R1

R2

If R2 assesses the penalty, he will report the penalty to the timekeeper and R1 will retrieve the puck and conduct the

ensuing face-off.

R2 will assume position outside the blue line or across from R1 in the neutral done depending on the location

of the face-off

R2

In this situation, the officials have not changed ends

Positioning when a Penalty is Assessed – Positioning when a Penalty is Assessed – Example #2Example #2

R1

R2

R2

R1

A goal is scored in R1’s end

R1 signals the goal and reports it to the scorekeeper. In the meantime, R2 retrieves the puck

R2 goes to centre ice for the ensuing face-off, and R1 takes his position on the centre red line facing R2

Positioning When a Goal is ScoredPositioning When a Goal is Scored

R1 must be ready to go left or right depending on the direction of the puck on the face-off and procedures are now

the same as for the start of the game

Common Faults and TipsCommon Faults and Tips Failure of the official responsible for attacking

zone to leave zone quickly in pursuit of play When stoppage in play at the net, move to At the

Net position immediately to reduce conflict between players; presence and communication will act as deterrent for altercations after the whistle

If puck carrier is attacking player hold position a little longer as they will normally go to the net and you can follow

If puck carrier is defending player, retreat to home base as play generally goes up the boards

Two Official SystemSystem – True or False 1) Penalties can be assessed by either Referee anywhere

on the ice.2) When the puck is dropped at centre ice, the official

not dropping the puck goes the direction of the puck to ensure someone is at the blue line for a potential off-side.

3) For neutral ice face-offs, the official not dropping the puck should hold the line for his partner until he is in position.

4) When a goal is scored the front linesman will signal the goal and report it the scorekeeper. The other official will retrieve the puck and go to the centre to conduct the face-off.

5) When a penalty is being assessed, the official will assess the penalty and report it to the scorekeeper. The other official will retrieve the puck for his partner and give it to him to conduct the face-off upon returning to the position.

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

TRUE

FALSE

Two Official System – Multiple Two Official System – Multiple ChoiceChoice

1. While play is in progress the back official should watch the following:

a) The play in the entire end zoneb) For any off-sides at the bluelinec) The play that is away from the puckd) All of the above

2. Which official is responsible for performing the line change procedure?

a) The official taking the face-offb) The official not taking the face-offc) The official nearest the benchesd) The line change procedure is not used

in the two official system

3. The official who assessed and reported the penalty will:

a) Go back to their original positionb) Take his position outside the blueline or

across from his partner in the neutral zone depending on the position

c) Go where the face-off will occur and drop the puck

d) None of the above

4. Although coverage overlaps in the neutral zone, each official is responsible for covering:

a) One halfb) One quarterc) Two thirdsd) Only the play immediately around

them