End Zone PositioningEnd Zone Positioning

Northern Ontario Hockey Association

New Procedure – Hockey Canada Hockey Canada has introduced a new end zone

positioning procedure for the Referee or lead Official in the two Referee system; this system is called the cone as shown in the illustration below

The Cone Although the cone area is below the goal line at

certain points, the Referee is encouraged to stay at or above the goal line as much as possible.

The piston is still used, however, officials will be given a wider range and will be allowed to float. The referee in the 3 man system must adapt and not always go deep getting trapped in the corner and not able to follow the play.

This is to prevent officials from going to high or not getting to the net and in position.

At The Net

Half Piston

Home Base

END ZONE POSITIONING

WHEN PLAY IS IN THE END ZONE FOLLOW NORMAL END ZONE POSITIONING

Half Piston Area between Home Base and the

near goal post, at the bottom of the face-off circle, usually in line with the face-off dots

On an imaginary line joining home base and the near goal post

When the puck is on the opposite side of the ice

HALF PISTON

HP

AS PLAY MOVES BEHIND THE GOAL LINEOUR SIGHTLINE IS RESTRICTED BY THE NET

WE NEED TO CREATE A ZONE TO WORK INTO GIVE US BETTER VIEW OF THE PLAY

AND GOOD POSITION AND ICE LOCATIONSHOULD THE PLAY MOVE OUT

HALF PISTON

HP

WHEN PLAY GOES BEHIND THE GOAL LINETOO MANY OFFICIALS GO INTO “NO MAN’S LAND

TO GAIN SIGHTLINES

WHILE THEY DO GAIN SIGHTLINE THEY LOSE ICE ADVANTAGE

THIS IS NOT GOOD POSITIONING

Home Base 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) off the boards,

half way between goal line and face-off circle hash marks

Puck is on the official’s side of the net

HP

HOME BASE

HB

WHEN PLAY MOVES TO YOUR SIDE OF THE ICEYOU MOVE TO HOME BASE CREATING A ZONE

USING THE BUMP AND PIVOT

TO GIVE YOU GOOD ICE ADVANTAGEWHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE ZONE

At the NetAt the Net Anywhere around the net that gives

the official the best view to see if the puck goes over the goal line

Closer to the net than half piston Ideally at the corner of the net 2-3

feet from goal line Never switch sides or cross over to

other side during play

ATN

AT THE NET

HP

WHEN PLAY IS AROUND THE NET CREATE A ZONE TO WORK IN TO GET THE BEST VIEW OF THE PUCK ENTERING THE NET

BE READY TO SKATE BACKWARDS QUICKLYWHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE NET AREA

WHICH PUTS YOU IN GOOD POSITION SHOULD THE PLAY LEAVE THE ZONE

R

MANY OFFICIALS TEND TO “CHEAT” AND DON’T COME INTO THE END ZONE ANY FURTHER THAN SHOWN HERE. THIS LEAVES THEM IN BAD

POSITION TO VIEW A PLAY AT THE NET

WHEN PLAY ENTERS THE ZONE

End Zone ManeuversEnd Zone ManeuversThe Bump Move along the boards from Home Base, in either

direction, to stay out of the play “Bump” no further than top of circle or goal line

The Pivot Used to maintain position while allowing play to pass

quickly behind Step off boards as play approaches enough to allow

play to pass behind As play passes, pivot to keep the play in sight and

back to the boards, then move back to Home Base

HB HB

BUMP

WHEN PLAY MOVES, RETURN TO HOME BASE OR HALF

PISTON

AS PLAY MOVES TOWARDS YOU, BUMP THE BOARDS TO STAY

OUT OF THE WAY

PIVOT

HB

HB

HB

AS PLAY APPROACHES, PIVOT OFF THE BOARDS TO LET THE PLAY PASS YOU

WHEN PLAY PASSES, PIVOT TO KEEP THE PLAY IN SIGHT

Puck PossessionPuck Possession How does it affect your positioning?

A

A

A

D

D

HP

HB

L

L

D

HOLDS POSITIONUNTIL PUCK CROSSES THE LINE

THEN MOVES WITH THE PLAY

ATTACKING TEAM IN CONTROL OF THE PUCK WE MAINTAIN STANDARD END ZONE

POSITIONING

WHEN THE DEFENDING TEAM GETS CONTROLWE MUST ANTICIPATE THE CHANGE OF PLAY

AND PREPARE TO MOVE WITH IT

THIS LINESMAN MUST NOW PAY CLOSEATTENTION TO THE FLOATER AND CREATE A ZONE TO WATCH FOR AN OFFSIDE

AS PLAY BEGINS TO MOVE OUT, WE MOVE WITH IT

Pursuit of PlayPursuit of Play Play on your side – 15-20 feet behind

play Play on far side – 8-10 feet behind play Blue line to goal line – MUST KEEP

SKATING Crossing over to other side of rink

(behind net or middle of ice) is not acceptable!

Use tight turns (vs. stops and starts) when play changes direction

PURSUIT OF PLAY

WHEN PLAY LEAVES THE ENDZONE AND CONTINUES INTO

THE OPPOSITE ENDZONE

R R R R

THE REFEREE MUST SKATE HARD THROUGH THE NEUTRAL ZONE, LOOKING BACK AT VARYING LOCATIONS TO WATCH

PLAYERS BEHIND THE PLAY

UNTIL HE ASSUMES GOOD END ZONE POSITIONING

R

Common MistakesCommon Mistakes Over skating (over reacting)

Not anticipating movements/failure to get back to home base

Not moving to the net quickly enough on close plays

True or False – Page 1071. The maneuver that is used when the player comes

around the board in the direction of the Referee standing at home base is the slide step.

2. The three positions in the piston system are “at the net”, “on boards” and “at the face-off dot”

3. The area located between home base and the nearest goal post, inline with the face-off dot is called “half piston”

4. The pivot consists of taking a stride out away from the boards, crossing under and waiting for the play to move up ice

5. There are three maneuvers and two positions in end zone positioning

False

False

True

False

False

Multiple Choice – Page 107When the Referee is “at the net” and play

moves to his/her side of the ice, what must the Referee do:

a) Skate backwards quickly to home base to avoid being caught in the play

b) Take a couple of strides, then coast to see how the play is developing

c) Wait “at the net” for play to develop and then move

d) Turn, skate forwards to the boards and then assume the home base position