The NCAA News - News and Features

May 19, 1997

Ice hockey seeks consistency with new site procedures

Citing inconsistency in pregame and game procedures, the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Rules Committee has adopted several measures to provide uniformity from site to site.

At its annual meeting May 6-8 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the committee created a common time schedule and game protocol to be used for each game, regardless of site.

It is the sense of the committee that a uniform or consistent structure would benefit both teams, officials and game personnel.

The committee voted that teams, as part of the game protocol, must adhere to the following guidelines:

Upon entering the ice for warm-ups, teams must proceed directly to and remain in their designated half of the ice. Teams must warm up in the half of the ice they will defend in the first period.

When both teams are to leave the ice through a common exit, the team whose players' bench is closest to the exit shall leave the ice first. On-ice officials may hold or direct players at their discretion.

Upon re-entering the ice for team introductions, players must proceed directly to and remain in their designated half of the ice. At the five-minute mark, both teams must be assembled on their respective goal lines.

As starters are introduced, they shall proceed to their respective bluelines, followed by the remaining team members (the goalkeeper may stay in the crease area). Players shall remain stationary on the blueline for the completion of the national anthem. Players may huddle at their respective goal only before the start of the game.

Upon the referee's direction, starting players shall line up for the face-off; remaining players shall proceed directly to their respective benches.

For subsequent periods, starting players shall remain in their half of the ice and proceed to the center-ice face-off positions. All remaining players shall proceed directly to their benches.

To ensure adherence to the game protocol, the committee voted that a bench minor penalty shall be assessed against a team not complying with the guidelines.

In a related matter, the committee voted to increase the length of intermission between each period from 12 to 15 minutes. The intermission will commence when the referee signals the timekeeper to start the clock.

Player safety and conduct

In addition to the development of the game protocol, the committee took action on issues relating to player safety and conduct -- specifically, charging and use of the mouthguard.

Adamant about reducing the risk of player injury, the committee cited charging as a point of emphasis and revised its definition to state that charging shall mean the action of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall check an opponent violently in any manner.

Previously, a player was considered to have charged an opponent if two steps or strides were taken by that player.

Regarding the mouthguard, the committee voted to add it to the list of equipment that cannot be challenged.

At its 1996 annual meeting, the committee voted that a player who does not wear the mandatory protective mouthguard will receive a misconduct penalty and be replaced on the ice for an initial violation of the rule. For a second violation by the same player in the same game, a game misconduct penalty will be assessed.

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