When is a check not a check?

Setting aside the nation's recent financial struggles for a moment, checking -- in ice hockey terms -- has nothing to do with Wall Street or bank accounts. For women's ice hockey, however, checking frequently bounces into discussions about the sport.

Checking -- the act of one player using her body to separate an opponent from the puck -- is not allowed in women's ice hockey. That part is clear.

Body contact, which requires additional explanation, is where the confusion begins. Body contact is defined in the NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules book as a legal skill -- such as angling -- to alter a player's position.

Confused on the difference? So are many officials, coaches and players.

"What I've seen is that the majority of body checking takes place along the boards," said Bob Quinn, recently appointed NCAA national coordinator of women's ice hockey officials. "Of course, that's also where checking is most evident. The gray area really comes in the middle of the ice and in the neutral zone. Those are the toughest to call."

With limited contact, officials should have an easier time calling the women's game, right? Not necessarily.

"In my opinion, it is much easier to call the men's game than our game right now," said Katey Stone, coach at Harvard University and member of the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee. "There is too much gray area in women's hockey with regard to body checking versus body contact."

Contact vs. checking

Tony Mariano, chair of the rules committee and director of athletics at Norwich University, said the committee's altered wording was intended to clarify a muddied vision of the difference between contact and checking.

"In our discussions, we've really tried to make the rule as explanatory as possible to eliminate confusion," Mariano said. "The committee understands there are differences from official to official. We're just trying to make sure that difference is as small as possible."

The new wording for this season: "Body checking occurs when a player's intent is to gain possession of the puck by separating the puck carrier from the puck with a distinct and definable moment of impact."

Similar language was added to the body contact section of the book in an effort to mark the differences between the two.

"An official really has to look at what is written and also judge what the player's intent was," Quinn said.

Critics of the checking/contact rules say that more athletic players and improved coaching tactics have started to make the women's game more physical. Injuries have grown in recent years, including concussions and other contact-related incidents.

"Women's hockey should be a fast-paced game of skill," Stone said. "Allowing more and more contact in the women's game will only slow the

game down and lower the level of excitement in the game."

Trying to get the hundreds of officials across the country on the same page is a challenge for any rule. Toss in a rule that no two people interpret quite the same and the task becomes more daunting.

Need for national help

That, in part, underscored the need for a national coordinator of officials to be a point person nationally for women's ice hockey issues. In a sport where success and support came rapidly, the officiating aspect has not grown as quickly.

"We've really reached a critical level in terms of officials," said Carolyn Campbell-McGovern, chair of the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Committee and associate commissioner of the Ivy Group. "We need to make sure the pipeline of great officials is coming along as quickly as the flow of great players."

The recruitment and development of officials -- specifically those interested in the women's game -- is an essential part of Quinn's job. Quinn was hired in October.

"This position is very important for many reasons," Campbell-McGovern said. "Having Bob in place as the voice of authority in terms of what is and isn't allowed with regard to officiating is crucial. This is a leadership role in developing officials, specifically those that focus on women's hockey. Focusing on officials that have a strong interest in women's hockey is important as well. He will serve as a steward of the officiating program."

Student-athlete help

Quinn has a plan for developing and recruiting officials. He plans to contact student-athletes who are in their last year of playing with a packet of information telling them how to become an official.

"The recruitment of former players will certainly help the process of growing the officiating pool and talent level," said Quinn, an educator by trade and former official with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the Hockey East Association. "I think contacting players who might be interested makes sense. Sometimes it just takes someone to suggest officiating. We feel like there are many student-athletes looking to stay around the game, and this is a great way to do it. We want to make sure they know who to contact in their area."

Quinn also plans to start a mentoring program to assist young officials with their development. He had similar programs during his time as an officiating coordinator for the ECAC.

"It certainly helps when a more veteran official can mentor some of the younger officials and be a good resource for them," said Quinn. "This is something I hope will keep the promising young officials in the game."

Mariano said the rules committee must work alongside officials, coaches and players to make positive changes in the rules of the game. Unfortunately, the checking/contact issue has many wrinkles and interpretations.

"It's obviously the main difference between the men's game and the women's game," Mariano said. "What makes it difficult to explain is that you can watch a clip and half the people will call it a check and the other half will probably let it go. So, there certainly is some confusion on the difference."

That's a check you can take to the bank.