Ice hockey is one of the fastest sports sponsored by the Association. Skilled skaters scream up and down the ice with tremendous flair and quickness.

Now, thanks to a policy change by the Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee, the down time between whistles is catching up with the pace of play.

The committee adopted a faceoff procedure that gives teams less time to change players and officials a more defined procedure for restarting play. After seeing it used successfully in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the hockey community embraced the change. Coaches were in nearly unanimous support at their annual convention.

At its annual meeting in June, the committee discussed many possible models for the faceoff system. The group settled on a 15-second procedure. The results have been extremely positive.

"The faceoff procedure the committee adopted has allowed the game to be played at a faster pace and has significantly reduced the delays that occurred between whistles," said Tony Mariano, athletics director at Norwich University and chair of the rules committee. "The officials have been working hard to improve the mechanics of this faceoff procedure and have done a good job controlling any delays that have surfaced."

Basically, when the whistle is blown and a faceoff location is determined, the referee begins the 15-second process. Both teams receive up to five seconds to change players, if they wish. After the change of players, the puck will be dropped in no more than five seconds.

'A great rules change'

The system differs slightly from the process used in the Olympics (International Ice Hockey Federation rules). The main difference deals with television -- college hockey games are allowed television timeouts. During those periods, the 15-second procedure is not used.

Implementing the procedure took some doing. Frank Cole, the NCAA's national coordinator of ice hockey officials, worked closely with each conference supervisor to effectively craft mechanics for the procedure. In early December, a supervisors' meeting was held in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to fine tune the system and make sure the process was consistent across the country.

"There were a few parts of the process that were different in some leagues," Cole said. "We are continuing to work to make it as consistent as possible at all levels of college hockey."

Early in the season, some officials were so concerned with dropping the puck within 15 seconds that the fairness of faceoffs was being compromised. Once officials became comfortable with the process, however, things improved.

"This has been a great rules change," said John Gallagher, Eastern College Athletic Conference supervisor of officials. "The intended purpose has been satisfied in the fact that our games are averaging just over two hours. It is a great rule and the rules committee should be commended for taking this step."

Reduces delays

Speeding up the game, a point of emphasis two years ago, certainly has been achieved. Many leagues have reported games of less than two hours. The fastest game so far was a one hour, 47-minute contest in Hockey East Association play.

"It has been a huge success," said Hockey East Association Commissioner Joe Bertagna, who chaired the ice hockey rules committee at the time the measure was adopted. "It has taken about 16 minutes or more off the average game time in just about every league that has reported."

While the effect on game times is an obvious positive, the committee's goal with this rule is two-fold. Previously, delaying tactics by coaches and players were reaching alarming levels. With the new procedure implemented correctly, delaying tactics during line changes are a vestige of the past.

"Of particular satisfaction to me is how it has cut down on what had become excessive talk between players and officials on the ice," Bertagna said.

The change has spurred media stories and a positive response from the hockey community. While the committee does not make rules changes based solely on public opinion, it is a positive when changes are made and embraced.

"The committee gave officials a valuable tool," Mariano said. "I really believe that this rule has improved the quality of the game for the players, fans and officials."

15-second faceoff procedure