Here are just about all the questions that were asked during the 1st year officials training class last night. 

When do you do stick checks?

- The proper mechanic is to do stick checks at random dead-ball situations, either before a face-off, after goals, during time-outs, and between periods.

 

Is counting long crosses separate from an equipment check?

- Yes, the head coach gets one “freebie” check for each type of request.

 

Can you stick/equipment check one player multiple times?

- You may check a player multiple times.

 

Do you give leeway on a rainy day for a deep pocket?

- If you can clearly see daylight over the ball then the stick is illegal. Remember, it is the player’s responsibility to ensure their stick is legal.

 

Are stick fouls recorded at the table?

- The table recorder personal and technical fouls, including stick fouls.

 

When do you stop a flag down slow whistle (fdsw)?

- Remember the acronym AGOODIE

Advance

Goal/grounded

Offense commits a foul

Out of bounds or box

Defense gains possession

Injury in the scrimmage area

End of period/equipment loss

 

Does a bounce shot or pass end a flag down slow whistle?

- A bounce shot is considered a shot, and does not stop a fdsw. A bounce pass is not considered a shot, and the fdsw will end as soon as the ball hits the ground.

 

What happens during a fdsw and the period ends?

- If the teams are equal strength you will have a face-off. If teams are not going to be equal strength you will award possession to the team that was fouled.

 

What happens if there is a personal foul on a loose ball?

- Flag down and immediate whistle. Personal fouls deal with safety issues and are not considered a play-on.

 

Does the trail always signal penalties to the bench?

- The trail signals penalties to the bench because they generally have the best view of the table.

 

How are dead-ball fouls assessed and possession determined?

- Think of dead ball fouls like a light switch. Red fouls blue = blue ball. Then blue fouls red = red ball. Then red fouls blue = blue ball.

 

Does the player come off the face-off if he commits an illegal procedure violation?

- No, this is an NCAA rule, for NFHS rules the face-off player may remain in the game.

 

Do you switch the on/off official depending on where the ball is?

- Yes, the on official always takes the ball, and the off official watches the remaining players on the field. On/off officials will switch responsibilities as the ball moves around the field.

 

How do you determine whether you are the on/off official?

- If the ball is coming towards you, you will likely become the on official. Likewise, if it is moving away from you, you will likely become the off official.

 

Where do you go on a slow clear?

- On all clears the trail stays parallel to the ball and jogs up the field. The lead must always beat the ball to goal line extended.

 

Is the four seconds part of the twenty-second clearing count?

- Yes. When the goalie gains possession in the crease you will start your twenty-second timer and begin a 4-second count.

 

Does the trail always have the 20-second count?

- Yes. Since the trail official follows the ball up the field on a clear it is the trail’s responsibility to time the 20-seconds.

 

When is offsides a free clear?

- Offsides is always a free clear according to NFHS rules

 

When do you give a 5 second count when the ball goes out of bounds?

- If a kid is actively going towards a ball, no need to count. Also, if a player is searching for a ball, no need to count. However, if there are available balls on the endline and no player is making an attempt to pick up the ball, begin the five-second count. If the five-second count expires before a player is in-bounds with the ball, call delay of game and award possession to the opposing team.

 

What happens when the 20-seconds expires on a horn?

- Immediate whistle if a team has too many/too few men on the field for a proper restart. Call delay of game and award possession to the opposing team.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone out at the field training this Sunday!

Cheers,
g