Checking from behind...

[hockscout88]

Are the high school refs going to be calling checking from behind as close as college refs are this year?? Are there any new rule changes this year?? <p></p><i></i>

[Kodiak]

As far as I know, the 10 + 2 will still be the same in High School from last year... good rule, and the refs seem to call it pretty well. <p></p><i></i>

[qwerty16]

Does anyone think that the 10 + 2 isn't harsh enough? This is a major penalty that varsity high school players SHOULD be able to avoid. I think a game misconduct could be a possible option for this offense. <p></p><i></i>

[PuckRanger]

I think the referee should be allowed some discretion on this. <br><br>If its intentional, like a player taking a run from half way across the ice and plants a guy face first into the boards, I think that player has no place in the game at all, and 10+2 is way too lenient.<br><br>On the other hand, if a player turns his back at the last split-second while the opposing player was trying to throw a shoulder check, I think no penalty should be called at all. That player shouldn't have put himself in that position. You do need to be somewhat responsible for your own protection.<br><br>The college hockey rule is horrid. I am sick of it already and its only 3 weeks into the season. I'm all for getting the "goone" type stuff out of the game, but this is hockey, it is a physical sport and unfortunately injuries have and always will happen. <p></p><i></i>

[Duluthhockeyfan]

I think if you are going to force a kid to sit for 12 minutes then it should be clear cut that the player being hit was put in danger. Now if the player is actually injured, than that is where the 5 and a game should come in. Otherwise, and I think a lot of refs do a pretty good job with this, is use the boarding call, and take the extra time to go over and explain to the kid (not the coach who is bitching about it) what happened, and how he can avoid taking the penalty next time. <br><br>I feel if the refs would take a more active role in helping explain to these kids why they call the penalties they do, the kids could learn ways to avoid them, as well as the potential for injury. Lets face it the ref's are the ones getting paid to be out there. They should help in the learning process. <p></p><i></i>

[bigcurve961]

It would be nice if more people, "coaches and players" would look at the end result of this penalty.<br><br>This can be a season ending or worse injury. The guidelines are pretty clear. Any hit from behind is 2 + 10, if the hit produces a head first crash into the boards or goal post it changes to 5 + game.<br><br>From a coaching standpoint, we are usually not in the mood to talk much after a penalty of this sort is handed out. As officials, some can communicate better than others. Each situation is different. Game situations, at high intensity is not always the best spot to "learn". I'm not condemning the idea, just clarifying it's not "always" the best plan.<br><br>Bottom line, if there is a gray area decision on a check from behind and the player making the hit doesn't let up at all the call should be made every time. "IE" the player being hit turns or what ever the case may be". If there is an attempt to reduce impact, that is when the boarding or different call should be made. IMO <p></p><i></i>

[gunslinger]

Sounds like they are going to grandfather in the goalie sizes to go down.... <br><br>Also, I know they are cracking down on equipment violations such as any equipment that is not in its original state... such as torn breezers etc...<br><br>-The Slinger <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[HitTheCrossBar]

The checking from behind penalty was added to the rulebook the same year they add the youth players put the STOP badge in the back of their jersey. It was intended to prevent head and spinal cord injuries. I always thought that it was misguided. There are situations where checking from behind is not dangerous at all. For example, a player facing the board with his chest against the glass playing the puck with his skates can take a hit from behind without being hurt. I'm not talking about a hit to the head or being charged. There are penalties for those offenses. I consider that boarding is the real danger. And it doesn't matter if it's from behind, from the side or from the front. Any boarding can result in a devastating injury and should be punished consistently, and as severely as possible.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[puckhead89]

gunslinger, are you saying goalie equipment and the other alteration to equipment rule is going to be effective for high school this year? <p></p><i></i>

[sloppyice]

I am all for stringent checking from behind enforcement<br><br>If it prevents one injury anywhere, the policy is well worth it.<br>As long as everyone, coaches, players and fans, understand the rule..their shouldn't be any gray areas. <br><br>Hockey is a physical support but CFB is not a physical penalty. It is a dangerous check that should be called.<br><br>I understand that high school league is trying to encourage more skill and speed in the game. Expect many more penalties especially early in the season.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[gunslinger]

From what I understand, yes, that it will apply this season. I have a friend that officiates and he said that they will be cracking down on any person that modifies his/her equipment from its production made original size and shape.<br><br><br>-The Slinger<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Zamman]

I may be a little out of line here, but ref's do not call half the penalties that they should. They let so much go to try and keep a lesser team in the game. I have seen so many cheap shots that the refs turn their backs. No this is not about AHA and lesser teams. I work at a rink, see many refs and God knows how many games, they all let stuff go. If the refs called a tighter game, the penalty boxes would need to be made bigger. Just my opinion... <p>________________________________<br>Academy of Holy Angels<br>2005 GIRLS STATE CHAMPS!<br>2002 & 2005 BOYS STATE CHAMPS!!<br>GO STARS!!</p><i></i>

[skates4free]

Zamman.. I agree with you for the most part, but dont you think that the refs let a lot go to keep the flow of the game. I know this has nothing to do with the NHL. But i was watching the Wild game the other night and the wistle was blown every 30 seconds for penalties that used to be called once or twice a game and it was extremely frusterating. <p></p><i></i>

[Renegade Ram]

Duluthfan, I disagree whole heartedly over the use of Boarding instead of the CFB call. It is a way for the referees to be gutless when they should be protecting players; if more CFB's were handed out versus the weasel Boarding call players may think twice, but hey if your only going to sit two minutes no big deal. By using the cop out call they've taken the teeth out of dealing with something that has been mandated. Why am I adamant about this, my kid was checked from behind 5 times last season (I reffed for 13 years as a level 3 I know what constitutes a CFB) but in 4 cases a boarding was given out. Two of the chicken officials were Bob Storey (a call which would have had Ness Roseau's best player sitting for the rest of the game in a real close game) and Vizenor the homer from EGF, in fact it was his own kid that did it. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... m>Renegade Ram</A> at: 11/7/05 8:34 pm<br></i>

[Zamman]

Yes to a degree. I have seen many players come up with bruised or worse hand and arm problems from the slashes. Maybe if a team of refs were to start the calling from the beginning then things may change, but in a game a couple of years ago between Richfield and Washburn. The game was completely out of hand, from the JV game. The refs did their best to stop the chippy play, and ended up getting demoted after the RHS coach complained to the reffing Gods. The Richfield coaches should have been punished for their poor sportsmanship, but it went against the refs instead.<br>Just as a note, that Richfield coaching staff is gone.... <p>________________________________<br>Academy of Holy Angels<br>2005 GIRLS STATE CHAMPS!<br>2002 & 2005 BOYS STATE CHAMPS!!<br>GO STARS!!</p><i></i>

[BrokenStick06]

This is a great topic, because it has affected a lot of kids. I have this question if anyone can answer it.<br><br>Is there a reason why JV hockey games have only 2 refs, and varsity 3? BTW, even Bantam A have 3 refs. I can say for fact a lot goes on in a JV game that the refs don't see because they are focused on where the puck is, not where it was 4 seconds ago. And away from the play often goes unnoticed in JV games.....not enough eyes. <p></p><i></i>

[RLStars]

Bantam A has 1 Ref and 2 Linesmen. The Linesmen call offsides, icing and too many men. They can discuss any penalties the observe behind the play, but can not make a call on it. It will then be up to the Ref to decide if a penalty is warranted. I don't believe that ever happened in our games last year. Bantam B uses 2 Referees system<br><br>I'm not sure, but I think HS uses the Bantam A system. If so, I think they should be using 2 Referees and 1 Linesman. Then you have to sets of eyes to watch the play and behind the play that can actually make a call. <p></p><i></i>

[ref101]

Bantam - 1 Ref 2 Linesman<br>JV - 2 man<br>Var - 2 Ref 1 Linesman<br><br>Why only 2 man on the JV? - School $$<br> <p></p><i></i>

[Hip Tzech]

This post caught my eye because I am a first year ref. I am looking forward to refereeing games, but I am also nervous. I am nervous because I want to call a good game. It is interesting to see all of the different views on not only CFB but towards refs in general. I am going to ref, because I am taking a break from coaching. I look forward to communicating to the players from a different perspective in addition to getting a different view of coaching. Enough of that. <br>I look at the CFB call to be important because of the potential damage that can be done, not only physically but also to a player’s mentality. I don’t think you can be selective on when to make this call and when not to, it will confuse the players. This call needs to be made consistently at the lower levels so when these players grow, fill-out and become more powerful they are not jeopardizing other players. The game is too fast and requires too much quick thinking to discern whether a player is too close to the boards or not. Speed and power on these hits can be devastating given the right circumstances. <br>I learned in the army that practice does not make perfect, rather practice makes permanent, and meaning if you practice something incorrectly it is not perfect but rather permanent. It is with this same mentality that I will call what I see (hopfully) and “coach” as needed. <br> <p></p><i></i>

[hockscout88]

Many different opinions on checking from behind.......has anyone heard the rule about letting all players stretch out between periods when coming back on the ice?? <p></p><i></i>

[topofgame]

i think it should make no difference as to weather the player involved is injured or not, you cant have the ref waiting to make the call based on if the player is faking it or not...i also agree that players need to take some responsibility for there own protection after all it is a physical sport but discretion must be used by the ref to determine if the contact was avoidable and if the aggresor made an attempt to avoid a violent collision...theres nothing more frustrating than seeing a player put into the boards from behind...similar situation in a scrimmage in albert lea between austin and mayo an austin player was skating to get a puck behind the goal in the offensive zone when mayo's goalie(donehue) stuck his leg out causing the austin player to do a header into the boards..it was only a scrimmage so nothing was done but it was very reminisant of feb. 7 vs new ulm...for me the situation is very real after seeing what can happen as a result of going into the boards face first and for that i have lost all respect for donehue and i think anything deamed intentional should carry harsh punishments like perhaps a 2 or 3 game suspension...because in the end it is just a game and games are played for fun....<br> -Petersen-<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[ChrisK]

This came up last night at the Roseville-Blake game in the third period. A Roseville player clearly checked a Blake player from behind into the boards, it was one of the clearest examples I've ever seen of the penalty. The ref gave him a five minute major and a game misconduct and I didn't see the Roseville coach or player complain at all. The game was at the State Fair Coliseum and the whole place went silent (though there were only about 200 people there so it was pretty quiet to begin with). The Blake player was on the ice for several minutes but was able to get up and came off favoring a leg. He skated a couple of shifts later so I don't think he was seriously hurt, but after seeing that hit I can see why it's so dangerous and heavily penalized. <p></p><i></i>

[bigcurve961]

The reason for two officials in a JV game is mostly logistics. Since the officials nor "most" coaches make a living from their involvement, it is tough for some to make it to a JV game starting at 5 or 5:30 when it could be up to 75 minutes away from their day jobs.<br><br>There are many variations of the CFB call or non call. I say unless you've been in that situation of either making the call, being checked from behind, or giving the check from behind it's impossible to critique how it is handled. Each situation is different.<br><br>We've all seen the good CFB call made, and the coaching staff throwing a fit. I'm happy to hear the right call was made in the Roseville/Blake game recently. If no one complained, that would be an exception.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[Knowlze]

I think the 2 ref system is the best for all levels. Both can call penalties, and can be in position for offsides/icing.<br><br>Varsity system (2 ref, 1 linesman) is fine, but is the linesman really needed? Is it worth the extra cost and referee that could be at another game, just for the offsides/icing call?<br><br>Bantam system is pathetic. What is more important, offsides or penalty calls? Not many players get hurt when an offside is missed. One set of eyes to watch the entire ice is not possible? If we think three officials are needed, the varsity sytem would be much more effective. Usually more penalties to see in bantams that HS hockey anyway, in my opinion.<br><br>Aren't referees sort of scarce, especially the more experienced? If only two were used, there would be more to choose from. I think the quality would be greatly increased.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[RLStars]

You couldn't be more right!!!!!!!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>