Officials 2023 – Module 2 IIHF OFFICIAL RULE BOOK 2022/23 – Topic 1 Terminology

Terminology

DEFINITIONS, TERMINOLOGY AND TERMS

ALTERCATION – Any physical interaction between two or more opposing Players resulting in a penalty or penalties being assessed. An altercation will generally occur at a stoppage of play (not within the normal process of playing the puck) and includes the gathering of two or more opposing Players and requires action to be taken by the On-ice Officials to separate Players.

BLIND-SIDED HIT – A Player in possession and/or control of the puck has the obligation to acknowledge they are eligible to be hit at any moment during this possession and/or control. They must therefore be aware of their immediate environment on the ice and always be prepared for such contact. However, this acceptance of contact is limited and can only be justified by a check that is legally delivered by an opponent. A Player’s peripheral vision being limited, it cannot be reasonably expected that they has total circumspection of what occurs on the ice. A Player preparing to deliver a check to an opponent in possession and/or control of the puck must do everything in their power to execute a fair and well-timed hit. They must also ensure that they deliver it in such a way that their opponent has a reasonable possibility to perceive the impending contact from their established peripheral vision and can accordingly brace them self for such impact. A Player delivering a check to an opponent outside the latter’s established peripheral vision, also known as a “blind-sided hit”, is not considered to be a well-executed check, and may be penalized accordingly by the Referee.

BODY CHECKING – A legal body check is one in which a Player checks an opponent who is in possession of the puck, by using their hip or body from the front, diagonally from the front or straight from the side. Legitimate body checking must be done for the purpose of separating the opponent from the puck, only with the trunk of the body (hips and shoulders) and must be above the opponent’s knees and at or below the shoulders.

BODY CONTACT – Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off of the puck.

COMPETITIVE CONTACT – Body contact between two or more Players who are in the immediate vicinity of the puck and who are trying to gain possession of the puck. These Skaters are reasonably allowed to push and lean into each other provided that possession of the puck remains the sole object of the contact.

CONTROL OF THE PUCK – The act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or feet. Control of the puck is not lost when contact with the puck is made by an opponent, the Boards or the net, provided the Player in control of the puck continues propelling the puck. Control means extended possession of the puck.

DEFLECTION OF THE PUCK – When the puck is diverted from its intended path, often by accident. A deflection can be off the stick, body, net, Boards or glass.

DIRECTING THE PUCK – The act of intentionally moving or positioning the body, skate or stick so as to change the course of the puck in a desired direction.

INJURY – Blood does not have to be visible to consider it an injury. Blood flowing is not the only determining factor. For example, an injury caused by a high stick to the face could have one of the following characteristics: severe bruising, abrasions, a welt, cutting of the skin or damage to teeth by the high stick.

POSSESSION OF THE PUCK – The last Player to physically touch the puck with their stick or body shall be considered in possession of the puck. A Player can have possession of the puck without control, but they cannot have control of the puck without possession.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT – Any action that endangers an opponent. A foul consisting of acts that create a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person. The accused person is not required to intend the resulting or potential harm, but must have acted in a way that showed a disregard for the foreseeable consequences of the actions.

VULNERABLE POSITION – A Skater is considered to be in a vulnerable position when they are no longer in control or possession of the puck and they are either not aware of an impending hit or they are not prepared for the hit. A bodycheck to an opponent who is vulnerable is automatically considered reckless even if that bodycheck would be considered legal to a non-vulnerable opponent.

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