1. Northern Ontario Hockey Association
End Zone Positioning
Northern Ontario Hockey Association

2. New Procedure – Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada has introduced a new end zone positioning procedure for the Referee or lead Official in the two Referee system; this system is called the cone as shown in the illustration below

3. The Cone
Although the cone area is below the goal line at certain points, the Referee is encouraged to stay at or above the goal line as much as possible.
The piston is still used, however, officials will be given a wider range and will be allowed to float. The referee in the 3 man system must adapt and not always go deep getting trapped in the corner and not able to follow the play.
This is to prevent officials from going to high or not getting to the net and in position.

4. WHEN PLAY IS IN THE END ZONE FOLLOW NORMAL END ZONE POSITIONING
At The Net
Half Piston
Home Base

5. Half Piston
Area between Home Base and the near goal post, at the bottom of the face-off circle, usually in line with the face-off dots
On an imaginary line joining home base and the near goal post
When the puck is on the opposite side of the ice

6. HALF PISTON HP AND GOOD POSITION AND ICE LOCATION
SHOULD THE PLAY MOVE OUT
AS PLAY MOVES BEHIND THE GOAL LINE
OUR SIGHTLINE IS RESTRICTED BY THE NET
WE NEED TO CREATE A ZONE TO WORK IN
TO GIVE US BETTER VIEW OF THE PLAY

7. HALF PISTON HP WHEN PLAY GOES BEHIND THE GOAL LINE
TOO MANY OFFICIALS GO INTO “NO MAN’S LAND
TO GAIN SIGHTLINES
WHILE THEY DO GAIN SIGHTLINE
THEY LOSE ICE ADVANTAGE
THIS IS NOT GOOD POSITIONING

8. Home Base
15-20 cm (6-8 inches) off the boards, half way between goal line and face-off circle hash marks
Puck is on the official’s side of the net

9. HOME BASE HP HB WHEN PLAY MOVES TO YOUR SIDE OF THE ICE
YOU MOVE TO HOME BASE CREATING A ZONE
USING THE BUMP AND PIVOT
TO GIVE YOU GOOD ICE ADVANTAGE
WHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE ZONE

10. At the Net
Anywhere around the net that gives the official the best view to see if the puck goes over the goal line
Closer to the net than half piston
Ideally at the corner of the net 2-3 feet from goal line
Never switch sides or cross over to other side during play

11. AT THE NET
ATN HP
WHEN PLAY IS AROUND THE NET CREATE A ZONE TO WORK IN TO GET THE BEST VIEW OF THE PUCK ENTERING THE NET
BE READY TO SKATE BACKWARDS QUICKLY
WHEN THE PLAY LEAVES THE NET AREA
WHICH PUTS YOU IN GOOD POSITION
SHOULD THE PLAY LEAVE THE ZONE

12. WHEN PLAY ENTERS THE ZONE
MANY OFFICIALS TEND TO “CHEAT” AND DON’T COME INTO THE END ZONE ANY FURTHER THAN SHOWN HERE. THIS LEAVES THEM IN BAD POSITION TO VIEW A PLAY AT THE NET
WHEN PLAY ENTERS THE ZONE R

13. End Zone Maneuvers The Bump The Pivot
Move along the boards from Home Base, in either direction, to stay out of the play
“Bump” no further than top of circle or goal line
The Pivot
Used to maintain position while allowing play to pass quickly behind
Step off boards as play approaches enough to allow play to pass behind
As play passes, pivot to keep the play in sight and back to the boards, then move back to Home Base

14. BUMP HB HB
AS PLAY MOVES TOWARDS YOU, BUMP THE BOARDS TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY
WHEN PLAY MOVES, RETURN TO HOME BASE OR HALF PISTON

15. WHEN PLAY PASSES, PIVOT TO KEEP THE PLAY IN SIGHTHB HB HB
WHEN PLAY PASSES, PIVOT TO KEEP THE PLAY IN SIGHT
AS PLAY APPROACHES, PIVOT OFF THE BOARDS TO LET THE PLAY PASS YOU

16. Puck Possession
How does it affect your positioning?

17. L L WHEN THE DEFENDING TEAM GETS CONTROL
WE MUST ANTICIPATE THE CHANGE OF PLAY
AND PREPARE TO MOVE WITH IT
ATTACKING TEAM IN CONTROL OF THE PUCK WE MAINTAIN STANDARD END ZONE POSITIONING
AS PLAY BEGINS TO MOVE OUT,
WE MOVE WITH IT L A
HOLDS POSITION
UNTIL PUCK CROSSES
THE LINE
THEN MOVES
WITH THE PLAY A D D D A HP L HB
THIS LINESMAN MUST NOW PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO THE FLOATER AND CREATE
A ZONE TO WATCH FOR AN OFFSIDE

18. Pursuit of Play Play on your side – 15-20 feet behind play
Play on far side – 8-10 feet behind play
Blue line to goal line – MUST KEEP SKATING
Crossing over to other side of rink (behind net or middle of ice) is not acceptable!
Use tight turns (vs. stops and starts) when play changes direction

19. PURSUIT OF PLAY R R R R R
THE REFEREE MUST SKATE HARD THROUGH THE NEUTRAL ZONE, LOOKING BACK AT VARYING LOCATIONS TO WATCH PLAYERS BEHIND THE PLAY
WHEN PLAY LEAVES THE ENDZONE AND CONTINUES INTO THE OPPOSITE ENDZONE
UNTIL HE ASSUMES GOOD END ZONE POSITIONING

20. Common Mistakes Over skating (over reacting)
Not anticipating movements/failure to get back to home base
Not moving to the net quickly enough on close plays

21. True or False – Page 107
The maneuver that is used when the player comes around the board in the direction of the Referee standing at home base is the slide step.
The three positions in the piston system are “at the net”, “on boards” and “at the face-off dot”
The area located between home base and the nearest goal post, inline with the face-off dot is called “half piston”
The pivot consists of taking a stride out away from the boards, crossing under and waiting for the play to move up ice
There are three maneuvers and two positions in end zone positioning
False
False
True
False
False

22. Multiple Choice – Page 107
When the Referee is “at the net” and play moves to his/her side of the ice, what must the Referee do:
Skate backwards quickly to home base to avoid being caught in the play
Take a couple of strides, then coast to see how the play is developing
Wait “at the net” for play to develop and then move
Turn, skate forwards to the boards and then assume the home base position