2008-2009 Scheduled Seminars (Texas) Location Level Date Contact Email Austin Returning (1-3) Sept. 6 Marc Cole marc7@austin.rr.com Dallas Returning (1-3) Sept. 14 Ken Reinhard president@mhoa.org Houston Returning (1-3) Aug. 23 Daryl Henely dghenley@cs.com Houston Level 4 (2-day) Sept. 20 Daryl Henely dghenley@cs.com San Antonio Returning (1-3) Sept. 13 Garry Pariseau gpariseau@mawdi.com West Texas Returning (1-3) TBA Rich Walters       2007-2008 Standard of Play & Rules Video Click Here    USA Hockey Standard of Play and Rule Emphasis Interpretations Battling in Front of Goal With the standard of play initiative, players are still legally able to battle for position in front of the goal and in the corners. This may include considerable body contact. A player using their size, strength and balance to establish a favorable body position is an effective play and rewards players who use this skill to gain a competitive advantage. The use of the stick in this process to steer the opponent is also allowed as long as it remains close to the body and the arms are not extended in a manner that cross-checks the opponent. An example of an illegal tactic would include the extension or use of the arm(s) to push off in an effort to create distance between the player and the opponent or prevent them from legally playing the puck. Free Hand Used By Offensive Player A player who is in possession and control of the puck and has established body position may use their free hand to maintain that body position. In this situation, both players are skating shoulder-to-shoulder, or the defensive player is slightly behind, and the attacking player uses the free arm to fend off the defensive player and simply maintain their already established body position, as long as they do not grab the stick, sweater or arm of the opponent. However, a player who uses a free arm to push off of an opponent and create space, or uses the free arm to originally establish body position by impeding the progress of the opponent, will be penalized for holding or interference. Lifting an Opponent Stick and Stick Presses The use of the stick to lift an opponent’s stick and gain possession of the puck, or prevent them from gaining possession of the puck, is considered a good defensive play that should not be penalized. Lifting a non-puck carrier’s stick in a manner that does not impede their progress is also allowable under the rules. In addition, the use of the stick to check an opponent’s stick, or press the opponent’s stick to the ice or boards, is a good defensive play as long as it is done on the lower portion of the stick shaft and the intended purpose is to dislodge the puck or prevent the opponent from playing the puck. Turning the stick blade over on top of the stick of an opponent for the purpose of pressing the stick and preventing the opponent from playing the puck is also allowable. If done, it must be on the lower portion of the stick and for the sole purpose of preventing the opponent from playing the puck. However, if done in a manner that impedes the progress of an opponent, or contact is made higher up on the stick, a penalty for hooking should be assessed. Diving One area that has gotten more attention as a result of the Standard of Play is diving. Although there is no indication this is a significant problem at the youth level, the action does exist and everyone will need to be on the same page in handling those rare situations. First off, it is important to recognize that under the new standard, there is no inherent advantage to embellishing an action by the opponent. A player no longer has to fall down to have a penalty called, so the end result is a player will essentially be taking himself or herself completely out of the play by doing so. It is also important to establish that even the most obvious dive does not excuse the illegal action of the opponent. Since USA Hockey’s current rules do not specifically identify diving as an infraction, we are somewhat limited in how officials can react to this type of action. When an obvious dive occurs, the recommendation is to have the official skate over and request to speak to the coach of the offending team. In doing so, they are acknowledging the fact a dive occurred and are asking the coach to address this action with their team. A friendly reminder that a diving action will have no effect on a penalty being called or not would also be warranted. (June 2006 USA Hockey) 2006-07 New Standard of Play and Rules Emphasis Through the new standard of rules enforcement, our game will continue to allow the opportunity for improved skill development and a more positive hockey environment for all participants.  The mission of USA Hockey is clear; through this new initiative a greater emphasis will be placed on skating, puck possession and the proper use of the body to establish position and a competitive advantage. The goal of the enforcement standard is to reduce restraining infractions in the game and not to remove legal body checking or body contact. A hard body check or using body contact/position (non-checking classifications) to gain a competitive advantage over the opponent should not be penalized as long as it is performed within the rules. The principles of this new enforcement standard include the following: · The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck. · The stick will not be allowed to in any way impede a player’s progress. · The use of a free hand/arm will not be allowed to grab or impede a player’s progress. · Players who use their physical skills and/or anticipation and have a positional advantage shall not lose that advantage as a result of illegal acts by the opponent. · Players will be held accountable for acts of an intimidating or dangerous nature. Enforcement Standard – These penalties are to be called with very strict enforcement HOOKING · A player cannot use his/her stick against an opponent’s body (puck carrier or non-puck carrier) to gain a positional advantage.  Examples include: - tugs or pulls on the body, arms or hands of the opponent which allows for the space between the players to diminish - placing the stick in front of the opponent’s body and locking on – impeding the opponent’s progress or causing a loss of balance. - stick on the hand/arm that takes away the ability for the opponent to pass or shoot the puck with a normal amount of force TRIPPING · A player cannot use his/her stick on the legs or feet of an opponent in a manner that would cause a loss of balance or for them to trip or fall.  Examples include: - placing the stick in front of the opponent’s legs for the purpose of impeding progress, even if on the ice, with no effort to legally play the puck - placing the stick between the legs of the opponent (can opener/corkscrew) that causes a loss of balance or impedes the progress of the opponent. HOLDING · A player cannot wrap his/her arms around an opponent or use a free hand to clutch, grab or hold the stick, jersey or body on the opponent in a manner that impedes their progress.  Examples include: - wrapping one or both arms around the opponent along the boards in a manner that pins them against the boards and prevents them from playing the puck or skating - grabbing the opponent’s body, stick or sweater with one or both hands - using a free arm/hand to restrain or impede the opponent’s progress INTERFERENCE · A player cannot use his/her body (“pick” or “block”) to impede the progress of an opponent with no effort to play the puck, maintain normal foot speed or established skating lane. Examples include: - intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have possession or possession and control of the puck. - using the body to establish a ”pick” or “block” that prevents an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier - reducing foot speed or changing an established skating lane for the purpose of impeding an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier · Allowed Actions - a player is entitled to the ice he/she occupies as long as they are able to maintain their own foot speed and body position between opponent and puck - players are allowed to compete for body position using their strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards SLASHING · The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck. Any stick contact, as a result of a slashing motion, to the hands/ arms or body of the opponent will be strictly penalized. In addition, hard slashes to the upper portion of the stick (just below the hands) of an opponent, with no attempt to legally play the puck, shall also be penalized. OTHER INFRACTIONS · In addition to the above mentioned enforcement standards, all other infractions, including contact to the head, checking from behind, cross checking, high sticking and roughing (including late avoidable checks) shall be penalized to a strict enforcement standard. CONCLUSION  All members of USA Hockey share an equal responsibility to ensure the integrity of the game is upheld.  The onus to incorporate change is not only on the officials, but also on administrators, coaches, parents and players, as well.  Administrators are expected to hold players, coaches, officials and parents accountable for their actions in an effort to promote a safe and positive environment for all participants. Coaches are expected to teach proper skills and hold their players accountable for illegal and dangerous actions, regardless as to whether they are properly penalized, or not. Parents are expected to support the decisions of the officials and support the coaches in teaching the proper skills in a safe and positive environment. Officials shall enforce a strict penalty standard according to the guidelines that have been established. Players are expected to compete within the playing rules. All USA Hockey members must demonstrate awareness and support for the application, spirit and the respect of the rules in rder for continued improvement in the game of hockey.

  CTHOA's Mission

The purpose of CTHOA shall be to register and train ice hockey officials for USA Hockey, Inc. and others in the State of Texas for the purposes of improving the quality of amateur, and professional hockey in the state, for ensuring uniformity of rule interpretation, for creating better understanding between officials, coaches, players, and other persons, for the developing and dissemination of information on ice hockey rules, procedures, and interpretations, and generally promoting the welfare of amateur and professional hockey, its players, administrators, fans, and officials. 

In addition, CTHOA will cooperate with any organization, including those authorized by USA Hockey, Inc., to sponsor games, and/or tournaments, or other organizations properly qualified (with regard to insurance, and liability) to sponsor games, and/or tournaments in order to coordinate the methods and manner by which said officials will be solely determined by, and at all times, shall be the responsibility of CTHOA.  When the Austin area hosts a USA Hockey sponsored tournament, the applicable USA assignments policies will supersede CTHOA procedures as required.

In order to accomplish these purposes, CTHOA will test officials, critique officials, and offer training seminars covering rules, skating, and procedures, all in accordance with USA Hockey, Inc., and its State, District, and National Referees-in-Chief, and their staffs, and any others that CTHOA shall deem appropriate.