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KHO TRAINING: 2-1 OFFICIATING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

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Advantages of the 2-1 System

  • Hybrid of roles from the 4-Official System and 2-Referee System

  • 2 referees to manage the game & maintain standard of play

  • Increased coverage of blue lines over 2-Referee System

  • Improved goal line positioning for referees over 2-Referee System

  • Consistent faceoffs since always conducted by the same official

  • Cost effective for teams; rate benefits to officials

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Key Components of the 2-1 System

  • Teamwork: cohesion and coverage as a unit of 3

  • Communication: verbal and non-verbal teamwork

  • Hustle: effort to gain positioning and sightlines

  • Awareness: anticipation of players and partners

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REFEREE ROLES

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Similarities to the 2-Official System

  • The referees should bracket the play as much as possible

  • The referees generally stay on opposite sides of the ice

  • The referees are rarely both in an end zone together

  • The referees call all goals and must prioritize goal line positioning

  • The referees call call penalties and need to maintain good sightlines

  • The referee (R1) is primarily responsible for blueline calls on zone entry

  • The referees finish potential icing situations (complete or waive)

  • The trailing referee (R2) will conduct all line-change procedures

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Differences in the 2-1 System

  • The referees never conduct face-offs

  • The trailing referee (R2) is not on the boards while play is in a zone

  • The referee does not make offsides calls on plays at the top of the zone

  • The trailing referee (R2) skates backwards when the play is leaving a zone

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Unique Situations and Variances

  • R1 will "give up" the blue line when the linesman is with the play

  • R2 does cover the blue line when the linesman is in the zone for a face-off

  • R1 and the linesman intervene on scrums/altercations while R2 monitors

  • R1 and R2 are both on the goal line for penalty shots and shootouts

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LINESMAN ROLE

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Key Responsibilities of the Linesman

  • The linesman conducts all face-offs, including those at center ice

  • The linesman covers the blueline while play is in the attacking zone

  • The linesman stays on the blueline when play transitions out of a zone

  • The linesman initiates all icing situations

  • The linesman escorts penalized players to the penalty box

  • The linesman intervenes on all scrums and altercations

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Traits of a Great Linesman

  • Always hustles during stoppages

  • Gets to players before scrums/altercations escalate

  • Always active and mobile while the play is in the neutral zone

  • Anticipates calls at both blue lines

  • Covers for the referee when able to get to  blue line on zone entry

  • Skates hard when following the play to get to the attacking blue line

  • Communicates with referees, including coverage situations

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OFFSIDES & ICING

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Off-Sides Coverage

  • R1 covers the blue line on zone entry, stopping on the line if necessary

  • The linesman picks up coverage on the blue line once the play is in the zone

  • The linesman stays on the blue line when the play exits an attacking zone

  • The linesman does not leave a blue line until certain play is not going to transition back

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Delayed Off-Sides

  • R1 raises the non-whistle hand and points at the blue line with the whistle hand

  • Officials should verbalize "off-sides" to players during all delayed off-sides situations

  • A delay is never "passed off" by R1, but the linesman can join in on the signaling

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Icing Situations

  • The linesman initiates a potential icing situation

  • The linesman must verbalize "icing" to players and partners

  • R2 finishes the icing situation by blowing the whistle or waiving the icing

  • R2 retrieves the puck and skates it back to the far end

  • The linesman spots the face-off and is given the puck by R2

  • R2 stays in that zone as the new R1 in the opposite corner from the face-off

  • R1 ensures that no line-change infractions are made during icing situations

  • R1 conducts the line-change procedure on completed icings

  • R1 becomes R2 for the ensuing face-off

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FACE-OFFS

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Face-off Procedures

  • Teamwork and communication are essential to good face-offs

  • The linesman spots and conducts all face-offs

  • R1 retrieves the puck during most stoppages to give to the linesman

  • The linesman retrieves the puck when frozen by the goaltender

  • Referees watch for encroachment and similar face-off infractions

  • Referees must cover blue lines immediately after face-offs

  • The linesman hustles to get back into normal position after face-offs

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Face-off Positioning - Center Ice

  • The linesman conducts the face-off in the center circle, facing the scorer's box

  • The referees line-up on opposite blue lines, on opposite sides of the ice

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Face-off Positioning - Neutral Zone

  • The linesman conducts the face-off at the appropriate dot

  • R1 is positioned on the blue line, across the ice from the face-off

  • R2 is positioned on the other side of the red line, same side as the face-off

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Face-off Positioning - End Zone

  • The linesman conducts the face-off at the appropriate dot

  • R1 is positioned near the goal line, opposite corner from the face-off

  • R2 is positioned near the blue line, same side as the face-off

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