OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING RULE 403(a)

This past fall the USA Hockey InLine Playing Rules Committee met and discussed all submitted rule change proposals.  During that meeting the Playing Rules Committee approved a proposal to allow standalone major penalties, changing the rule that required all major penalties to include a game misconduct.  These changes were made throughout the rulebook to reflect the new rule.  However, it has been brought to our attention that that Rule 403 (a) was never updated to reflect this change.  Currently rule 403 (a) reads:

“For a ‘MAJOR PENALTY,’ the offending player shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty and the offending team shall be short-handed for five minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted.”

This text was not updated, when the rest of the rules related to standalone major penalties were updated.  Because of this, there is variance in the rules related to this matter.  The official interpretation from USA Hockey InLine is that major penalties DO NOT automatically carry a game misconduct penalty and that the penalties options as listed throughout the rulebook and in Appendix I are correct and that rule 403 (a) should read:

“For a ‘MAJOR PENALTY,’ the offending player, except goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the playing surface for five minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted.”

Sorry for any confusions and/or problems this error may occur.  If you have any questions, please direct them to officiating@usahockeyinline.org.  Thank you and have a great season!