Hockey rules: Abuse of Officials

Abuse of Officials is becoming more of an issue, especially in rec league hockey. But what are the actual rules, what is the line you should not cross, and how much can you be punished?

USA Hockey Abuse of Officials rule (Rule 601)

For the purposes of the USA Hockey Rule 601 rule:

A bench minor penalty will be assessed for actions that occur on or in the immediate vicinity of the player’s bench (off the ice).
A minor penalty or misconduct penalty will be assessed for actions that occur on the playing surface or in the penalty bench area.

Rule 601(a)

An unsportsmanlike penalty will be assessed for any player who:

Challenges or disputes the rulings of any of the officials.
Taunts or incites an opponent, whether on or off the ice.
Creates a disturbance during the game.
Shoots the puck after the whistle (if, in the opinion of the official, the shot was avoidable).

Players may also be issued a misconduct penalty who continues their behavior after being penalized. A game misconduct penalty can be assessed to any player who further disputes these calls to the ref.

If these actions happen after the game is over, the player will be assessed a misconduct penalty.

Rule 601(b)

Players and team officials (including the coach or anyone else representing the team) can be assessed a bench minor penalty for:

Unsportsmanlike conduct or disputing the rulings of any of the officials by an unidentified player or team official.
Using obscene, profane, or abusive language to anyone.
Using the name of any official in a loud or abusive manner.
Throwing an object onto the playing area during the progress of the game or during a stoppage of play.
Banging the boards with a stick or other object, including skates or arms, after a body check regardless as to whether the check is being penalized (this is unsportsmanlike conduct and should be penalized when done as a means of escalating dangerous and/or unnecessary physical play where there is no intent to legally gain possession of the puck).
Using threatening or abusive language or gestures directed at an opponent.
Interfering in any non-physical manner with any game official, including off-ice officials, in the performance of their duties.

If any of these actions are committed by a player who is on the players’ bench and is readily identifiable, they shall be assessed a misconduct penalty under sub-section (c) of this rule.

Rule 601(c)

Players will be assessed a misconduct penalty for any player who:

Persists in any conduct where they were previously assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Using obscene, profane or abusive language to anyone, anywhere in the rink before, during, or after the game.
Intentionally knocking or shooting the puck out of the reach of an official who is retrieving it during a stoppage of play.
Not proceeding directly and immediately to the penalty bench or to the dressing room, after being penalized and ordered to do so by the officials (equipment shall be delivered to him by a teammate, if necessary).
Entering or remaining in the referee’s crease, unless invited to do so.
Interfering in any non-physical manner with any on-ice or off-ice official in the performance of their duties.
Touches or holds an official with their hand or stick.
Attempts to continue an altercation after being told to stop by an official.
Intentionally bangs the boards or protective glass or goal frame with their stick or any other object at any time in an unsportsmanlike manner (when not done in protest of an official’s decision).
Shoots or bats the puck outside of the playing area during a stoppage of play (when not done in protest of an official’s decision or in the direction of a spectator).

Rule 601(d)

Players will be assessed a game misconduct penalty for any player or team official who:

Persists in any course of conduct for which he has previously been assessed a misconduct penalty (player) or a continuation of abuse of officials after being assessed a bench minor penalty (team official). If clearly done as a means of continued abuse, the game misconduct penalty may be assessed in lieu of a 2nd bench minor when done after the initial bench minor has expired.
Uses an obscene gesture anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game.
Bangs the boards, goal frame or protective glass in protest of an official’s decision.
Interferes in any physical manner with any on-ice or off-ice official, in performing their duties including resisting the linesman during an altercation.
A player who receives their second misconduct penalty (for any rule infraction) during the same game shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty in lieu of the second misconduct penalty.
Physically interferes with a spectator.
Shoots or bats the puck outside of the playing area during a stoppage of play when done in protest of an official’s decision.
Attempts to intimidate or physically contacts an on-ice or off-ice official by throwing a stick, water bottle, puck, or any other object in the general direction of a game official.
Shoots the puck in the general direction of an on-ice official, or in the direction of a spectator during a stoppage of play.

Any player who shoots the puck directly at an official or spectator “in a manner that recklessly endangers the official or spectator under Rule 601(e.2)” will be assessed a match penalty.

Rule 601(e)

A match penalty will be assessed to any player or team official whoL

Applies deliberate physical force or attempts to inflict physical harm to any game official, including off-ice officials.
Behaving in any manner that is critically detrimental to the conducting of the game, including but not limited to spitting at an opponent, spectator, game or team official, or verbally threatening or intimidating a came official, opposing team official, or opposing player with physical contact or harm.
Uses language that is hateful or discriminatory in nature anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game.

Game officials will immediately file a game report and the player or team official will be suspended until their case is dealt with by the proper authorities. According to USA Hockey: “If the incident was reported to, but not heard by the official(s), the officials are required to notify the coach of the offending team and submit an incident report to the Proper Authorities immediately following the game outlining what was reported to them.”

If a match penalty is assessed under this rule, it must be reported in a written game report by the game official within 24 hours of the end of the game. The official will also provide a verbal report to the USA Hockey District Referee-in-Chief within 48 hours.

Rule 601(f)

Players and team officials are not allowed to use tobacco products, vaping products, or alcoholic beverages while in the rink area, including on the bench and in off-ice official areas (like the scorekeeper booth and penalty box). Players will receive a warning from the official after a first offense, with any following offense earning a game misconduct penalty.