Situation 1
A Coach has been assessed a game misconduct penalty but refuses to move away from their team’s players’ bench. What action should the Referee take?
The Coach is required to leave the immediate vicinity of the players’ bench area and not attempt to direct the play of their team. Rule References 633(a), 401(c) and 404(c).
If the Coach refuses to comply with either of these requirements the Referee must advise the team Captain that the team has 15 seconds to get the Coach away from the bench area or the team will be assessed a bench minor penalty. If it becomes necessary to assess the penalty, the Referee must repeat the same 15-second warning and if the Coach still refuses to move, the game must be suspended. The Coach and any offending Team Official(s) shall be assessed a match penalty and the Referee must report the incident to the proper authorities.
Situation 2
After a disputed goal, the Coach of the team scored upon refuses to place the correct number of players on the ice. What should the Referee do?
Advise the offending team Captain that their team has 15 seconds in which to place the proper number of players on the ice. If the team does not comply, the Referee must assess the team a bench minor penalty. Rule References 633(a) and 610(h).
If it becomes necessary to assess the bench minor penalty, the Referee must repeat the same 15-second warning and if the team still refuses to place the proper number of players on the ice, the game must be suspended. The offending Team Official(s) shall be assessed a match penalty and the Referee must report the incident to the proper authorities.
Situation 3
A team is late returning to the ice at the start of the second period because they did not like the officiating in the first period. Should the Referee assess a bench minor penalty for delay of game?
Yes, provided the team was given ample warning to return to the ice. Rule Reference 633(b).
Once the bench minor is assessed, the team will be given five minutes to resume play and failure to do so will result in suspending the game and assessing a match penalty to the responsible Team Official.
