IIHF Hockey Centre

Official's Procedure Manual

The International Ice Hockey Federation is pleased to introduce the updated version of the IIHF Officiating Procedures Manual (OPM) on June 15, 2009. This manual has been updated by the IIHF Officiating Committee in co-operation with the IIHF Office. In the new version you will find tips for game officials regarding different items of officiating. The updated OPM contains the materials and tips combined from different IIHF championships and events including the World Championships which have been collected by IIHF referee supervisors. Section “Positioning” contains the adjustments due to the rule changes which will come into effect from July 1, 2009.

The material will be interesting for game officials of different levels, national association referee-in-chiefs, national association instructors and all people who want to become a game official or who want to improve their skills.

The IIHF Officials Procedures Manual is available for all game officials to reference as a guide at games. Download the full version (PDF, 10.8 MB) or click on the sections below.

Four-man Officiating System

After operating the Four-Man Officiating system at the Continental Cup, European Champions Cup and the World U20 Championship at the start of the 2008 season; and taking into consideration that some nations will begin to use this officiating system in the near future and at the 2008 World Championship, the IIHF has published a Procedures Manual for the Four-Man system. The manual contains some procedures and guidelines that were implemented in the above mentioned IIHF events. This material should be useful for officiating staff members in the various countries that are looking at implementing the Four-Man system and the Directors of Officiating of national leagues and also the IIHF Game Officials.

Video Goal Judge System

The use of the Video Replay of disputed goals is approved by the IIHF and is included in the Rule Book. All available television pictures must be provided and used by the Video Goal Judge for this system.

The following situations are the only situations that will be subject to Video Goal Judge review:

  1. To determine if the puck has completely crossed the goal line.
  2. To determine if the puck entered the net prior to or after the goal frame was dislodged.
  3. To determine if the puck entered the net prior to or after expiration of time at the end of a period or the game.
  4. To determine if the puck was directed into the net by a hand or kicked into the net by a skate.
  5. To determine if a puck deflected into the net off of a game official.
  6. To determine if the puck was struck with a high stick, above the height of the crossbar, by an attacking player, prior to the puck entering the net.
  7. To establish the correct time on the official game clock at the point that the puck completely crossed the goal line, provided that the game time is available on the Video Goal Judge's monitor.


Enclosed are the operation procedures and the technical requirements of the IIHF Video Goal Judge System, which is used in various IIHF events and the Olympic Winter Games.