A hockey referee's job is to enforce the rules, keep the on-ice activities orderly and ensure that the game is played fairly and that no one gets hurt. Calling penalties is one of the tasks assigned to the referees. A penalty consists of an infraction of the rules by a player or players, and is enforced by time spent in the penalty box. The referees use specific hand signals for each penalty.
Signaling a Penalty
When a player commits an infraction and a penalty is called, the play continues until his team touches the puck. This is known as a delayed penalty, and the referee holds his arm straight up in the air until the offending team touches the puck and the whistle is blown.
Stick Infractions
Many penalties in hockey have to do with careless or deliberate use of the stick. A tripping penalty is signaled by the referee making a chopping motion with one hand on the shin of the same side. Referees signal slashing with a chop on the opposite forearm; hooking with a two-handed hooking motion with an imaginary stick; and high sticking with two hands holding an imaginary stick in the air. Cross checking is signaled with two hands holding an imaginary stick with palms down and pushing both hands forward in front of the body.
Impeding Progress
Impeding an opposing player's progress when he has the puck or doesn't have the puck is enough to warrant a penalty call. Holding any part of a player's body while he has the puck is signaled by holding the wrist in front of the body. Knocking a player down or holding him back when he doesn't have the puck, which is called interference, is signaled by crossing the forearms in front of the chest with closed fists.
Body Contact Infractions
Pushing and shoving, or hitting a player unnecessarily, may be met with a roughing penalty. The referee signal for roughing is to hold one arm straight out to the side at shoulder level with a clenched fist. If a player takes several steps or leaves his feet to deliver a body check, a charging penalty may be called. Charging is signaled by closing the fists and rotating the hands around one another in a forward circular motion.
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