USA hockey rules question

Question
Recently an assistant coach was given a game misconduct at a tournament. The official put the penalty down as a game misconduct to the head coach after the game.  After this was discovered, a tournament official said that they would just change the scoresheet themselves and there wouldn't be an issue. My question is who sits out the misconduct, and how can a tournament official change a scoresheet, especially after it was signed off on by both officials, coaches, and distributed to the teams? If the head coach coached the next game with a game misconduct being listed on the game sheet, is there repercussions from this?

Answer
Brian,

Thanks for writing. Can there be repercussions for this...yes, in a big way.  Once all parties have signed this paper, it becomes a legal document.  Not even USA Hockey can make the change.  Let's say something happend on the ice and an angry parent jumps on the ice and fights with a player or referee.  The Scoresheet will now go as evidence in a court of law.  This is why everyone signs it.

Now if the referee issued the "Game Misconducts" it is done.  Referee's word if final.  USA Hockey has a Zero Tolerance Policy for coaches and it goes like this...A minor penalty for unsortsmanlike conduct (ZERO TOLERANCE) shall be assessed whenever a coach:

1. Openly disputes or argues ANY decision by an offical*
2. Uses obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to ANYONE at any time.
3. Visually display any sign (the finger) of dissatisfaction with an official's* decision including standing on the boards or standing in the bench doorway with the intent of inciting the official's*, players, or spectators.

*Please keep in mind that the word official's also include individuals that open and close the penalty box doors, run the clock, announce the penalties, fill out the score sheet, or push the button for the little red light to go on.

Any time that a coach persists in ANY of these action, they SHALL be assessed a game misconduct penalty.  In other words, he needs to be an example to his kids on the bench and keep is comments to himself.

The referee does not put the puck in the net...the kids do!  Sometimes coaches forget this.  The best way to shut up a crowd is to put the puck in the net.  Example: During the world Junior Tournament when Canada was kicking Russia's behind, the crowd was so loud, one's ears were about to bleed.  But, the minute the first goal was scored...ok not a big deal they all said.  Then once it was tied...it was over and so was the crowd.  Oh, on a side note, the reason why Canada lost was because of this little thing that probably no one thought about and it was because the Russian's got mad.  The sign in the stands said..."ease your pain Russia, drink Vodka!"

If you are the coach or it's your child coach, who got the game misconduct, I recommend you call then right now and tell them...do not step one foot into the dressing room, let a lone on the ice.  The only place where he is allow to be is in the stands or in the lobby and that's it...no where else.  Oh, and don't evern think about using the cell phone to control the team on the bench from the stands.  If that happen he might was well stop coaching and pick up a new hobby.

The tournament officals can NOT do anything.  Unless the tournament is or was a non-sanctioned event.  But I don't think this is the case.  Why?  If it was a non-sanctioned event, this means that the kids are NOT insured when something happens, oh say...a broken neck.  You know who will really be paying for the hospital care for that kid the rest of his life?  The ICE RINK!  Because they allowed that to go on without the proper insurance coverage and this also means that the rink's indurance coverage is out the window as well!

So as you can, if the tournament was sanctioned, trust me when I tell you, every referee, reports these things to the proper people within their state and fast.  Then, that person call and faxes the document to USA Hockey where the Director of Referees will know about it.  Probably even before the coach steps out of the rink.  So USA Hockey proabably got notified of this problem right after the game.  Why?  Because in a legal world in which we live in, USA Hockey has to protect themselves as well.

Oh one more thing.  If it was a non-sactioned tournament, I guarantee the parents didn't even know that their child was covered by medical insurance.  Not even the families personal insurance could help because the primary insurance company will do what?  Yes that's right...check the document.  Once the insurance company find out that the tournement was not sanctioned, all money stops.

I hope this answered you question.
Rob Lopez - CEO
Pass the Puck, Inc.
www.passthepuck.net