REFEREE GUIDEU7 & U9 · 2026–27

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Positioning & Calls

Be in the right place, and the right call gets much easier.

Rules come first. Current PCAHA and Hockey Canada rules always take priority over this guide. If in doubt, follow your mentor.
1

Lead and trail

With two officials, one works ahead of the play (the lead) and one works behind it (the trail).

  • Lead: gets to the blue line first for offside, then works the goal line.
  • Trail: watches the play from behind and covers the next blue line.
  • When play turns around, you swap roles. Talk and move right away.

See it on the rink diagrams →

2

Keep the play between you

  • Skate close to the boards, out of passing lanes.
  • Keep your head moving so you see players away from the puck.
  • Never both chase the puck. One of you always has the next blue line.
3

Offside

  1. Get to the attacking blue line before the puck does.
  2. Watch the puck and the attacking players’ skates together.
  3. Apply the offside rule, including delayed offside. Offsides are called in every U9 game.
  4. Signal, whistle if play must stop, and send players to the right dot.
4

Icing

  1. Note where the puck was shot from.
  2. Follow it to the far goal line.
  3. Decide if icing is completed or waved off. Icings are called in every U9 game.
  4. Signal clearly and set up the faceoff.
5

Goals

  1. See the whole puck cross the goal line.
  2. Whistle and point decisively at the net.
  3. Make sure the goal is recorded. PCAHA tracks U9 goals in Spordle this season, but the score is not shown on the clock.
6

Other stoppages

Whistle for a covered puck, a puck out of play, an injury, or anything unsafe. One loud, firm blast is clearer than several weak ones.

Watch the clinic videos

▶Module 5: Referee and Linesperson Positioning▶Module 7: Offsides and Icings
Remember

If you did not see it clearly, do not guess. Check with your partner at the stoppage.