4/14 Learn
U7 Cross-Ice
One official on each mini game, with a mentor watching over both.
How U7 works
U7 is played cross-ice. The rink is split into two mini games played across the width of the ice, at the same time.
- One official on each mini game.
- A mentor on the ice watches over both games and is there to help you.
- Nets sit along the boards, facing each other across the ice.
- No offside and no icing. There are no blue lines in a cross-ice game.
- No score is kept, and nothing goes on the game sheet.
- Line changes happen on a 2-minute buzzer.
Position yourself along the side
- Work along the open side or the divider, not in the middle.
- Keep the players and the puck in front of you.
- Stay out of the way of the nets and the shooting lanes.
- Move up and down with the play so you can always see both nets.
Keep it safe and moving
Your main jobs at U7 are safety and keeping the game flowing. You never call offside or icing. Whistle for:
- A goal
- The goalie covering the puck
- The puck going over the divider or out of play
- An injury or anything unsafe
Restarts
Follow the PCAHA Cross-Ice Guidelines:
- Puck drop at centre of your mini game at the start of each period, after every goal, and after each 2-minute buzzer.
- Other stoppages: drop the puck at a spot closer to the net where play stopped.
Keep restarts quick so kids spend their time playing.
Infractions go to the coach
If a player trips, hooks or does something unsafe, stop play and tell that player’s coach what happened. The coach decides what to do. You do not send players to a penalty box.
Shift changes on the 2-minute buzzer
A buzzer sounds every 2 minutes and both mini games change lines at the same time. Stop play, let the players change, then restart.
No score is kept
At U7 no score is kept and nothing goes on the game sheet. Never tell players or parents a score.
Game length
U7 games use running time, so the clock does not stop. In a 1-hour ice slot:
| Warm-up | 5 min |
| First period | 24 min |
| Break | 2 min |
| Second period | 26 min, or the time left less 2 min |
In a 1 hour 15 minute slot it is 5 min warm-up, a 36 min period, a 2 min break, then 30 min. Timings can shift a little while the ice is set up. Source: PCAHA Cross-Ice Hockey Guidelines.
Talk like a coach, not a cop
These are 5 and 6 year olds. Keep it simple, friendly and short.
“Great hustle! Back to centre, let’s go!”
If something happens that you are not sure about, look to your mentor.
Watch the clinic video
▶Module 1: Half Ice and Cross Ice OfficiatingOne official, one mini game. Safety first, keep it moving, and lean on your mentor.