HAND PASS - Pushing motion with the open palm.
BODY CHECKING - Open palm comes across to touch opposite shoulder.
AWARDED GOAL - A single point with a flat and open palm.
Hockey officials, and officials in all sports can be more efficient and effective when they actively engage literacy in their craft. There are thick rule books with complex wordings and quite a number of signals that must become automatic. This webpage is meant to take one aspect of the rule book and use technology to change the words into viewable actions, thus promoting physical literacy as well as the ability to interpret text in a strict document like a rule book.
I intentionally used a female model for the GIFs as a way to promote women in sport in an attempt to start breaking down the barriers of the male dominated sport of hockey. The internet is a place that perpetuates bias towards males and I believe this is a specific action that can address this type of inequity. While there are a number of elite female hockey leagues across the province of Manitoba there are much fewer female officials. Elite female hockey across the world needs the same caliber of officials to match. The majority of the highly skilled players in Manitoba will play hockey only into their early twenties and may never be involved in the game again. Due to the lower number of female officials in the province, moving through the ranks as a skilled skater with a high hockey IQ would be a rewarding process and provide opportunity to be recognized as someone who could work in national and international tournaments. Travel would be of no cost to the official and if progress continues be made, one could find themselves to work in an Olympic setting.
The Hockey Canada case book offers explanations and photos of the referee signals but most signals cannot be accurately represented in just a still image and a short bit of text. For new officials, confidence is key and using your body in the context of a hockey game could be intimidating. Through the power of a GIF I tried to build off the existing text and promote physical literacy because after all, a signal is a method of communication that must be clear and concise. These signals are universal. As far as I know, this is the only resource of its kind where all the signals can be found performed in a single place.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT - using both hands to form a "T" in front of the body.
The Referee's Signals
To develop physical literacy and the understanding of important signals in the referee's repertoire - through the power of GIF.
BUTT ENDING - A cross motion of the forearms, one moving under the other arm.
WASH OUT - A sweeping sideways motion of both arms across the front of the body.
HEAD CONTACT - Patting flat with open palm on the side of the head.
BOARDING - Striking the clenched fist of one hand into the open palm of the other.
HIGH-STICKING - Holding both fists clenched, one immediately above the other at forehead height.
ELBOWING - Touching either elbow with the opposite hand.
TRIPPING - Striking leg with either hand below the knee keeping both skates on the ice.
CALL ON DELAY - Fully extending arm over the head to signal a penalty, icing, or offside on delay.
HOLDING - Clasping either wrist with the opposite hand.
SPEARING - A jabbing motion with both hands thrust immediately out front of the body.
HOLDING THE STICK - Two stage signal involving a holding followed by holding an imaginary stick.
SLASHING - A chopping motion across the wrist with the opposite hand.
HOOKING - A tugging motion with both hands as if pulling something into the stomach.
CROSS CHECKING - A forward motion of the forearms with both fists clenched.
INTERFERENCE - Crossing arms stationary in front of chest.
CHECKING FROM BEHIND - A forward pushing motion with both palms open and flat.
KNEEING - Touching either knee with an open hand while keeping both skates on the ice.
ROUGHING - Fist clenched extending out from the side of the body.
MATCH PENALTY - Touching the top of the head with a flat hand.
CHARGING - Rotating the fists in front of the chest for a single rotation.
MISCONDUCT - Both hands on hips.
PENALTY SHOT - Arms crossed above the head.