Bowling Green State University Athletics
CCHA Announces 4-Man Officiating System Games
December 29, 1999 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 8, 1999
In the first two months of the upcoming season, Bowling Green will be involved in two games utilizing the four-man officiating system. The Oct. 30 home contest against Alaska Fairbanks as well as the Nov. 12 game at Michigan State will have two referees and two linesmen. The NCAA current three-man system consists of one referee, and two assistant referees.
A total of 17 conference games between Oct. 8 and Nov. 20 were identified by the league office that will utilize the four-man officiating system. The schedule is tentative as situations may arise that necessitate revision.
The four-man system is designed to reduce the number of penalties in a game by discouraging illegal actions that would not necessarily be seen or called under a one-referee system.
Under the four-man system, both referees may make calls over the entire ice surface. One referee covers deep into the end zone while the "back" referee remains outside the zone, watching play away from the puck. The "deep" referee's focus is the play itself or the "action area." Linesmen will not call penalties as assistant referees do under the current three-man system.
