BOARDING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player uses any method (body checking, elbowing or tripping) to throw an opponent violently into the boards; if an injury is caused, it becomes a major penalty. Imposed on a player who body checks, cross checks, elbows, charges or trips an opponent in a violent manner into the boards.
	Official Signal: Pounding the closed fist of the non-whistle hand into the open palm of the other hand.
CHARGING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player makes a deliberate move of more than two steps when body checking an opponent; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty. Called for taking more than three strides before checking an opponent.
	Official Signal: Rotating clenched fists around one another in front of chest.
CROSS CHECKING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player holds his stick in both hands and drives the shaft into an opponent; a stick check where a player has both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty and a game misconduct. Called for hitting an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice.
	Official Signal: A forward and backward motion with both fists clenched extending from the chest.
DELAYED PENALTY				When an official raises his arm but does not blow his whistle, waiting to see the outcome of a play before calling a penalty; this is done so as not to penalize the non-offending team by stopping its momentum. Delayed calling of penalty or other violation.
	Official Signal: The non-whistle hand is extended straight above the head.
ELBOWING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player strikes his opponent with an elbow to impede his progress. Called for using the elbow to impede an opponent.
	Official Signal: Tapping the elbow of the whistle hand with the opposite hand.
HIGH STICKING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player carries his stick above the normal height of his opponent’s shoulders and hits or menaces the opponent with it; if injury is caused it becomes a major penalty; if a referee determines that the raising of the stick was unintentional and no contact occurred, it is considered a team infraction, and a face-off is held in the offender's defensive zone. Called for carrying the stick above the shoulder against the opponent
	Official Signal: Holding both fists, clenched, one immediately above the other, at the side of the head.
HOLDING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player grabs and holds onto an opponent (or his stick) with his hands or arms to impede the opponent’s progress. Called for using the hands of an opponent or his equipment Holding an opponent from moving with hands or stick or any other way
	Official Signal: Clasping the wrist of the whistle hand well in front of the chest.
HOOKING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player attempts to impede the progress of another player by hooking any part of the opponent’s body with the blade of his stick; an illegal use of one’s stick. Called for using the stick or blade to hook an opponent.
	Official Signal: A tugging motion with both arms, as if pulling something toward the stomach.
ICING				a violation which occurs when the team in possession of the puck shoots it from behind the red center line across the opponent’s goal line into the end of the rink (but not into the goal) and a member of the opposing team touches it first; results in a face-off in the offender’s defensive zone; a shorthanded team cannot be called for icing.
	Official Signal: The instant that the conditions required to establish "icing the puck'' have occurred, the referee will blow his whistle to stop play, and raise his non-whistle hand over his head. The back official will move to the resulting face-off spot and give the icing signal.
INTERFERENCE				a penalty in hockey called when a player attempts to impede the motion of another player not in possession of the puck Called when impeding the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck, deliberately knocking a stick out of an opponent's hand or not, allowing an opponent to regain his equipment. Illegal body contact with an opponent who is not in possession of the puck, or knocking an opponent's fallen stick out of his reach.
	Official Signal: Crossed arms stationary in front of chest with fists closed.
KNEEING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player uses a knee to hit his opponent in the leg, thigh or lower body.
	Official Signal: Slapping either knee with the palm of the hand whilst keeping both skates on the ice.
MISCONDUCT				A 10 minute penalty usually called against a player who becomes excessively abusive in language. The team may use a substitute for the penalized player.
OFFSIDE				a violation which occurs when both skates of an attacking player cross the opponent’s blue line before the puck is passed or carried into the attacking zone; also called when a player passes the puck from his defending zone to a teammate across the red center line (two-line pass); this is one of the most common calls made in a hockey game and results in a face-off.
ROUGHING				a minor penalty which occurs when a fight between players is more of a pushing and shoving match; a less severe penalty than fighting.
	Official signal: Fist clenched and arm extended out of the side of the body.
SLASHING				A minor penalty which occurs when a player swings his stick hard at an opponent, whether or not contact is made; if injury is caused it becomes a major penalty and a game misconduct. Called for swinging the stick at the opponent
	Official Signal: One chop with the non-whistle hand across the straightened forearm of the other hand.
SPEARING				a major penalty which occurs when a player illegally jabs, or even just attempts to jab, the point of his stick blade into another player’s body; one of the most serious infractions a player can commit; results in an automatic game misconduct.
	Official Signal: A single jabbing motion with both hands together, thrust forward from in front of the chest, then dropping hands to the side.
TRIPPING				a minor penalty which occurs when a player places his stick or a part of his body under or around the feet or legs of an opponent causing him to lose his balance; will also be called if a player kicks an opponent’s skates out from under him, or uses a knee or leg to cause his opponent to fall. Called for using the stick, an arm or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall.
	Official Signal: Strike the side of the knee (non-whistle side) and follow through once, keeping the head up and both skates on the ice.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
CHECKING FROM BEHIND				Checking or hitting an opponent whose back is facing you, often into the boards.
	Official Signal: Non-whistle arm placed behind the back, elbow bent, forearm parallel to the ice surface. A forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands open and facing away from the body, fully extended from the chest at shoulder level.
MATCH
	Official Signal Flat part of hand patted on head
GOAL
	Official Signal Referee points into the net.
PENALTY SHOT				When an attacking player has been clearly pulled down preventing a breakaway shot on the goalie.
	Official Signal: Crossed arms stationary above head with fists closed, giving signal of stoppage in play.
HAND PASS				Called when a player uses his hand to direct the puck to another player from the same team in the offensive or neutral zone. Hand passes are allowed in the defensive zone.
	Official Signal: The non-whistle hand (open hand) and arm are placed straight down alongside the body and swung forward and up once in an underhand motion.
BUTT ENDING
	Official Signal: A cross motion of the forearms, one passing under the other.

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