| During every game played in the National Hockey | | | | communicating with each other and many fans think it |
| League there is always plenty of NHL team players on | | | | is a positively brilliant system that they have worked |
| the ice as well as referees and linesmen throughout | | | | out. Every NHL Official uses hand signals to convey |
| the course of any game. Since there are 39 referees | | | | their thoughts while the action is in full flavor on the ice. |
| on staff in the National Hockey League and 34 | | | | These hand signals are but one part of the training that |
| linesmen, some people might be curious as to how | | | | each Official must receive before they are considered |
| Officials learn to do what they do, and how they make | | | | totally Official for NHL purposes. |
| all of their decisions known to everyone in the game. | | | | The Officials use their hand signals to convey that a |
| Some inexperienced fans might ask how these people | | | | player has exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct on the |
| communicate with each other when they are on | | | | ice. They also have a treasure trove of signals that |
| different ends of the rink. There is certainly enough | | | | relay other infractions as well. If a NHL player decides |
| banging, jostling and high-speed chases occurring on | | | | to trip a member of the opposing team, then the |
| the ice at any given time, and communicating a penalty | | | | referee or linesman would convey tripping in the hand |
| is very important if the offending players does not | | | | signals by leaning forward and using their right hand in |
| want to take a life while on the ice battling it out with | | | | a chopping motion to the mid level of the calf area. |
| the other side. | | | | There are many other signals that might be used |
| Regular fans might offer their thoughts and say that | | | | several times during an NHL game. Some of the hand |
| they are surprised that anyone can convey any | | | | signals are used to penalize a player for elbowing, |
| message during a National Hockey League game | | | | spearing, holding or providing some sort of interference |
| because the noise levels do tend to get deafening at | | | | to another player or quite possibly an Official in the |
| times. True, the NHL players might tend to get a little | | | | performance of their duties. There will definitely be |
| noisy during a game, but the Officials should still have a | | | | some time spent by a player in the Penalty Box if the |
| battle plan in advance for ensuring that they are heard | | | | NHL players are caught hooking, high-sticking or |
| or at least understood over the din of the crowds too. | | | | slashing another player during the course of a game of |
| NHL Officials have well-established forms of | | | | hockey. |