Off-ice officials
Off-ice officials keep the official record of the game: the scoresheet, the game clock and the penalty clocks. Their work is what the penalty box simulator on this site shows in the scoresheet and scoreboard panes.
The roles
- Official scorer
- Records goals, assists and penalties on the official scoresheet.
- Game timekeeper
- Runs the game clock: starts it on the drop of the puck and stops it on the whistle.
- Penalty timekeeper
- Runs the penalty clocks, times penalties in actual playing time and releases players when they are entitled to return.
- Penalty box attendant
- Opens and closes the penalty box door and keeps penalized players in the box until the penalty timekeeper releases them.
The duties above are a general description. Each code's rulebook defines its off-ice officials; check the rulebook you work under.
How to start
Off-ice officials are usually recruited by the rink, league or local association rather than through a national sign-up. Ask your local league, or the local supervisor of officials listed on our contacts pages.
- USA Hockey offers an Affiliated (non-skating) membership for $55. Affiliated members complete SafeSport and the background screen, but may not work any USA Hockey sanctioned game. Source: USA Hockey - Annual Membership Education (officiating program registration) (checked Oct 5, 2026)