Proposal 108: 14C.2.8 Referee cards [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 14. HockeySubmitted on 2025-07-20
Status: Set-Aside (Reviewed from July 20, 2025 to July 28, 2025)
Background
Malte Voelkel:
I’m surprised that the Swiss haven’t yet proposed their card system – with yellow (warning), red (2-minute penalty), and black (5-minute penalty) cards – for wider adoption. So I’d like to bring it up for discussion here, even though I haven’t yet formed a final opinion on it myself.
The topic up for discussion would be a card system similar to football (yellow card, red card, and possibly black card), which is currently used in the Swiss league, but not in the German league or at international tournaments
Proposal
Old:
14.C.2 Board of Referees
...
14.C.2.6 General
...
After each interruption of the game the referee brie y explains the decision. In addition
the corresponding hand sign is shown.
...
14C.2.7 Referee Hand Signs
...
"Penalty box for 2 minutes" and also "Two consecutive plays with the hand"
* Spread and raise two fingers.
"Penalty box for 5 minutes"
* Spread and raise five fingers.
New:
14.C.2 Board of Referees
...
14.C.2.6 General
...
After each interruption of the game the referee briefly explains the decision. In addition
the corresponding hand sign or referee card is shown.
...
14C.2.7 Referee Hand Signs
...
"Warning - stricter penalty will follow"
- Point a finger towards the offending player.
"Penalty box for 2 minutes" and also "Two consecutive plays with the hand"
- Spread and raise two fingers.
"Penalty box for 5 minutes"
- Spread and raise five fingers.
"Game Penalty"
- Raise a clenched fist.
14B.9.6 Referee cards
In every match, both referees carry a yellow, red, blue and black card.
- A yellow card serves as a warning.
- A second yellow card results in a yellow-red and therefore a 2-minute penalty.
- A red card alone immediately results in a 2-minute penalty.
- A blue card results in a 5-minute-penalty.
- A black card corresponds to a game penalty (Off for the remainder of the game).
Body
Malte Voelkel:
In Switzerland, the use of cards has apparently had a significant (positive) impact on how referees manage the game. Overly aggressive play, repeated fouls by the same player, and unsportsmanlike behaviour were punished more consistently and strictly. This helped prevent the game from escalating emotionally and physically, even in very competitive and intense matches.
The visual signal of the cards had an immediate effect not only on the fouling player but also on both teams on the field, the substitutes, and the spectators, as everyone could clearly see and understand the referee’s decision. Warnings via yellow cards were visible to all, unlike in Germany, where verbal warnings sometimes go unnoticed by everyone except those standing nearby. This card system made referee decisions more transparent and understandable, allowing players and spectators to interpret the situation and adjust behaviour accordingly. The visual impact of the cards had a powerful, hard-to-describe, but immediate effect on all players.
References
This proposal refers to the discussion "Introduction of a Card System" https://iuf-rulebook-2025.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/189