1. Nearly all of the necessary instructions are printed on the back of the scoresheet. Read these carefully - you do not need to memorise them all but you do need to know when you should refer to them. It may help to take photocopies to a game you are watching and try to fill in the sheet for that game.

2. Always obtain team lists from managers well before the start of the game to give you time to enter players and starting line ups on the sheet, get the team managers to sign the sheet in the relevant place to confirm you have done this accurately, and hand the lists to the referee/linesmen with plenty of time remaining before face off.

3. Always keep the timekeeper informed about penalties assessed as quickly as possible to give him/her time to put them on the clock before play restarts.

4. It is useful to learn the referees signals for the various penalty offences but do not worry too much about this as he will normally come and tell you the offence. If you do not hear what he says or he does not come and tell you then call him over before the restart.

5. Do not argue with the referee if you do not agree with a call. Try to help him if he needs it e.g. who scored or assisted on a goal.

6. After the game complete the statistical sections of the sheet (e.g. players personal stats) and then take the sheet to the referee for him to check and sign. Take the signed sheets (+ player cards and original team lists etc.) to your team's manager for distribution.

Announcements

1. Call the players to their goal lines before the start of the game and introduce them to the crowd by name and number.

2. Ask everyone to stand for the national anthem (if you are playing it!).

3. Every time a goal is scored or a penalty assessed wait for the restart then announce the details twice. The first time you call players numbers and names, but for the second just call the numbers. This helps the crowd, but sometimes the teams do not know exactly what has been called, particularly with penalties that don't go on the clock (coincidentals, 10 minute misconducts) so they need to be kept informed as well.

4. Whenever a player returns to the ice after serving a penalty announce the fact i.e. "Oxford back to full strength" (if applicable) or "Oxford no. 7 returns to the game (if the team remains shorthanded) or "both teams back to full strength".

5. At the end of the first two periods (or first period only in a one period game) you should announce when the final minute of the period is reached. at the end of the final period you should announce when the final two minutes are reached.

6. You should make any announcement the referee requests (e.g. no flash photography, reason a goal is disallowed) and also be ready to make any necessary public safety announcements.

7. Any other announcement you like can be made subject to the rules about abusing players, officials or supporters. You must not try to distract or instruct players whilst the game is in progress. All official game announcements should be made in a reasonably neutral manner.