1. Always check everything works before the game starts. Familiarise yourself with the layout of the controls if you have not used them much before. Ensure the clock is set to run in the right direction (down from 20 minutes normally).

2. Once the game starts the most important thing to do is make sure you keep the main game clock running correctly. The clock is switched on when the puck is dropped at a face off and switched off when the referee or a linesman blows a whistle (or where the official has obviously stopped play, even if you didn't hear anything).

Any penalty can always be timed off the main clock if not put onto the scoreboard in time so long as the game clock is correct. The scorer will have noted the time when the penalty was given and a minor penalty assessed at 5.31 (14.29) will finish at 3.31 (16.29) whether or not it is shown on the penalty clock.

3. Always enter the amount of all penalties on the board first, and switch them on to make them live (a dot will appear on the relevant entry on the board when it is made live). Player numbers can always be added after the game has restarted but the penalty itself cannot.

4. When a penalty is finished switch it off. A new penalty cannot be entered on that penalty clock if it is still live (the reset button will not work).

5. You can change player numbers, goal totals and period number at any time so these are the least important entries (and should be amended last if you have other things to do). The crowd/players will of course let you know if you take too long. Just duck your head and let the scorer/announcer take the abuse.

6. Coincidental penalties (called by the referee as such) should not appear on the scoreboard but you should note the time at which they are assessed as the player is entitled to return to the ice on the first whistle after the time assessed has been served. In general penalties entered/shown on the scoreboard are those that mean a team must ice a reduced number of players.

7. 10 minute misconducts, game penalties, match penalties and gross misconducts are personal rather than team penalties so should not be shown on the scoreboard (though the referee should normally order a 5 minute penalty to be served by a teammate of the offender if a match penalty is given, and the five minute penalty should be on the clock with the team being a player short for that time.

8. A minor penalty leading to a team being shorthanded compared to their opponents will normally be cancelled if the opposition scores on the powerplay. A 5 minute penalty will not be cancelled no matter how many goals are scored.

9. When a team has more than two players assessed penalties (not including coincidental penalties) the delayed penalty rule comes into play. This means that the third player's penalty until one of the first two players penalties has been completed. It is almost impossible to put the third penalty on the clock accurately as the game is continuing when it starts so it is normally timed by the main game clock. The situation arises because a team cannot be more than two players short on the ice, so to ensure the team is penalised for every penalty no more than two can run at once. A player whose penalty has finished but is immediately replaced by a delayed penalty must remain in the penalty box until the next whistle (if they jump out of the penalty box immediately their team will have too many players on the ice as two penalties will still be being served). If there is an extended run of play with no whistle then the players serving the penultimate and last penalties to expire can rejoin the game as normal when their penalties expire as the team is entitled to another player on the ice at those times.

If a penalty is not shown on the clock please keep the player and penalty box keeper concerned informed on when the player may return to the ice with reference to the game clock.

10. Penalties should be served (or cancelled for powerplay goals) in the order assessed by the referee unless he informs you otherwise.

11. If a player is not entitled to return to the ice when the part of his penalty shown on the clock is finished (i.e. he also has a coincidental penalty or a ten minute misconduct) a team mate of his should also be in the box to serve the scoreboard penalty and return to the ice as normal when it is completed. Similarly if a player is ejected but has other penalties a team mate must serve the other penalties for him, and if the netminder is assessed 2 or 5 minute penalties a team mate must serve those for him.

12. If penalties are running remember to switch off the game clock when it reaches zero (keep the buzzer going for a sensible time however) as with some control units and scoreboards the penalties will continue to run down even after the game clock has run down to zero if it is left switched on. also please remember to switch off the penalty clocks when you run the main clock to show how much interval there is between periods.

Finally: If in doubt about what to do you can always call the referee over at any time before the game restarts to ask him for advice or instructions.