IWB is optional???

[tweedle_damn]

I've not done a whole lot of digging on this topic because I figured someone here could answer me 

Is the Inside White Board optional?  Is it just a courtesy we do for the skaters?  Is there anyone out there who has eliminated the IWB from their list of jobs?

Any and all comments/suggestions are helpful

[Darth Bling]

Yes, based on this new SP, the IWB is optional.  You can use it, replace it with another system, use an electronic system (as describe in the SP), or you can use nothing at all. 

I've been to venues where they do not use an IWB, but instead have an white board near the penalty box which lists which skaters are in danger of fouling out.

I've also had bouts where the IWB was eliminated because we were running full rinxter and each bench was given a laptop detailing their penalties. 

[Samuel Bergus]

I've been to venues where they do not use an IWB, but instead have an white board near the penalty box which lists which skaters are in danger of fouling out.

This is the system we currently use at our games. There is some modifications you have to make to the communications between the penalty tracker and the penalty box, but it was a pretty simple transition.

[daveInci]

Can I just say that as a coach, I hate not being able to see a full penalty board? I'm really hoping the fact that it's now been explicitly pointed out that the IWB is optional won't lead to it going away.

[bmd (2113)]

So, who decides whether or not an IWB will be used? HR? HNSO? Home team?

[Samuel Bergus]

So, who decides whether or not an IWB will be used? HR? HNSO? Home team?

When we decided to remove the inside white board, we had a conversation including the league, bout productions, and officials, as they would all be impacted in some way with this change.

I would expect a similar discussion if someone wanted to reinstate the IWB.

[SilkenTofu]

So, who decides whether or not an IWB will be used? HR? HNSO? Home team?

When we decided to remove the inside white board, we had a conversation including the league, bout productions, and officials, as they would all be impacted in some way with this change.

I would expect a similar discussion if someone wanted to reinstate the IWB.

After the host league/committee(s)/officials make that decision, I'd imagine this is something that skaters from the host team would want to notify the visiting team about in advance, as it's "new and different."  It could also be included in game contracts, if necessary.  And I'd imagine that the Head Ref and/or Head NSO would want to notify visiting officials in advance as well.  (I imagine these people would notify the visitors of benches in the infield and other quirks as well, so this would just fall into that category.)

[Vanilla VICE]

So, who decides whether or not an IWB will be used? HR? HNSO? Home team?

Technically, the HR has the last say on staffing via section 8 of the rules, but I imagine that leagues will be sorting this out before hand like others have said.

[1600-DOCTORB]

Can I just say that as a coach, I hate not being able to see a full penalty board?

Out of curiosity, if you had a board that merely listed how many penalties your skaters were on (eg. with a series of dots, and you could check with the PT to query a call) would that be fine, or you really want to know the penalty codes too? Because I have toyed with the above idea.

[Divide by Zero]

I want to add that the IWB is really useful for referees to quickly check that a penalty they called was registered without having to bother the PT. It's also useful for getting a quick overview of the penalty situation.

[Major Wood]

I want to add that the IWB is really useful for referees to quickly check that a penalty they called was registered without having to bother the PT. It's also useful for getting a quick overview of the penalty situation.

This was my argument as well. We still have an IWB, but I no longer think these things are actually benefits. At least not benefits that warrant additional staff, equipment, and blocking the view of officials, skaters, and fans.