Ice Hockey Rules

The majority of ice hockey rules around the world is overseen by the following three organizations: Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, and the International Ice Hockey Federation, each with their own set of rules.

Ice hockey rules for amateur levels in North America are overseen by Hockey Canada and USA Hockey rulebooks, and the IIHF rulebook is used in both amateur and professional leagues.

The National Hockey League has its own ice hockey rules and rulebook. Most of the North American professional leagues (minor leagues in U.S. and Canada) use similar NHL ice hockey rules. The ice hockey rules for United States high school leagues are derived by the National Federation of State High School Associations rulebook. Finally, the NCAA implements the ice hockey rules for college hockey in the United States.

Hockey Canada and USA Hockey's ice hockey rules differ primarily in technical matters such as the severity of penalties handed out for various fouls. IIHF ice hockey rules differ a bit more due to the differences in the dimensions of North American hockey rinks from those in the rest of the world. In recent times, both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada have been trying to make their ice hockey rules more similar to the international rules.

The NHL ice hockey rules are very different since they evolved separately from the amateur rules. In recent years, the NHL has made some rules changes to make the game more fan friendly. Some of the recent rule changes include enlarging the size of the goal, widening the blue and red lines to create a larger offensive zone, restricting where goaltenders can handle the puck, breaking ties with a penalty shot shootout, and eliminating the two-line pass rule, which does not exist in international and most amateur rulebooks.

Below are some the basic, but most important ice hockey rules in the game of hockey. I like to call them Ice Hockey rules 101.

Ice Hockey Rules 101

• Dimensions: The sheet of ice that the game is played on is commonly called a rink. A standard North American rink measures 200 feet by 85 feet. European rinks are slightly larger.

• Blue Lines: This line divides the ice surface into three surfaces.
• Red Line: This line is at center ice. It divides the rink in half. It is also sometimes used to refer to the goal lines at each end of the rink.
• Neutral Zone: This line is in the middle of the rink, the area of the ice between the two blue lines.
• Defending Zone: This area is where the goal net is located for the team defending that net.
• Attacking Zone: This area is where the opposing net is located. It is usually called the is the "offensive zone."

• Puck: The puck is the disk used in the game of ice hockey. The puck is made of black, vulcanized rubber.

A standard puck measures one inch thick and three inches in diameter, and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces. The puck can be moved with the hockey stick or the feet, but picking it up with the hands is illegal.

Objective of Hockey:

• Objective: The objective of hockey is to score goals. Goals are scored by using the stick to shoot the puck into the opponent's net. Which ever team has the most goals at the end of the game, wins the game.

Hockey Stick:

• Hockey Stick: Each player uses a stick to retrieve, control, carry, pass and shoot the puck. A shot that deflects into the net off another player's body counts as a goal.

Net:

• Net: The net is what each player shoots at. It is a cage that measure four feet tall and six feet wide. It has nylon mesh that is strung together in the back. There are two nets, one at each opposite ends of the ice. The nets are guarded by each teams goaltender.

• Plus-Minus Rating: When a goal is scored in even-strength (5 on 5) or shorthanded goal (team scores when they have 4 players on the ice), every player on the ice for the team scoring the goal is credited with a "plus." Every player on the ice for the team scored against gets a "minus."

  A player's overall total is calculated by subtracting the minuses from the pluses. A high plus total is taken to mean that a guy is a good defensive player.

  Power play goals and Penalty shot goals are not used in calculating plus-minus. However, shorthanded goals are used in calculating plus-minus.

Team Rules:

• Team Rules: Each team is allowed six players on the ice: one goaltender and five skaters. The five skaters are three forwards (center, left wing, right wing) and two defensemen. The five skaters can move and skate anywhere on the ice regardless of their positions. However, the goaltender can not cross the red line that is in center ice. In International rules, each team can dress 20 players and 2 goalies for each game. In the NHL, each team can dress 18 players. It usually is 12 forwards and 6 defensemen, plus 2 goalies for each game.

Players Positions:

• Positions: As mentioned before each team is allowed six players on the ice at once. There is the goaltender, whose job is to stop the puck from going into the net. The two defensemen whose job is to try and stop the incoming play at their own blue line. They try to break up passes, block shots, cover opposing forwards (center and wings) and clear the puck from in front of their own goal. Offensively, they get the puck to their forwards and follow the play into the attacking zone, positioning themselves just inside their opponent's blue line at the "points."

  Then their are three forwards, the center, left wing, and right wing. The center is the quarterback on the ice, the center leads the attack by carrying the puck on offense. He exchanges passes with his wings to steer the play toward the opposing goal. On defense, he tries to disrupt a play before it gets on his team's side of the ice. The left and right wingers play on the left and right side of the center. They team with the center on the attack to set up shots on goal. On defense, the wingers attempt to break up plays by their counterparts.

Substitutions:

• Substitutions: In hockey, substitutions are unlimited and can be made at any time. A substitution does not require an permission from the official or stoppage of play like in other sports. A player can join the game "on the fly" - during the flow of play - as long as the departing player is within five feet of the bench and not involved in the play or with an opponent.

Face-Off:

• Face-Off Every hockey game begins when the referee drops the puck between two opposing forwards, this is called a face-off.During the face-off all other players are positioned on the defensive side of the puck. The face-off is used to resume play following any stoppage in the game. There are nine designated face-off spots painted on the ice, indicated by the eight red circles on the ice and the main red circle in center ice.

Game Clock:

• Game Clock The game of hockey is played between three 20 minute periods. After each period, there is a 15 minute intermission usually. The game clock is stopped during all stoppages in play.

Icing:

• Icing Icing is when a player shoots the puck to the end of the ice from behind the center ice red line. If the puck crosses the opposing goal line untouched, and is then retrieved by an opposing player, icing is called. Considered a delaying tactic, it results in a stoppage in play and a face off in the offending team's defensive zone.

  If, in the opinion of the linesman, any player of the opposing team is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but does not do so, the linesman can "wave off" icing, allowing play to continue.

  The purpose of the rule is to encourage continuous action. Referees and Linesmen interpret and apply the rule to produce that result. Also icing can't be called on a team that is killing a penalty.

Offside:

• Offside If a player precedes the puck into the offensive zone, play is called and a face off takes place in the neutral zone.

  Also, a pass made across a blue line and the center line is ruled an offside pass, also referred to as a two-line pass. Play is called and the face off takes place at the originating point of the pass. In the NHL, the two-line pass is no longer used.

• Referee: One of two on-ice officials who supervise the game and are responsible for the enforcement and interpretation of the rules. Although one of them might be referred to as the "senior referee," it is an informal designation. Both referees hold equal authority.

Linesman:

• Linesman: One of two on-ice officials who drops the puck on most face offs, call icing and offsides, and break up fights. They can also call certain penalties, such as too many men on the ice, and consult with the referees on other penalty calls, but are subordinate to the referees. As the name indicates, they spend most of their time positioned at the red line or blue lines.

College Hockey & International Rules

Below is a picture that shows some of the difference between the North American and International differences in rink size and rules.

Ice Hockey Penalites & NHL Rules In the rulebook of hockey, one of the most important and basic rules to understand are penalties. Knowing what penalties are and understanding them can help you not take them during a game. Penalties hurt your team and gives the opposing team an advantage.

I've decided to list all of hockey's penalties and their explanations on a separate page. So please click on the link below to learn about the different types of penalties in the game of ice hockey.

click here to understand and learn about ice hockey penalties.

Also as I've mentioned previously, the NHL has their own ice hockey rules that are different then international rules. For a more detail explanation regarding NHL rules, please click on the link below.

click here to view the NHL Rulebook.

If you want to find out more about USA Hockey rules, you can visit the USA Hockey website by clicking on the link below. Click here to view USA Hockey rulebook. The hockey world has its own language. There are certain phrases, slangs,or words that you would only understand if you knew and understood the game of hockey. Instead of listing the most popular slangs and phrases on this page, I have listed them on a separate page. Click here to learn about the most popular hockey slangs, words, and phrases.

---

Return from Ice Hockey Rules to Hockey Information Home Page