Ice Hockey
Get to know the essential rules of ice hockey
Uncover the key rules of ice hockey, from penalties to scoring and special teams, with insights into league differences and recent updates.
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Ice hockey is fast-paced, thrilling and a lot of hard work. Just ask trail-blazing USA Hockey player Laila Edwards. "Off-season prep is way harder than in-season prep, because you’re trying to get ready and you're giving it your all," Edwards says.
But to truly appreciate ice hockey, first you need to understand its rules.
This breakdown of ice hockey rules covers the details that define the sport. Whether you're a new fan or a seasoned viewer looking for clarity, this guide will ensure you're ready for every face-off, power play and breakaway.
USA Hockey star Laila Edwards on the ice
© Robert Snow/Red Bull Content Pool
01
Ice hockey's rule framework and governing bodies
Ice hockey's rules aren't universal. The NHL (National Hockey League) sets the standard for professional play in North America, while the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) oversees international tournaments. USA Hockey, the national governing body for ice hockey in America, also has its own set of regulations, which are tailored to casual players who aren't likely to go pro.
NHL, IIHF and collegiate hockey each have distinct rules. For example, IIHF games are played on larger rinks (60m x 30m) than the NHL's standard 60m x 85m size. Overtime rules also differ. The NHL uses three-on-three during the regular season, while IIHF uses a full overtime period before a shootout. Penalty enforcement and equipment standards, like helmet requirements, also vary.
Within this framework, leagues often adapt the rules to suit different age groups and competition levels. While the core principles of ice hockey stay the same, differences exist in rink size, overtime rules and equipment regulations. For example, the NCAA college league rules resemble NHL regulations with a few distinctions, such as differences in stick size regulations. This helps prepare college players with dreams of going pro, such as NCAA-turned-NHL player Will Smith.
Rules and rink sizes vary from amateur to pro ice hockey levels
© Arturs Pavlovs/Red Bull Content Pool
The rules in this guide cover general ice hockey regulations, so keep in mind that the precise details may differ between leagues, player levels and location.
02
Ice hockey rules in detail
Puck movement and possession
The puck is constantly in motion during ice hockey, but how it moves is tightly regulated. Proper puck handling requires precision and there are penalties for breaking these rules. For instance, contacting the puck with a stick above shoulder height is known as a high stick infraction. When this happens, players typically go into a face-off in the offending team's defensive zone.
The key thing to remember is that players can only pass and shoot with their sticks. Using their hands to pass the puck to a team-mate is illegal, except in defensive zones. When a player uses their hands to score, it's an illegal move called batting the puck.
Face-offs
EHC Red Bull München face-off at the SAP Garden grand opening
© Red Bull München/City-Press/Red Bull Content Pool
Face-offs are used to resume the game when the puck is put into play or after a stoppage occurs. A player from each team squares-off, attempting to win possession of the puck as it's dropped by an official. The official indicates exactly where teams can face-off in the rink, typically in a designated zone marked by dots on the ice. There are nine 'dots' face-off spots: two in each attacking zone (four), two in each neutral zone end (four) and one in the rink's center.
If a player moves too early or violates positioning rules, the face-off may be redone and repeat violations can lead to a player's removal from the face-off. The player who made the violation will face a minor bench penalty due to the delay of the game. Besides moving too early, other violations include not getting into the instructed position, improper stick placement, not being square at the face-off spot and intruding into the face-off circle.
03
Scoring rules
Valid goals
For a goal to count, the entire puck must cross the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar. Players can score using their sticks, but they can't intentionally kick, throw or bat the puck into the net. Deflecting a puck off another player's skates or body is allowed only if done unintentionally.
Goals are small in ice hockey
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Disallowed goals
Certain actions result in disallowed goals. Even though most deflections are allowed, if the bounces off of an official, then the goal won’t count. Goaltender interference – when a player impedes the goalie’s ability to make a save – is also a common reason for disallowed goals.
Other reasons for disallowed goals include:
- Goals scored by intentionally kicking or batting the puck with a hand.
- If a player's stick is raised higher than the crossbar's height.
- An attacker hinders the goaltender from preventing a goal.
- Too many players on the ice at once.
- A broken stick is used.
- The puck breaks.
- The shot makes the scoring team offside.
- The goal net is dislodged.
- If the goaltender crosses the center line and shoots the puck.
04
Understanding offsides
An offside occurs when an attacking player enters the offensive zone before the puck does. If the puck isn't the first to cross the blue line, then the play is stopped and a face-off begins. However, in a delayed offside, players have a chance to 'tag up' by clearing the offensive zone before re-engaging. In a delayed offside, play continues as long as the attacking players exit the offensive zone, or tag up, by touching the blue line with both skates before re-entering.
Offside rules maintain fair play and prevent players from 'cherry-picking'. This is when a player waits at the opponent's end of the ice for one of their team-mates to pass the puck at an opportune moment, leading to an easy score.
05
The rules around icing
Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck from behind the center red line and it crosses the opposing goal line without being touched. The play is stopped and a face-off takes place in the offending team's defensive zone. Hybrid icing allows officials to call icing if a defensive player reaches the puck's location first, ensuring player safety.
More ice hockey content to enjoy
06
Penalties and infractions
Penalties can be called for a wide range of offences
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Types of penalties
Penalties are split into four main categories: minor, major, misconduct and match penalties.
- Minor penalty: This is the lowest level of infraction, which gets players sent to the penalty box for a brief two minutes. Common infractions include tripping, roughing, cross-checking, hooking, high-sticking, slashing and holding.
- Major penalty: Lasting five minutes in the penalty box, major penalties are typically for fighting and other serious infractions. Other reasons players get major penalties include boarding, spearing, charging, checking from behind or to the head, and slashing.
- Misconduct: Misconduct is a 10-minute penalty given for unsportsmanlike behavior. While the penalised player sits in the penalty box, the team subs in another player for the duration of the penalty consequence. Misconduct penalties are often called when players fight off the ice, continue fighting after officials break it up, throw equipment or use abusive language toward an official. Officials might also call misconduct if they notice a player needs to calm their temper.
- Match penalty: This is a total ejection from the game and it’s usually called for dangerous or reckless behavior. If a player is kicked-out of the game with a match penalty, a 10-minute penalty is added to the scorebook and their team is then required to play shorthanded for five minutes. Players get ejected when they intentionally hurt, or try to hurt, another player. Stick offenses, checking from behind or to the head, boarding and biting are all reasons players may receive match penalties.
Common infractions
Hockey's fast pace means that there are a lot of violations. The most common infractions include tripping (using a stick to trip an opponent), slashing (swinging the stick at another player) and when a team has more players on the ice than allowed.
Tripping is one of the major causes for penalties being called
© Red Bull München/City-Press/Red Bull Content Pool
Penalty shots
When a player is fouled during a clear breakaway, a penalty shot may be awarded. During a penalty shot, the shooter starts at center ice and only has one chance to score. Penalty shots may also get called when a player makes contact in order to stop an opponent. Sometimes, officials will opt for a penalty shot over a minor penalty on a player. This one-on-one showdown between the shooter and goalie is a high drama event, as the shooter has an unimpeded chance to score.
07
The rules for special teams
Power play strategies
If one team is short-handed because they were served too many penalties, the other team has the advantage of extra headcount on the ice. This opportunity is called a power play and teams use this time to create scoring opportunities. NHL clubs have four power play systems: the umbrella, the overload, the 1-3-1 and the spread.
Players jump in and out of the match at a fast pace during power plays
© Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool
- Umbrella: The umbrella system positions three players near the blue line, with two forwards at the goal crease. This helps prevent turnovers and creates rebounds to screen goalies.
- Overload: The overload system concentrates players on the puck. They cycle the puck to 'overload' the defenders. This helps to outnumber defenders, creating passing and shooting opportunities. Also called the 1-2-2 system, overloading opens up cross-ice passing lanes for high scoring chances.
- 1-3-1: In the 1-3-1 system, players are arranged in four triangles, with players quarterbacked from the point, half boards, or below the goal line. They try to pass the puck and keep an eye out for one-time slappers. This balanced structure maximises puck movement options and creates multiple shooting lanes, increasing the likelihood of high-quality scoring chances.
- Spread: The spread system spaces out players across the offensive zone. This stretches the other team's defense, forcing them to cover more ground. Also called 2-1-2 formation, it creates wider passing lanes and open shooting opportunities, especially for cross-ice one-time shots.
Penalty kill dynamics
Penalty killing in ice hockey is a critical defensive strategy. It's put into play when a team is down a player due to a penalty. Success relies on pressure, positioning and teamwork to neutralise the opposing power play. Effective penalty killing demands constant communication, quick decision-making and the ability to read and react to opponents' movements.
Teams often form a box-shaped defensive structure to clog shooting lanes and limit scoring chances, with players blocking shots to intercept passes. Aggressive forechecking disrupts the opponent’s ability to set up plays, while timely puck clearances force the opposing team to reset their attack.
08
Goaltender-specific rules
Restricted zones
Goalies have their own set of rules to follow. An important series of them focuses on the trapezoid behind the net, where they're allowed to play the puck. The trapezoid area encompasses two diagonal lines that extend diagonally six feet from the goalposts to points that sit 8.5m from the end boards. Goalies cannot handle the puck outside this area and must stay within it whenever they have the puck.
Hockey goalies are fully padded up for a very good reason
© Leo Rosas/Red Bull Content Pool
Goalie interference
Contact with the goalie can result in disallowed goals or penalties. If a player's actions prevent the goalie from making a save, it's considered interference. Players can't interact with the goalie unless they want to receive a penalty and that includes pushing a player into the goalie.
09
Overtime and shootout regulations
During the regular season, if the game is tied at the end of regulation time, teams then play a sudden-death overtime period – typically three-on-three – for five minutes. If a goal is scored in overtime, the scoring team wins. If no goal is scored, a shootout follows.
Overtime differs depending on the level of the game
© Arturs Pavlovs / Red Bull Content Pool
In overtime, each team sends three players and the goalie to face the opposing goalie. There's no interference from the opposing side and the teams try to shoot a goal. If still tied, the shootout moves to sudden death, with each team taking as many shots as they can in five minutes.
Overtime rules are different in the postseason and during the sport's final, the Stanley Cup. During those games, if the game is tied by the third period, overtime lasting up to 20 minutes is called. Five players are kept on the ice during overtime and if the first overtime period ends without a goal, the game keeps adding more 20-minute periods until someone scores.
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