Hockey Rules
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules govern Olympic competition. These hockey rules are detailed below.
The rules of the National Hockey League (NHL) differ in some respects. Click here for official NHL hockey rules.
Players
Under these IIHF rules, a team must not have more than six players on the ice while play is in progress. Typically, those players are one goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards (two wings and one center). Player substitutions occur as often as every 40 to 60 seconds.
Less than six players can be on the ice as a result of penalties.
A goaltender can be replaced by a skater during a delayed penalty or at any other time of the game at a team's risk.
Each men's team shall be allowed a maximum of 20 players and two goalkeepers for a total of 22 players. Each women's team is allowed two goalies and 18 players for a total of 20 players. The women may also register an emergency goalie who does not dress with the team and who will only receive accreditation if a primary goalie is injured.
Games
A regular game consists of three 20-minute periods, with 15-minute intermissions after the first and second periods. Teams change ends for each period.
If a tie occurs in a medal-round game in which a winner must be determined, a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played subsequent to another 15-minute intermission. There will be a 20-minute overtime in the gold-medal game. If the game is still tied after the overtime period, penalty shots will be employed immediately to determine a winner.
Here are the shootout regulations:
- Each team will designate five shooters and two goalies.
- Any player whose penalty had not been completed when the sudden-death overtime ended is not eligible to be nominated as one of the shooters and must remain in the penalty box.
- Once named, players may only be replaced in the event of an injury or penalty.
- The referee will call the two captains to the center of the ice and flip a coin to determine which team takes the first shot.
- The goalies defend the same goal as in overtime and may be switched after each shot.
- Players on both teams will take shots on an alternating basis until a decisive goal is scored. The remaining shot will not be taken.
- If the score is still tied after five shots by each team, five new players from each team will be designated to shoot. The game is finished as soon as a duel of two players brings the decisive result. If the game is still tied after the five shooters, more players are nominated.
- Only the decisive goal will count in the result of the game. It will be credited to the player who scored the goal.
Playing Rules
The playing rules of hockey are divided into three basic categories:
- Violations that result in a face-off.
- Violations that result in a player being awarded a penalty shot.
- Violations that result in a player being sent to the penalty box for a specified period of time.
Face-Offs
- Off-Side: An offensive player may not precede the puck across the blue line into the offensive zone.
- Off-Side Pass: The puck may not be passed from a team's defensive zone to a player of the same team who is beyond the red line (applies only to Junior B and above).
- Icing: A team, when both teams have an equal number of players on the ice, may not shoot the puck from behind the center red line over their opponent's goal line (except if the puck goes into the goal). In Junior B and above, the puck must first be touched by a player from the defensive team before icing is called.
Penalty Shots
A penalty shot is most commonly awarded if:
- A player, while in a scoring position, is fouled from behind and deprived of a scoring opportunity.
- A defensive player grabs or falls on the puck when it is in the goal crease.
To take a penalty shot, an offensive player takes control of the puck at center ice and tries to score against the opposing goaltender. All other players are removed from the action.
Penalty Box
For the following penalties, the penalized team must play minus the number of players serving such penalties, with one exception: the penalized team can have no fewer than four players, including the goaltender, on the ice (delayed penalty):
- Minor Penalty: Two minutes. If a team is scored upon while it is shorthanded because of a minor penalty, the penalty shall terminate immediately.
- Major Penalty: Five minutes. Does not terminate early for any reason.
- Match Penalty: Five or ten minutes, depending upon the violation, and is served by a teammate. If assessed a match penalty, the offending player is ejected for the balance of the game and may not play in future games until the case has been reviewed by league administrators.
For the following penalties, the team will replace the penalized player on the ice immediately:
- Misconduct: Ten minutes. Served in the penalty box.
- Game Misconduct: Ejection for the balance of the game and the player or coach will serve an additional one-game suspension.
- Gross Misconduct: Ejection for the balance of the game and the player may not participate in any future games until the case has been reviewed by administrators.
Penalties: Quick List
- Slashing: Hitting or swinging at an opponent with the stick.
- Holding: Impeding the progress of an opponent by using the hand, stick or any other means.
- Elbowing: Checking an opponent with the elbow extended.
- Hooking: Using the stick to impede the progress of an opponent.
- Tripping: An action against an opponent's leg which causes the opponent to fall.
- Charging: Body checking an opponent at an excessive speed; checking or pushing from behind.
- High-Sticking: Carrying the stick above normal shoulder height. If the violation results in an injury to an opponent, a major penalty should be assessed.
- Interference: Impeding the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
- Cross-Checking: Checking an opponent with the stick across the body.
- Checking From Behind: An extremely dangerous action characterized by a player checking an opponent directly from behind.
