| The
Basics:
Ice Hockey is one of the fastest growing
spectator sports in the UK.
Each game consists of 3 x 20 minute periods, and there
is a 15 minute break between the periods.
Each team can have a maximum squad of 18 players, with
2 'apprentices'. Only 6 players from each team can be
on the ice at any time, however players can swap as
often a they want (usually every few minutes).
A British National
League hockey match must end with a winner. If the scores
are tied at the end of the game then 5 minutes overtime
will be played, followed by penalties.
Players and the puck can go anywhere on and over the
ice surface. The puck is deemed out of play if it goes
over the glass or if the referee loses sight of it,
usually behind a player's skate against the boards.
When the referee stops play, the timekeeper
stops the clock. Play, and the clock, starts again with
a face off, the position of the face off depends on
why play stopped. The clock counts down from 20:00 to
00:00 for each of the three periods of the game.
A goal is scored when the whole of the
puck completely crosses the goal line. The goal judge
who sits behind the goal puts on a red light to signal
the goal but the referee signals whether it is a goal,
by pointing to the goal, or a washout by spreading his
arms wide. A goal can be scored if the puck is deflected
off another player or a skate, but cannot be deliberately
kicked in, or deflected off a referee or linesman.
Physical contact is allowed between
players contesting for the puck. Rough contact which
could cause injury is covered by various rules.
The are several lines
on an ice hockey rink, and these are either Red or Blue.
The red line across the centre divides the ice into
two halves. The blue lines divide the ice into thirds
or zones. The centre zone is the neutral zone, the others
are the attacking zone and the defensive zone.
The semi-circle around the goal is the
crease, attacking players cannot score if they are in
the crease deliberately.
The
Basics | The 2 Main Rules | Players + Officials | FAQ | Penalties | Signals
The Two Main Rules:
Offside:
When any member of the attacking team precedes the puck
carrier over the defending team's blue line.
Icing:
When a player shoots the puck across the red center
line and past the opposing red goal line. Icing is not
called if the player's team is killing a penalty or
an onsides attacker or defending goaltender touches
the puck first.
The
Basics | The 2 Main Rules | Players + Officials | FAQ | Penalties | Signals
The players
Netminder:
The netminder's primary task is simple - keep the puck
out of his own net.
Offensively, he may start his team down the ice with
a pass, but seldom does he leave the net he guards.
Defence:
These players try to stop the incoming play at their
own blue line.
They try a breakup passes, blocked shots, cover opposing
boards and clear the puck from in front of their own
goal. Offensively, they get the puck to their forwards
and follow the play to the attacking zone, positioning
themselves just inside their opponents blue line at
the "points".
Center:
The striker on the ice, the center leads the attack
by carrying the puck on offense.
On defense, he tries to disrupt a play before it gets
on his team's side of the ice.
Wings:
The Wings team-up with the Center, on the attack, to
set up shots on goal.
Defensively, they attempt to breakup plays by their
counterparts and upset the shot attempts.
The Officials
Referee:
Black
and White striped shirt with Orange armbands
The referee supervises
the game, calls the penalties, determines goals and
handles face-offs at center ice to start each period.
Linesman:
Black and
White striped shirt
Two are used. They call offside, offside passing,
icing and handle all face-offs not occurring in center
ice. They do not call penalties but can recommend to
the referee that a penalty be called.
Goal Judges:
One sits off-ice behind each goal and indicates whether
goal has been scored by turning on a red light just
above their station.
The referee can ask his advise on disputed goals, but
the referee has final authority and can overrule the
goal judge.
Official Scorer:
The Official Scorer determines which player scores and
credits assists, if there are any. He may consult the
referee, but the scorer is the final authority in crediting
points.
The
Basics | The 2 Main Rules | Players + Officials | FAQ | Penalties | Signals
Common
Questions
| Q |
What
is the puck made of? |
| A |
The
puck is made of vulcanized rubber. It is three
inches in diameter, one inch thick and weighs
six ounces. It is frozen before entering play
to make it bounce resistant.
|
|
|
| Q |
How
fast does the puck travel? |
| A |
Some
players have been known to unleash shots between
90 and 100 mph, while the game's hardest shooters
average 110 mph.
|
|
|
| Q |
Can
the puck be kicked into the net for a goal? |
| A |
A
puck can deflect off a state or a player's body
for a goal, only if no blatant attempt is made
to kick or throw it in
|
|
|
| Q |
How
are the markings (lines, circles, goal crease,
etc.) applied to the ice? |
| A |
The
ice is built up to one half inch thickness, by
spraying water over the concrete board, which
has the freezing pipes embedded. The markings
are then painted on, after which additional water
is sprayed to "coat" the marking and
build the ice to the prescribed thickness.
|
|
|
| Q |
How
thick is the ice? |
| A |
Ice
for professional hockey is approximately 3/4 of
any inch thick and usually held at 16 degrees.
The thicker the ice becomes, the softer and slower
it is.
|
The
Basics | The 2 Main Rules | Players + Officials | FAQ | Penalties | Signals
Penalties
Players who break the rules may be penalised,
they are sent to the penalty box for 2 or more minutes,
leaving their team short of a player. The other team
then has a power play. If they score within the 2 minutes,
the player in the penalty box comes out.
Once the play resumes, the game announcer
will state the player's number and name, the length
of the penalty, the name of the penalty and the game
time when it occurred.
A team plays shorthanded when one or
more of its players is charged with a penalty (Powerplay).
However, no team is forced to play more than two players
below full strength (6), at any time. When a third penalty
is assessed to the same team, the penalty is suspended
until the first penalty expires. When the penalty is
called on the goalie a teammate serves his time in the
penalty box.
Minor Penalty:
(Two minutes). Called for tripping, hooking,
spearing, slashing, charging, roughing, holding, elbowing
and boarding.
Major Penalty::
(Five minutes). Called for fighting or when
minor penalties are committed with the deliberate attempt
to injure. Major penalties for slashing, spearing, high
sticking, elbowing, butt-ending and cross-checking carry
automatic game misconducts.
Misconduct:
(Ten minutes). Called for various forms of
unsportsmanlike behavior or when a player incurs a second
major penalty in a game. This is a penalty against an
individual and not a team, so a substitute is permitted.
Penalty Shot:
A free shot, unopposed, except the goalie, given to
a player who is illegally impeded from behind while
he has possession of the puck with no opponent between
him and the goalie, except the goalie.
A team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond
a penalty shot, whether it succeeds or not.
Delayed Penalty:
Whistle is delayed until the penalized team regains
possession of the puck.
The
Basics | The 2 Main Rules | Players + Officials | FAQ | Penalties | Signals
Referee
Signals
|
