How To Play Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is one of the most popular competitive sports in America, and is played on an ice rink.  In this article, you will read about the rules of ice hockey, how to play, and penalties.

Basic Rules

• Every game starts with a face-off.
• Each team consists of 6 players: 5 skaters and a goalie. The 5 skaters each play different positions. On each team, there will be a goalie, two defensemen, two wingmen, and a center.
• The game’s objective is to hit the puck into the opposing team’s goal with your hockey stick and score more points than the other team at the end. Each goal is worth 1 point.
• In the event of a tie, there will be an overtime: a sudden death round. The first team to score wins.
• The game is played in three 20-minute intervals.
• Players must wear protective gear: helmets, shoulder & elbow pads, a mouth guard, and ice skates.
• Substitutions are allowed.
• When a player gets a penalty, their team will play short-handed.

Penalties

In ice hockey, penalties occur when a player or goalie breaks a rule. Whenever a player gets a penalty, they spend a designated amount of time in the penalty box, a box that is located right outside the ice rink. There are three types of penalties: minor penalties, major penalties, and misconduct penalties.

MINOR PENALTIES

Minor penalties usually last two minutes. Here are some examples of minor penalties:

1. Tripping

Tripping is when a player makes an opponent fall, either using their body or their stick. It is counted as a penalty, even if it is accidental.

2. Slap shots

Also known as high sticking, a slap shot is when someone raises their stick above their shoulders and attempts to make a shot. This is illegal, and results in a minor penalty.

3. Holding

Holding is when a hockey player tries to control the opponent’s movement by holding either their stick or their jersey.

4. Interference

Similar to holding, interference happens when a player uses their body to restrict someone else’s movement, but the other person does NOT have the puck.

MAJOR PENALTIES

Major penalties are more severe than minor penalties, and typically are for five minutes. These are a few examples of major penalties:

1. Boarding

This penalty occurs when a player uses force to throw another player into the boards, which are the walls surrounding the ice rink.

2. Spearing

Spearing is when the player stabs or attempts to stab someone else with their stick.

3. Fighting

This one is self-explanatory: a player gets a five-minute penalty for fighting on the ice.

4. Butt-ending

Butt-ending is very similar to spearing, but not quite the same. This is when the player uses the shaft of their stick (the part that is above their upper hand) to poke someone else.

MISCONDUCT PENALTIES

A misconduct penalty is 10 minutes or more. In extreme cases, it could cause a player to be ejected from the game. This normally only happens when a player is rude to officials or is constantly fighting on and off the ice.

When ice hockey is played properly, I think it’s one of the best sports, either to play or watch. Remember that safety is the most important, and so is having fun!

RELATED STORIES: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey#:~:text=Two%20opposing%20teams%20use%20ice,in%20overtime%20or%20a%20shootout.

https://www.playgroundequipment.com/a-beginners-guide-to-playing-ice-hockey/

https://www.owayo.com/magazine/rules-of-hockey-made-simple-us.htm?srsltid=AfmBOoqwQx4n89Dp10sgMWOHX9ZAh6zmMyqHcblbg7Bpts2VYvLKhEPk

http://wikihow.com/Play-Hockey

http://rulesofsport.com/sports/ice-hockey.html

TAKE ACTION:
https://www.capsyouthhockey.com/