Rule (Situation) |
Dif |
N F H S |
NCAA |
USA Hockey |
| SECTION 1 - RINK |
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|
|
|
| Goalkeeper warm-up area defined |
U |
No rule |
No rule |
Expanded Privileged Area |
| Maximum non-players on bench |
x |
Five (5) |
Six (6) [B.Minor after warn] |
Four (4) |
| No Tobacco/Alcohol on ice or bench |
x |
Prohibits Tobacco (minor) |
Ejection from game |
Bench minor |
SECTION 2 - COMPOSITION OF TEAMS |
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|
|
|
| Maximum players in uniform |
x |
Maximum 20, including goalkeepers |
Maximum 18 players; 2 or 3 goalkeepers |
Maximum 20 total, maximum 18 players (Youth) |
| Visiting team must wear dark uniforms |
U |
Required |
Required |
No rule |
| Logo limitations on uniform |
U |
Yes (logos and flags) |
Yes (logo restrictions only) |
None |
| Captain coming off bench to complain |
x |
First - Misconduct;
Second - Game Misconduct;
Third - Game Disqualification |
All - Misconduct |
All- Minor |
| Captains and Referees meet before game |
U |
Required |
Required |
No rule |
| More than 19 Players + 3 Goalkeepers on the ice in the pre-game |
N |
No rule - implied only rostered players may be on the ice |
Bench minor penalty |
No rule - implied only rostered players may be on the ice |
| Roster correction after game begins |
N |
OK if inadvertent; minor penalty |
Not permitted; bench minor penalty assessed |
OK if inadvertent; bench minor penalty assessed |
| Substituted goalkeeper eligible to return |
U |
Next stoppage |
Next stoppage |
Resumption of play |
| Jersey number in addition to back |
x |
Both sleeves |
Front or both sleeves |
No rule |
Warm-up for substitute goalkeeper
(first entry into game) |
F |
1 minute, if requested |
None |
None |
| Warm-up for regular goalkeeper when returning after injury |
F |
1 minute, if requested |
None |
None |
| Spare goalkeeper required on bench |
N |
No rule |
Yes, at start of game, or bench minor |
No rule; recommended in playdowns |
| "Temporary" goalkeeper |
U |
No rule |
No rule |
Permitted |
| Not starting with announced lineup |
N |
Permitted |
Bench minor penalty |
Permitted (except Juniors) |
| Pucks on ice before start of second or third periods |
N |
No rule |
Charged with time-out; bench minor if time-out already used |
No rule |
| Last 2 minutes or OT - Substitute goalkeeper requirements |
F |
Must remain on ice until next stoppage or delayed penalty |
No restrictions |
No restrictions |
| Receiving pass from defending zone upon returning to the ice after penalty expiration |
N |
Not permitted unless tagging |
Permitted |
Not permitted unless tagging |
| Goalkeeper "off the ice" on a change |
N |
Within 10 feet of bench |
At bench, out of play |
Within 10 feet of bench |
| Recovery time for injured goalkeeper |
x |
2 minutes |
"Reasonable time" |
None |
| Unconscious player rule (requires written physician OK to resume play) |
F |
Required |
No rule |
No rule |
| Stoppage for non-penalized player |
F |
Immediate (regardless of possession) |
Immediate when his team has possession |
Immediate when his team has possession |
SECTION 3 - EQUIPMENT |
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|
|
|
| Skates not conforming to rules |
F |
(1) Warn; (2) Game Misc. |
Not permitted to play |
Not permitted to play |
Throat protector - Goalkeeper
Throat protector - Player |
F
F |
Required
Recommended |
Recommended
Not required |
Recommended
Not required |
| Player’s helmet comes off during play |
F |
Immediate stoppage |
Must replace (out of play) or go to bench |
Must replace (out of play) or go to bench |
| HECC-approved helmet |
N |
Required |
Recommended |
Required |
| Wearing helmet on players’ and penalty bench |
N |
Required. Violation - Misc. |
Not required |
Required. Violation - Misc. |
| Mouthguard not worn - Goalkeeper |
x |
Minor |
Not required equipment |
Misconduct |
| Mouthguard not worn - Player |
F |
(1) Misc; (2) Game Misc. |
(1) Misconduct after warning |
Misconduct (all) |
| Mouthguard - non-clear color |
N |
Required |
Recommended |
Required |
| Mouthguard - attached to facemask |
N |
Required |
No rule |
Required |
| Cut palm on glove |
U |
Misconduct |
Misconduct |
Minor |
| Warning prior to equipment violation |
x |
No: (1) Misc.; (2) Game Misc. |
Yes |
Implied, not required |
| Casts / splints |
N |
OK if adequately covered and physician-approved |
No rule |
OK if adequately covered and physician-approved |
| Wearing jewelry (except religious/medical) |
F |
(1) Misc.; (2) Game Misc. |
No rule |
No rule |
| Equipment request limitation |
x |
Sticks, Goalkeeper Equipment |
Sticks, Skates, Goalkeeper Equipment |
Anything in Section 3 which has specifications |
| Location of logos on puck |
N |
No rule |
Limited position |
No rule |
| SECTION 4 - PENALTIES |
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|
|
|
| Bench minor penalty defined |
F |
No rule |
Yes |
Yes |
| Coincident minor penalty rule |
N |
Equal number of minors offset |
Equal number of minors offset unless teams at full strength |
Equal number of minors offset |
| Minor penalty termination when scored upon |
F |
First minor being served |
Minor causing short-handed at time of goal |
Minor causing short-handed at time of goal |
| Player/GK ejected after second Major |
U |
No |
No |
Yes (plus 2 game suspension) |
| Game suspension for Game Misconduct |
U |
No |
No |
Yes (if not 3rd man in) |
5-penalty maximum/game (player/GK);
15-penalty maximum/game (coach) |
U
U |
No
No |
No
No |
Yes (Game Misc.)
Yes (Next game suspension) |
| Progressive suspension |
U |
Yes (Disqual. Penalty) |
Yes (Disqual. Penalty) |
No |
| Match penalty provision |
U |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Maximum Disqualifications per player per game |
F |
One |
No limit |
No limit |
| Goalkeeper must remain in Privileged Area throughout Penalty Shot attempt |
N |
Not required |
Yes |
Not required |
| Who takes Penalty Shot if player selected is injured or ejected, or Captain has choice |
U |
Any teammate not then serving a penalty |
Any teammate not then serving a penalty |
Teammate on the ice at the time of infraction |
| Goalkeeper must serve his own major and/or misconduct penalties |
U |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| SECTION 5 - OFFICIALS |
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|
|
|
| Approved Officiating systems |
x |
RR or RRL or RLL |
RR or RRL or R-2AR |
RR or RLL (not RRL) |
| 2-man system if 3-man and 1 incapacitated |
F |
2 Referees |
2 Referees or Ref.-Line. |
2 Referees or Ref.-Line. |
| Linesman report observed MINOR pen. to Ref. |
U |
No |
No |
"Injury Potential" minors only |
| 1-Referee: Face-offs |
N |
Start of periods, after goals |
Start of game only |
Start of periods, after goals |
| SECTION 6 - PLAYING RULES |
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|
|
|
Awarded goal for certain Penalty Shot situations if goalkeeper is not on the ice:
- Fall on or pick up puck in crease
- Thrown stick (Defending Zone)
- Fouled from behind (breakaway) |
U |
Never awarded goal |
Never awarded goal |
Awarded goal (all 4 situations) |
| Verbally abusing Official after game -- player |
U |
Disqualification |
Disqualification |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
| Foul language on players’ bench -- player |
U |
Misconduct |
Misconduct |
Misconduct or Bench Minor |
| Continuing altercation |
U |
Disqualification |
Disqualification |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
| Touching/Holding Game Official -- player |
U |
Disqualification |
Disqualification |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
| Banging boards with stick -- player |
U |
Minor |
Minor |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
| Obscene Gesture -- player |
U |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
Game Misconduct |
| Racial or ethnic slur |
U |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
Misconduct or Game Miscond. |
Game Misconduct |
| "Detrimental Conduct" -- player or Team Official |
U |
No rule |
No rule |
Gross Misconduct |
| Physically harming Game Official or opposing Team Official -- player |
U |
Disqualification |
Disqualification |
Gross Misconduct |
| Verbal abuse to Game Official after game by Team Official |
x |
Disqualification |
Supplementary Discipline |
(1) Bench Minor, (2) Game Misc.; Gross Misc. if threat |
| Obscene Gesture by Team Official |
x |
Minor or Game Misconduct |
Bench Minor |
Game Misconduct |
| Physically harming Game Official by Team Off. |
x |
Disqualification |
Supplementary Discipline |
Gross Misconduct |
| Checking from behind |
N |
Minor plus Misconduct or Disqual.; DQ required if thrown into boards or goal. |
Minor or Major; Major and Game Misconduct if thrown into boards or goal |
Minor + Misconduct, Major + Game Misconduct, or Match; 5+GM if into boards or goal |
| Face-off for interference from bench |
N |
Last play |
Offending team end zone spot |
Last play |
| GK freezes puck on ice when he is out of crease, puck in front of goal line (in Priv.Area) |
N |
No penalty |
Minor (interpretation) |
No penalty |
| Instigating Fisticuffs |
U |
No special rule |
No special rule |
Minor |
| Fisticuffs, including player struck during
altercation who continues by retaliating |
U |
Disqualification |
Disqualification |
Minor, Double Minor, or Major + Game Misconduct |
| Subsequent player enters altercation |
x |
Disqualification |
No automatic penalty |
First in - Game Misconduct;
Others - no automatic penalty |
| Intentionally dropping stick or gloves(altercation) |
F |
Misconduct |
Minor |
Minor |
| Closing hand on puck (not in crease) |
N |
Stoppage only |
Minor (if thrown) |
Stoppage only |
| High Stick definition |
U |
Above 4 feet |
Above 4 feet |
Above normal shoulder height of checking player |
| Goalkeeper play puck with high stick |
N |
No |
Permitted |
No |
| High sticked puck; face-off location other than end spot in Defending Zone |
N |
End spot (Defending Zone) for all situations |
Last play or zone line if done by attacking team (at equal strength or short-handed) |
End spot (Defending Zone) for all situations |
| Grabbing Facemask |
N |
Disqualification |
Major |
Major + Game Misconduct |
| Kick shot (skate kicks stick blade) |
U |
Misconduct |
Misconduct |
No rule |
| Icing, through crease, goalkeeper off the ice |
U |
No icing |
No icing |
Icing |
| Player leaves players’ bench or penalty bench during altercation |
F |
Major |
Disqualification |
Major + Game Misconduct |
| Leaving penalty bench during time-out |
F |
Permitted |
Not permitted |
Not permitted |
| Extra player prevents breakaway |
x |
Penalty Shot + Misconduct |
Bench Minor, Misconduct, and Penalty Shot |
Penalty Shot |
| Player pushed off-side |
U |
No off-side |
No off-side |
Off-side |
| Tag-up to nullify delayed off-side |
U |
Yes |
Yes |
No (Yes at Junior & Sr. male) |
| Imaginary lines at top of face-off circles as determinant for intentional off-side |
F |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Off-side error |
N |
Neutral Zone spot |
Center spot |
Neutral Zone spot |
| Carrying puck behind net more than once per period (not being checked) |
N |
No rule |
Minor |
No rule |
| Additional puck on ice |
N |
Stop only if interferes with play |
Stop at change of possession |
Stop only if interferes with play |
| Team refuses to start play when ordered to do so by Referee |
U |
(1) Warn, (2) 3-min. to comply, (3) Major if comply or forfeit if no comply |
(1) Warn, (2) 3-min. to comply, (3) Major if comply or forfeit if no comply |
(1) 15 seconds, (2) Bench minor, (3) 15 seconds, (4) Suspend |
| Thrown stick |
U |
Preventing a goal: Pen.Shot
Otherwise: minor |
Preventing a goal: Pen.Shot
Otherwise: minor |
At puck in Def.Zone: Pen.Shot, Otherwise: minor |
| "Mercy Rule" (ending game early) |
F |
Permitted |
No |
No |
| Time of period |
x |
15 minutes |
20 minutes |
20 minutes maximum |
| Max. period length, sudden-death overtime |
x |
8 min. (no resurface) |
5 min. (no resurface) |
10 min. (no resurface) |
| Video review |
N |
No rule |
Tournament competition only |
No rule |
| Location of "fouled from behind" to receive a Penalty Shot |
U |
Attacking Zone |
Attacking Zone |
Attacking side of center line |
| Unnecessary Roughness |
x |
Minor or Major |
Minor |
Minor or Double Minor, except for hit above shoulders |
| Avoidable check to player in possession |
N |
Minor or Major |
No rule |
Minor or Major |
| SIGNALS and PROCEDURES |
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|
|
|
| Goal scored - blowing the whistle |
N |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Icing signal, non-whistle arm, back official |
N |
Vertical |
66° above horizontal |
Vertical |
| Delayed off-side |
U |
Non-whistle arm vertical; whistle arm angled toward line |
Non-whistle arm vertical; whistle arm angled toward line |
Non-whistle arm vertical; whistle arm normal |