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USA Hockey Rules 2023-2025 Graded A+
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed. Should the game be played? - ANS-No. Rule Reference 201(a). A team is defined as having six players. If a team cannot put six players on the ice at the start of the game, it is not considered a "team" and must forfeit the game to its opponent. During the game, through injuries and penalties, a team is unable to place four players on the ice. Can the game proceed? - ANS-No. Rule References 201(a) and 408(a). Any time a team is reduced to below four players on the ice during a game for any reason, the game shall be forfeited. Players in the penalty bench with delayed penalties are not permitted to participate in the game (on the ice) or leave the penalty bench until their penalties expire. During the game a Team Captain advises the Referee that the opposing team has more than the allowable number of Team Officials occupying the players' bench. What action should the Referee take? - ANS-Once the Referee has become aware of the violation, they shall direct the offending team to reduce the number of Team Officials on the players' bench to a maximum of four. Rule References 201(b) and 610(h). No penalty is assessed at that time. However, if the situation is not corrected or occurs again during the same game, the Referee shall assess a bench minor penalty for delaying the game to the offending team. During the course of the game, a team no longer has a properly registered coach available to them on the bench. Can the game continue? - ANS-Yes. Rule Reference 201(b). The game shall be allowed to continue provided that team has adult supervision on the players' bench. This person may come from the stands and should be a registered member of USA Hockey in some capacity. If no such person is available, the game should be suspended and a report provided to the proper authorities. During the course of the game the referee is notified that Players or Team Officials that have received a previous suspension are participating in the game. The suspended individuals did not sit out or fulfill their obligated suspension time. Should the referee penalize the offending team? - ANS-No. Rule Reference 201(c). The referee may not be aware of the time period that has taken place between games and therefore cannot enforce suspensions to Players or Team Officials. The referee is required to report the incident to the proper authorities for further review. A player/coach is suspended for the team's next regularly scheduled game and because of circumstances out of the control of the player/coach, the opponent forfeits the game. Does this forfeited game count towards serving the suspension? - ANS-There may be some special circumstances that warrant the suspension being served (i.e. Game forfeited while both teams are on site due to circumstances out of the offending player/ coach control). It is best that the Proper Authorities take into consideration the circumstances involved and the "good faith" effort of the suspended party to serve the
suspension while reviewing each instance. There are also situations (the game is forfeited days in advance) where the suspension would definitely not be considered served. The Referee notices that a team has three players with a "C" on their uniforms during the pre-game warm-up. How many players should the Referee allow to act as Captain?
- ANS-One. Rule Reference 202(a). In this situation the Referee should look at the game sheet to determine the Captain. If there is more than one Captain designated, the Referee must ask the Coach to appoint only one of the three players to act as the team's Captain. The Referee must also inform the Coach that the other two players will be allowed to have Captain's privileges, but they must be designated as Alternate Captains. The Team Captain and the Alternate Captain(s) are incapacitated by reasons of injuries or are unavailable due to penalties and the Referee deems it necessary to convey a message to the bench. With whom shall the Referee communicate? - ANS-Any player on the ice with whom the Referee elects to converse. Rule Reference 202(a). The Referee has the authority to select a player on the ice to convey the message to the bench. Failure of a team to have a captain available is not justification for a Referee to not communicate when doing so would assist in managing the game. A team refuses to designate a Captain at the beginning of the game. Should the Referee assess a penalty? - ANS-No May a goalkeeper be designated as a Captain or Alternate Captain? - ANS-Yes. However, the goalkeeper cannot exercise the privileges of the Captain during the game as outlined in this rule. Rule Reference 202(a). There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being named a Captain or Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However, that goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's privileges during a game. Doing so would unnecessarily delay the game if the goalkeeper were allowed to leave the goal area for any discussion and then go to the bench area to relay any message and finally back to the goal area and be prepared for the resumption of play. There is a question of a rule interpretation. The Referee wants to explain the rule to the Captain, but notices that the Captain and both Alternate Captains are seated on the players' bench. What should the Referee do? - ANS-If the Captain is still participating in the game (they are not removed from the game because of penalty, injury, etc.), they should be invited from the players' bench to discuss the interpretation with the Referee. Rule Reference 202(a). There is a question of a rule interpretation and the Captain comes off the bench to protest the decision of the Referee. What should the Referee do? - ANS-If the Captain leaves the bench for a discussion without being invited to do so, and makes a complaint or protest, they must be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct under this rule. Rule Reference 202(b).
play) the goalkeeper turns and skates back toward the goal to defend against an opposing shot on goal. Does this infraction of the rules constitute "premature substitution" or "too many players on the ice?" - ANS-Too many players on the ice. Rule References 205(a) and 204(b). Once the substituting player enters the ice, the goalkeeper is considered to be substituted for. If the goalkeeper participates in play while this condition exists, a penalty for "too many players on the ice" shall be assessed to the offending team. Team A, losing late in the game, substitutes its goalkeeper for an extra attacker. Before the change is completed, Team B gains possession of the puck and carries it into Team A's Defending Zone. The substitute player for the goalkeeper goes onto the ice before the goalkeeper is at the players' bench and out of play (noted by the back Linesman). A Team A player gains possession of the puck behind their own goal and the whistle stops play. Are any penalties to be assessed and where is the ensuing face-off to take place? - ANS-No penalties are to be assessed, as this is a "premature substitution for the goalkeeper" violation. The ensuing faceoff must take place at the nearest end zone face-off spot. Rule Reference 205(a). No penalty is assessed for premature substitution of the goalkeeper. Normally, the puck will be in the offending team's attacking half of the ice when premature substitution occurs, in which case the ensuing face-off will take place at center ice. If the puck is in the offending team's defending half of the ice, as in this situation, the ensuing face-off will become a last play face-off. During play, a goalkeeper is replaced on the ice by a skater. When is the goalkeeper permitted to re-enter the game? - ANS-The goalkeeper can return at any time. Rule Reference 205(a). A goalkeeper may change on the fly during play with a player and return at any time through a proper player change. A substitute goalkeeper enters the game during a stoppage of play. Are they allowed to warm-up? - ANS-No, unless either team uses their time-out. Rule References 205(b) and 636(f). The goalkeeper would be allowed a warm-up only provided either team uses their time-out. A substitute goalkeeper enters the game during a stoppage of play. Is the original goalkeeper allowed to return to play once the ensuing face-off has been completed? - ANS-No. They must wait until the next stoppage of play to re-enter the game. Rule Reference 205(b). A goalkeeper can be substituted for by another goalkeeper at any time, but the original goalkeeper must wait until the next stoppage of play to re-enter the game. The play is stopped due to the injury of a goalkeeper. After recovering quickly, they skate to the players' bench to wipe their face with a towel. Is this action permissible or must they be replaced? - ANS-The goalkeeper must be replaced or a bench minor penalty assessed. Rule Reference 205(c). Any time that a goalkeeper goes to their players' bench during a stoppage of play, they must be replaced or penalized. If replaced, the goalkeeper is not allowed to return to the game until the next stoppage of play.
The Referee observes a player who has a significant amount of blood on their uniform. Is the Referee obligated to stop play immediately? - ANS-Yes. Rule Reference 206(c). That player must be instructed to either decontaminate the uniform or change it. Note that blood on the uniform does not necessarily have to be the blood of the player wearing that uniform. A penalized skater is injured and is unable to take their proper place on the penalty bench. The team places a substitute on the penalty bench for the injured skater and prior to the penalty expiring, the injured skater recovers and returns to participate in play. What penalty, if any, should be assessed? - ANS-Bench minor penalty for illegal substitution. Rule Reference 206(d). As soon as the injured skater is able to replace the substitute on the penalty bench, they must do so at the first stoppage of play. The returning injured skater or substitute must return to the game from the penalty bench. If a request is made to measure a player's stick, may the player remove any tape from the stick, if used, prior to the measurement? - ANS-No. Rule References 301(a and d). While the rules allow tape to be used on the stick, the tape becomes a part of the stick when it is used and must be included as part of the stick measurement. If the tape increases the width or the curvature of the blade to illegal proportions, the stick is considered to be illegal even though the bare stick may conform to the rules. If a player intentionally removes any tape prior to the measurement, they must be given a minor and a misconduct penalty, the same as if they had refused to surrender the stick for measurement purposes. What should the Referee do with a stick that has been measured and found to be illegal? - ANS-If the stick is found to be illegal, it must be removed from the game immediately and given to an Off-Ice Official. The stick must be released to the player after the game. Rule Reference 301(c). The stick must not be given back to the player during the game if it is illegal in any way. What action should the Referee take when a "skater's" skate blade falls out of the skate? - ANS-Allow play to continue as long as there is no immediate danger to the skater. Rule Reference 302(a). A skater will have the ability to move to the players' bench for a change, even without the steel portion of one skate blade. Therefore, play shall continue unless that skater is in a vulnerable or defenseless position on the ice where multiple players are physically engaged in obtaining possession of the puck. What action should the Referee take when a "goalkeeper's" skate blade falls out of the skate? - ANS-Keeping safety as the primary consideration, the Referee should stop play whenever the goalkeeper loses a skate blade and is in a vulnerable position UNLESS there is an imminent scoring opportunity in which play should be allowed to continue until the imminent scoring opportunity has passed. Rule Reference 302(a). Team A requests a measurement of the blocker pad of the Team B goalkeeper. The ensuing measurement shows the pad to be of legal size. Should the Referee assess a
off the ice) and either a person on the bench or somewhere else in the arena. Communication between the bench and personnel not on the bench is permitted. The goalkeeper requests that they be permitted to go to their players' bench to obtain a new catching glove and remain on the ice for the ensuing face-off. Should the Referee permit this action? - ANS-No. Rule References 309(a and b) and 205(c). Any such equipment change must be made by another player delivering the glove to the goalkeeper and such change must be made quickly without delaying the game. During a game (Youth, Girls' or High School) the Head Coach is assessed a game misconduct penalty and the Assistant Coach takes control of the team. Later in the game that team incurs its twelfth penalty. What suspensions are served? - ANS-Both coaches are suspended for the next game of that team. Rule References 401(b) and 404(b). Once the Head Coach is removed from the game the Assistant Coach assumes the responsibility for the team. Whoever is considered to be in control of the team at the time the 12th penalty is assessed (if still the Head Coach - they would serve this suspension in addition to the game misconduct suspension) is the individual who must serve the one-game suspension under this rule. Are there any instances in which a bench minor penalty does not have to be served by a player on the ice at the time of the infraction? - ANS-No. Rule References 402(b). Bench minor penalties must be served by a non-penalized player who was on the ice at the time of the infraction. In those rare occasions when a bench minor penalty is assessed and there are no players on the ice (e.g. before the start of the game, during intermissions, during a penalty shot, etc.), the team may designate any non-penalized player, except a goalkeeper, to serve the bench minor penalty. A player is assessed a minor penalty and then their team is assessed a bench minor penalty during the same stoppage of play. The player's Coach requests that the player also serve the bench minor penalty? Should the Referee permit this? - ANS-No. Rule Reference 402(b). Because the bench minor penalty is assessed to the team and not to an individual player, the Coach must designate a non-penalized player who was on the ice at the time of the infraction to serve the bench minor penalty. The team will then play short-handed by two players for two minutes, unless a goal is scored that would terminate a minor penalty. A player is assessed a minor and a misconduct penalty. An additional player enters the penalty bench in order to return upon the expiration of the minor penalty. If the opposing team scores a goal that would entitle the minor penalty to terminate, does the misconduct penalty time begin immediately? - ANS-Yes. Once a penalty has terminated, the serving of the next penalty begins so as to make the penalties consecutive. Rule References 402(c), 404(a), 409(b). This ruling applies in all examples where the termination of a penalty does not complete the serving of all penalties assessed to a player.
The goalkeeper is assessed a minor plus misconduct penalty. How are these penalties served? - ANS-Two, one "substitute" and one "additional", players will need to be placed on the penalty bench. Rule References 402(c), 404(a), and 407(a). A player on the ice at the time of the original infraction serves all of the goalkeeper's penalties as a "substitute." An "additional" player, who can be any player (non-goalkeeper) who is not then assessed or serving a penalty, also enters the penalty bench in order to return to the ice when the minor penalty expires. If the minor penalty terminates upon the scoring of a goal by the opponents, the "additional" player returns to the ice, and the misconduct portion (served by the "substitute" player) of the goalkeeper's penalty begins immediately. A player is assessed a non-coincident minor or major penalty in addition to a misconduct or game misconduct penalty. Who must serve the minor or major penalty? - ANS-Any non-penalized player, except a goalkeeper. Rule References 404(a). Who serves a match penalty assessed to a team official? - ANS-The penalty shall be served by any non-penalized player of the team who was on the ice at the time of the infraction, except the goalkeeper. Rule Reference 405(a). When a match penalty is assessed, what obligation does the official(s) have to report the incident? - ANS-In all instances where a match penalty is assessed, the official(s) are required to file an incident report within 24 hours of the completion of the game. Rule Reference 405(c Note). Can a team change its goalkeeper to defend against a penalty shot? If so, can the original goalkeeper go back in after the penalty shot? - ANS-Yes and yes. Rule Reference 406(b). During a Penalty Shot attempt, the puck rebounds off the goal post, hits the back of the goalkeeper's leg and enters the goal. Should the goal be awarded or disallowed? - ANS-The goal shall be awarded. Rule Reference 406(c) During a penalty shot attempt and before the player takes the shot, the goalkeeper poke-checks the puck. The puck reverses direction, strikes the leg of the player taking the shot, and goes directly into the goal. Is this a legal goal? - ANS-No. Rule Reference 406(c). When the goalkeeper poke-checked the puck, there was a change of possession and the puck was no longer moving forward. During a penalty shot attempt and before the player takes the shot, the goalkeeper attempts to poke-check the puck. The puck rolls over the goalkeeper's stick, strikes the leg of the player taking the shot, who is now behind the goalkeeper and between the goalkeeper and the post. The puck deflects off the player and enters the goal. Is this a legal goal? - ANS-Yes. Rule References 406(c) and 617(b.3). Since the puck continued towards the goal and did not reverse direction, the goal would be allowed provided the player taking the shot did not direct the puck into the goal.
If a Linesman sees that a team has too many players on the ice, should they raise their arm to signal a delayed penalty? - ANS-No. Rule Reference 503(d). They should stop the play when the offending team gains possession of the puck. No delayed signal is given by the Linesman for any penalty they may observe. What is the minimum penalty for Abuse of Officials, and what penalties follow if needed? - ANS-Minor penalty, then misconduct penalty, then game if dispute continues. What are the penalty options for boarding? - ANS-minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game misconduct, or match. What happens if a player breaks his stick and does not drop it prior to participating in play? - ANS-Minor penalty for equipment violation shall be assessed. What are the penalty options for butt ending? - ANS-Major plus a game misconduct or match penalty. What are the penalty options for checking from behind? - ANS-Minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game misconduct, or match. What are the penalty options for charging? - ANS-Minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game misconduct, or match. What are the penalty options for cross-checking? - ANS-minor, major plus a game, or match. What are the penalty options for elbowing? - ANS-minor, major plus a game, or match. When a goal is disallowed as a result of the actions of the attacking team, where is the ensuing faceoff? - ANS-It will take place at the nearest neutral zone face-off spot. Any time a penalty is assessed that appears on the game clock and causes a team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off shall take place at...? - ANS-a defending zone face-off spot of the offending team. What are the penalty options for headbutting? - ANS-major plus a game or match penalty. What are the options for head contact? - ANS-minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game misconduct, or match penalty. Is a high stick above the shoulders of the player or crossbar? - ANS-Shoulders
If the Officials shall have erred in calling an "icing the puck" infraction (regardless of whether either team is shorthanded) a face-off shall occur at...? - ANS-the end zone face-off spot nearest to the location of the puck when play was stopped. What are the penalty options for kicking? - ANS-Major plus a game misconduct or match penalty. What are the penalty options for kneeing? - ANS-Minor, major plus a game, or match. What is the proper sequence of penalties to be assessed to a player who continues to verbally abuse an Official or who persists in disputing a call? - ANS-Minor, misconduct, game misconduct, warning to the Captain, bench minor penalty. Rule References 601(a.1, c.1 and d.1) and 633(a). A Coach verbally abuses an Official on the way to the dressing room at the end of a period. What is the sequence of penalties assessed to the Coach? - ANS-A bench minor penalty followed by a game misconduct penalty if the abuse continues. Rule References 601(b.1 and d.1). Player A1 pushes teammate A2 into an opponent who is thrown against the boards dangerously enough to warrant a boarding penalty. Which Team A player is assessed the penalty? - ANS-A1. Rule Reference 603(a). A player on the attacking team attempts a shot on goal that hits the cross bar, boards or glass and goes directly out of play. Where is the ensuing face-off? - ANS-At the nearest end zone face-off spot in the attacking zone to where the shot was taken. Rule Reference 612(c). Which team's center must place the stick first on the ice for any face-off conducted at the center ice face-off spot? - ANS-The visiting team's center must place the stick on the ice first. Rule Reference 613(a). In the process of conducting an end zone face-off, who has the responsibility to watch players positioned behind the Linesman conducting the face-off? - ANS-The back Linesman is responsible for watching for encroachment of the players behind. Rule References 613(b) and 503(c). A team tries to change players after the line change procedure has been completed and the Referee sends the players back to the bench. Should the linesman remove the center for a faceoff violation? - ANS-No. The action of the team is a player change violation. Rule references 613(c) and 204(a). The puck is in the goal crease. A defending player, lying on the ice outside of the crease, places their hand on the puck and pulls it out of the crease and into their body, thereby causing a stoppage of play. Does this situation call for a penalty shot? - ANS-
In Junior hockey, what are the penalty options for boarding? - ANS-minor, major, major plus a game, or match. In Junior hockey, what are the penalty options for butt ending? - ANS-minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game, or match. Minor should only be used when a player "attempts" to butt end. In Junior hockey, what are the penalty options for charging? - ANS-minor, major, major plus a game, or match. In Junior hockey, what are the penalty options for checking from behind? - ANS-minor, minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game, or match. In Junior A Tier 1&2 hockey, what are the penalty options for fighting? - ANS-major plus a misconduct. any player who receives their second major penalty for fighting in the same game shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty in lieu of the misconduct penalty. In Junior A Tier 3 hockey, what are the penalty options for fighting? - ANS-major penalty plus a game ejection In Junior hockey, are hand passes in the D zone allowed? - ANS-yes In junior hockey, what are the penalty options for head contact? - ANS-minor, major, major plus a game, or match. In junior hockey, what is the height that a player can have his stick at for tipping a shot for a legal goal? What is the determining factor? - ANS-Crossbar. Determining factor is where the puck made contact with the stick. In junior hockey, what are the penalty options for spearing? - ANS-minor plus a misconduct, major plus a game, or match. In junior hockey, how many time outs does a team get? - ANS-One 60 second time out per team, any time of the game. In junior hockey, The puck/play is deep in the white team's end zone. A white team player shoots a hard shot down the ice. The back linesman signals a potential icing situation. The front linesman pursues the puck as it crosses the blue team's blue line towards the goal line. The puck crosses the goal line and deflects off the end wall and angles towards the crease. The blue team's goalkeeper, at that end, has dropped to their knees to protect the post that the puck is heading towards. The nearest players (defending or attacking) are just crossing the blue line when the blue
team's goalkeeper freezes the puck in their crease because the puck has traveled into their crease and they see an attacking player converging on them. Is this icing under the hybrid icing rule? - ANS- This situation could be viewed as an exception to the hybrid icing rule. In this situation, when the blue team's goalkeeper decides to play the puck all of the conditions for hybrid icing to be called have not been met therefore there is no icing and a face-off should take place at the appropriate end zone face-off spot nearest the blue team's goalkeeper. Rule Reference Junior Rulebook 624(b).
