How is ice hockey played

For a minor penalty, players are required to serve two minutes in the penalty box while their team plays short-handed. A minor penalty will expire if the opposing team scores while on the power play. Major penalties require a player to serve five minutes in the penalty box and only expire at the end of that time. Misconduct penalties vary in length. A penalty shot is awarded when a player is pulled down from behind on a breakaway scoring opportunity or when the net is deliberately dislodged by an opposing goaltender or defenseman.

When one team has more players on the ice than the other team, because one player is serving a penalty. Any regular-season game that ends overtime play with a tie score will go into a shootout. A shootout is a series of penalty shots in which each team is allowed three attempts to score in alternating fashion. If after three attempts the teams remain tied, the shootout will continue to alternate shots until one team fails to match the attempt of the other.

The winner of the shootout will be awarded one goal. Skip to content Explanation of Common Rules. Closing hand on puck Any player, other than a goaltender, who catches a puck must immediately knock or place it back down to the ice. Faceoffs All players take up set positions around one of five face-off circles on the ice. You will also need a good pair of hockey skates that offer ankle support and mobility. Do not use regular ice skates since they limit your mobility and will not be as effective as skates designed for hockey.

Learn the layout of the rink. The hockey rink is divided into 3 sections marked by the blue lines on the ice. A thin red lines on the ends of the rink are the goal lines where the goals are located. The semicircle on each goal line represents the crease, or the area where the goalie plays.

There are multiple circles on the rink that represent areas where you may have a face-off. The face-off circles are usually used after a penalty.

Start the game with a face-off in the center of the rink. When the referee drops the puck, use your hockey stick to fight for control of the puck. Once the puck is down, the game clock will start running. You may have face-offs after certain penalties as well. Use your stick to shoot the puck into the goal to score 1 point for your team. If you are playing goalie, try to defend your goal from the puck so the other team cannot score.

After each goal, have a face-off on the center line. Avoid getting any penalties. Hockey has minor and major penalties that could cause you to get taken out of the game for 2 or 5 minutes. When the referee blows the whistle, stop playing the game and watch the hand signals they give to determine what the penalty was and who it was called on. Common penalties include: Dangerous use of the stick, including slashing or high-sticking Obstruction penalties, including hooking or tripping. Interfering with or checking a player not in control of the puck Checking from behind or by targeting the head.

Play through 3 periods to complete the game. A period consists anywhere from minutes depending on the league you are playing with. When a period is over, take a short break off the ice and talk with your team. During the next period, switch the side of the rink you are playing on and continue the game.

After the third period, the team with the most points wins! Part 2. Practice skating forward and backward. Keep your knees bent while you are skating to get the most range and power. Push off of 1 leg and lift the opposite leg to practice gliding on the ice and maintaining your balance. When you want to skate backward, glide your feet back in a C-shape.

Practice braking and coming to a stop by turning your feet sideways and pushing down into the ice. Move and control the puck with your hockey stick. In your non-dominant hand, hold the ball at the end of the stick handle, centering the stick with your body. Place your dominant hand 2 glove-lengths down from the top.

Shuffle the puck back and forth to dribble it so you have the most control. Practice dribbling it while you are standing still before you starting to skate with it.

For example, if you are right-handed, use a stick where the blade curves to the left. Try to keep your eyes up and forward rather than looking down at the puck. Pass the puck between players to move it quickly. Use a quick sweeping motion to push the puck to another player. Try to keep the puck as low to the ground as you can so it will not lose control. Follow through with the sweeping motion completely to get the speed and angle correct.

When you are catching a pass, angle the blade on your stick down so the puck does not jump off the ice. Flick your wrist forward to make quick, accurate shots. Shift your weight onto your back leg and keep the puck as close to the middle of the blade as possible. Sweep the puck forward and flick your wrists at the last minute to give the puck momentum and thrust. When your shot is finished, make sure the end of the hockey stick's blade points in the direction you want to shoot.

This will help guide the puck during your follow through. Part 3. Drive the puck to the opponent's side of the rink if you are a forward. The 3 forward positions include the center, the right winger, and the left winger.

Stay near the center of the rink and on your opponent's side while you have the puck. Pass the puck between the other forwards for the best opportunity to score. Play a forward position if you want to score goals and be offensive during the game. When you are playing as a winger, do your best to stay on the side of the rink you are assigned to.

Keep the puck away from your goal if you are playing defense. Each hockey team has 2 defensemen that stay mostly on their goal's side of the rink. When you are playing defense, cover the members of your opponent's team so it is more difficult for them to score. Chase after the player with the puck to try and steal it from them and make it harder for them to score.

When you get the puck, pass it to one of the wingers or the center so they can take it to the other side of the rink. Be sure to cover anyone near your goal so they do not get the puck. Try setting up a zone defense where each defensive player protects a certain part of the rink. Protect the goal if you are the goalie. As the following items must fit you perfectly, we would recommend buying these items first: Skates Having comfortable, well-fitted ice hockey skates is vital and will help you to enjoy the game.

Helmet An ice hockey helmet is an absolute must for protection on the ice. Your helmet should: Fit snugly without constricting the head.

Cover roughly half of the forehead to just above the brow. Be secure enough that the helmet does not wobble out of position.

Once you have a designated position, you can build up your kit depending on your position. Barn: Slang for the ice rink. Biscuit: The puck Blueliner: Defence players Body checking: Using body parts shoulders to hips , to physically knock into an opposing player and separate them from the puck. Bucket: Helmet Butterfly: When goalies plunge to their knees in order to block the net with their leg pads. Catcher: A glove worn by goalies so they can catch pucks heading towards them.

Clapper: Slap shot. Cookie jar: The top of the goal net. Deke [deek]: A play intended to trick an opponent into moving out of position. Drop pass: A direct pass behind to a teammate. Dropping gloves: Preparing for a fight. Egg: When a game's final score is 0. Fisticuffs: Fighting. Five-hole: The space between a goalie's legs. Gino [jee-noh]: A goal that is scored. Hands: A player with great stick handling.

High-stick: A penalty for hitting a player above the shoulders with a stick. Hit: When a body check successfully removes the puck from an opposing player.

Interference: A penalty for obstructing a player not in possession of the puck. Jibbs: Teeth. Laser: A powerful, precise shot. Limoges: Own goal. Liney: The linesmen. Long side: The goal side that is furthest away from the player shooting.

Man on: Teammates shout this as a warning that an opposing player is nearby. Major penalty: 5 min penalty. Minor penalty: 2 min penalty. Mitts: Player's hands. Netminder: Goalie. Neutral zone: The ice between blue lines. Official: The referee. Paddle: The wide section of a goalie's stick. Pepper pot: Fast player. Pillows: Goalie's leg pads. Poke checking: When an opponent pokes the puck away from the other team. Power play: If a team has more players on the ice due to penalties.

Shadow: Following an opposing player to skew their game. Shaft: Long part of a player's stick. Sieve: A jeer towards the goalie if they let in too many goals.

Sin bin: Where you're sent if you're given a penalty. Snipe: A powerful, accurate goal. Stickhandling: Controlling the puck through the opposing team. Stripes: Referee. Tilly: Having a fight.

Top shelf: The upper goal area.