QUESTION: As a linesman who works higher levels of youth hockey, I see a lot of aftermath pushing and shoving. I believe that older players are inevitably going to get shoved or pushed in front of the net, but what subsides a Roughing from Fighting?

ANSWER: There's no easy answer or simple math equation that determines when an altercation escalates from Roughing to Fighting. The officials must use good judgement to determine when the players cross the line from pushing/grabbing to actually engaging in a fight.

First and foremost, the best way to manage this issue is to immediately penalize after-the-whistle infractions fairly and consistently. If two opponents equally engage in roughing after the whistle, then they should be penalized equally with coincidental minors. However, if one player is an instigator or aggressor, then he/she should earn the extra or isolated penalty.

Secondly, good communication and a strong presence at the net or near gatherings will let the players know you're nearby and watching. Good management of players sets a strong tone for a fun, positive and competitive game, and good penalty application will let players know where the line is. 

QUESTION: A team intentionally only sends four players out on a defensive zone face-off. As soon as the puck is dropped, the fifth player enters play and receives a pass after his team wins the face-off. Rules in either face-off procedure or team player change do not seem to validate or invalidate this “trick” play.

ANSWER: Rule 204.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

"Both teams must place the full number of players on the ice to which they are entitled to prior to the face-off."

Furthermore, Rule 629.e in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states:

“Play shall be stopped and the face-off conducted at the last play face-off location anytime a team starts play with fewer players than entitled to and the additional entering player is the first to play any puck coming from his defending zone, unless he has first made skate contact with his defending zone.”

QUESTION: What is the penalty for spraying the goalie with snow after the goalie has tied up the puck?

ANSWER: This act of “taunting an opponent” should be penalized with a minor penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Rule 601.a).

QUESTION: Is there any rule regarding playing music over the rink speakers during stoppages and goals of a youth game, or is it up to the rink management to decide?

ANSWER: The use of music during stoppages is not covered by the USA Hockey Playing Rules. This question should be directed to your local hockey association, league or rink staff.

QUESTION: We were told by an on-ice official that USA Hockey has rules limiting players to only score three goals in a game for Rec. Level league or tournaments. In four years of coaching I have never heard of such a rule, and after reading the entire rulebook I cannot find even a reference of such a rule. I also checked our district rulebook and cannot find this rule.”

ANSWER: There are no rules in the USA Hockey Playing Rules that limit how many goals a team or player may score. However, local hockey leagues, associations and tournaments are entitled to created rules with the approval of the local USA Hockey Affiliate. Therefore, you may check with them if these rules exist.

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

QUESTION: Who determines if a player is injured, the Referee or the injured player's Head Coach or Trainer? Should the Injured player be allowed to remain on the bench or be required to leave the game?

ANSWER: Since almost all game officials are not medical professionals, USA Hockey instructs them to use their best judgment while determining  whether a player is injured, and always error on the side of caution. Ultimately, it is the decision of the player and team staff to determine if the player should remain in a game. The best an official can do is make note of any "irregular behavior" and bring this to the coach's attention (and it would be very wise to record and file this incident in a summary email report to the Local Supervisor of Officials).

QUESTION: In the offensive zone, is a player allowed to use his hands while the puck is on the ice to hold it for himself (essentially, he covered the puck with his hand and moved it to himself after he fell)?

ANSWER: Rule 618.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“Play shall be stopped and a last play face-off shall occur anytime a player (except the goalkeeper) closes his hand on the puck and does not immediately drop the puck to the ice.

A minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to any player, other than the goalkeeper, who picks the puck up from the ice with his hand(s) while play is in progress.

A penalty shot/optional minor penalty shall be awarded to the non-offending team anytime a defending player, other than the goalkeeper, picks the puck up off the ice with his hand or holds the puck while play is in progress and the puck is in the goal crease. If this infraction occurs while the goalkeeper has been removed from the ice and prevents and obvious and imminent goal, a goal shall be awarded to the non-offending team.”

The “spirit and intent” of this rule is to keep the puck in play at all times and prevent a player from making the puck “unplayable by an opponent” by covering it.

QUESTION: While in Team A’s defensive zone, a player on Team A blocks a shot by a player on Team B. The puck hits an un-padded part of the body and the player immediately falls to the ice with an obvious injury. The official allows play  continue while the injured player lies on the ice unable to move. Team B then gains possession of the deflected puck and proceeds to score a goal. Should the goal be allowed?

ANSWER: Rule 206.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“When a player is injured or compelled to leave the ice during a game, he may retire from the game and be replaced by a substitute under the player substitution rules.

When a player is injured and is unable to continue play or go to his bench, play shall be stopped immediately unless the opposing team is in possession of the puck, in which case play shall not be stopped until a change of possession has occurred.

In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or Linesman may stop the play immediately."

QUESTION: During a game, a team received their third consecutive penalty and the ref made the team play three players short. I always thought during my playing career that the third player (even though in the penalty box at time of penalty) would not start until the oldest penalty expired or a goal was scored.

ANSWER: Rule 408.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“If a third player shall be penalized while two players of the same team are serving non-coincidental penalties, he shall proceed to the penalty bench immediately and may be replaced by a substitute on the ice. However, the penalty time of the third player shall not begin until the first such penalty has expired.”

QUESTION: Can a team forfeit in the middle of a game? We just played a game today and we were winning 3-0. With five minutes left in the third period, the other team got up off the bench and said they were forfeiting. Our coaches and the refs tried to get them to finish the game, but the coach from the other team said our kids were too big.

ANSWER: Rule 633.a in the USA Hockey Playing Rules states,

“With both teams on the ice, after the game has started, a team for any reason refuses to play after being ordered to do so by the Referee, the Referee shall warn the Captain and allow the team 15 seconds to resume play.

A bench minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to the offending team who still refuses to start play and if the same team refuses to continue play, the Referee shall suspend the game and assess a match penalty to the responsible Team Official(s).”

The USA Hockey Playing Rules are now available as a mobile device app! Check your Apple, Android, or Windows app store to download this playing rule app free of charge.

Check out the USA Hockey mobile-friendly online rulebook application! Enter usahockeyrulebook.com into your mobile device’s web browser to gain instant access to the USA Hockey Playing Rules (must have mobile or internet service).

The USA Hockey Playing Rules Casebook and other educational material can be found under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.