| build a web site| fundraising| community| collect fees online| blogz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The rink: Hockey is played on a rink 200' long and 85' wide, with rounded corners. The ice surface has painted lines on it, which indicate face-off circles, the goal crease, and the various zones. The most important lines are the red line (which runs across the center of the ice) and the blue lines (which are parallel to the red line and are painted 73' from each end of the rink). The red line indicates center ice, and regulates how far players can pass and shoot. The blue lines divide up the ice into three zones. Each team plays from one side of the ice, and the area behind a team's blue line is called its defending zone. The area behind the opposing team's blue line is called the attacking zone. Finally, the area between the two blue lines is called the neutral zone. The goals: Thirteen feet from each end of the ice, right in the center, is a stationary set of goal posts with a net attached behind them. The object of the game is to put the puck in the net more times than the other team does. The posts are six feet apart and the top post (or crossbar) is four feet from the ice. A red line called the goal line is painted between the two posts, and the puck must cross this line entirely for a goal to be counted. We know it's confusing that the place where the pucks go and the act of putting a puck there are both called the same thing (a goal). You have two choices: you can either get used to it or you can always call the goal "the net." A blue area is painted in front of the goal. It goes out a foot from each side, then extends straight forward for four and a half feet and ends in a semi-circle whose furthest point is six feet from the goal line. This is called the crease (see Section 2 for more about the crease). The players: There are three basic kinds of players: forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders (goalies). Unless a team is shorthanded due to a penalty or overtime, each team will have six players on the ice during play. Three forwards line up at the front of the team, and they are (from left to right) the left wing, the center, and the right wing. Two defensemen line up behind them, one on the left and one on the right. The goalie is the sixth player. The forwards are responsible for most of the offense, and they tend to stay out front, while the defensemen are largely responsible for hanging back and making sure they are ready to protect the defensive zone. The goalie rarely strays far from his crease, but he does skate out and pass pucks to the other players. Basic Hockey Rules Rule number one: whichever team gets the most points wins. OK, OK, it's a little more complicated than that. Below, we'll explain some of the more complicated plays and the most common bad things players can do to get penalties. Face-offs: Five face-off circles are painted on the ice. Two on either side and just in front of each net and one at the center of the ice. When play begins at the beginning of a period or after a stoppage in play, two players will face each other at one of the face-off circles and try to gain possession of the puck when the referee or linesman drops the puck. This is why you will hear frustrated hockey fans screaming "Drop the puck!" when there has been a long stoppage in play. The players stand with their sticks crossed and poised right over the face-off dot, and they often joust a bit with their sticks before the puck is dropped. If a player gets too rambunctious the official can wave him out of the circle and get another player to take the face-off. At the beginning of a period, the face-off is always at center ice. After a stoppage in play, where the face-off takes place will depend upon how and why the play was stopped. Penalties: Players will often receive penalties for their constant bad behavior. The referees are the final arbiters of the penalties they call, and players can get into worse trouble by arguing with refs who penalize them. There are four different kinds of penalties: a minor penalty, for which a player must sit in the penalty box for two minutes; a major penalty, for five minutes in the box; a misconduct, for ten minutes; and a game misconduct, which sends a player out for the whole game. In cases of extreme cheap shots or attempts to injure, the league will review the incident and can hand out stiffer suspensions of several games and/or fine the player. When one team has a player in the box due to a minor penalty, it must play "shorthanded" (with one less skater) until the penalty expires or the opposing team scores a goal. This situation is called a "power play" for the unpenalized team, and a "penalty kill" for the penalized team. If the penalty is a major penalty, the penalized team must kill the penalty for the entire five minutes, regardless of how many goals the opposing team scores. If a penalized team manages to score a goal while killing the penalty, it is called a shorthanded goal. A team can be shorthanded by two players, but no more. If more than two of a team's players are penalized the team will continue to play with four players (but the penalized players must still serve their penalties before they can play). If a player from each team is assessed a minor or major penalty in the same incident, the penalties are called offsetting. The players must sit in the box but the teams continue to play at full strength (with six players each). A ten-minute or game misconduct only results in the player being ejected from the game for the stated amount of time; the player's team is not shorthanded for the duration of the misconduct. Offsides: This is one of the more confusing rules for many new hockey fans. We'll try to keep it simple. A player cannot pass forward (toward the opposing team's goal) to a teammate who is another zone, except when the passing player is in the defending zone (behind his own blue line) and his teammate is in the neutral zone but has not passed the red (center) line. If a player is in the defending zone and he passes to a player who has crossed the red line, the play will be called offside and stopped. This kind of offside is called a "two line pass." If the passer and the receiver are both in the neutral zone (between the two blue lines), it's okay to pass the puck past the red line. A player is never permitted to pass forward to a teammate in the attacking zone (behind the opposing team's blue line). A player may always pass back to a teammate in another zone. When a play is called offside, the whistle is blown and play is stopped for a face-off, the location of which is determined by the circumstances of the offside. Bringing the puck into the attacking zone has special offside rules. The puck must cross the opposing team's blue line before any attacking player does or the play is called offside and stopped. If the puck leaves the attacking zone while attacking players are still in it, they must all skate back out of the zone before the puck can be shot back in by the attacking team or the play will be offside. If, however, the puck bounces back in off a defending player or is shot back in by a defending player, the play will not be offside. For the purposes of this rule, a player passes into a zone when both of his skates have completely crossed the line that separates it from the preceding zone. The player's stick or one skate can be in a zone, but so long as one of his skates is touching the line he is not considered in the next zone. For the purposes of passing a puck from one zone forward to another, the puck is considered to enter another zone when it completely crosses the line. The linesmen do not refer to the skates of the player in possession of the puck in these cases. If the offside rules bore you, you are not alone. It is perfectly possible to enjoy hockey without having a refined understanding of the offside rules. You can just nod as if you understand and leave it up to the linesmen. Icing: To clarify matters, or to confuse you further, we should mention that it is perfectly acceptable to shoot a puck forward into another zone so long as you are not passing it to a teammate. That is, unless you commit the horrendous crime of icing. It is extremely nerve-wracking to have the attacking team passing the puck around in your zone, so defending players are often tempted to get the puck the hell out of there and shoot it down the length of the ice. If players were allowed to do this with impunity, it would make the game rather boring, as teams would rarely be able to maintain any sustained pressure around the opposing team's net. Therefore, whenever a player shoots a puck from his side of the red line (center) towards the attacking zone, it is called icing unless it is on target for the opposing team's net. There are a few conditions required for this rule to apply. The puck must actually make it to the other end of the rink, and it must not have been possible for the opposing team to obtain possession of the puck. If a linesman thinks a player on the opposing team could have got the puck, he waves off icing and no call will be made. If a teammate of the player who shot the puck can touch the puck before or after it hits the other side of the rink and before a player on the opposing team touches it, then icing is waved off. Finally, a team that is killing a penalty (i.e., when the other team has a power play) is permitted to ice the puck without being called for icing. If the puck makes it through all these conditions, which happens frequently enough, the whistle is blown, play is stopped, and the puck goes all the way back to the zone of the team that iced the puck for a face-off. This gives the opposing team the opportunity to start the play all set up in the attacking zone, where it's fun to be. This might not seem like a particularly stiff penalty, but teams do not like getting cozy with their opponents in their defending zones, so they avoid icing in all but the most dangerous situations. Checking: Hockey is a rough sport, and the players are allowed, under certain circumstances, to smash into each other. When a player is carrying the puck forward, players from the opposing team are permitted to impede his progress by skating into him. This is called checking. You can also check a player who has just received a pass, and you can usually get away with checking a player who has just made a pass. The Crease: The crease is the blue painted area in front of the goal, and it is supposed to be the domain of the goaltender. Players may not enter the crease and interfere with the goaltender. They may enter the crease if they are following the puck in. If a player scores a goal while a teammate is in the crease, the goal can be disallowed if it is ruled that the player in the crease was interfering with the goaltender. If a player is in control of the puck, shoots or carries it into the crease and then scores, the goal is allowed. If a player skates into the goaltender with or without the puck, an interference penalty (see below) will usually be assessed. Boarding: Boarding occurs when a player is facing the boards and an opposing player checks him from behind so that he is violently crushed into the boards. A player can be assessed either a minor or major penalty for boarding, and in many cases more severe penalties or suspensions will be assessed, because players can be very badly hurt from this. If a player is bent over and is slammed into the boards, he can suffer a concussion or even a broken neck, so players and officials alike frown heavily upon players who commit boarding. Charging: A charging penalty is assessed whenever a player checks another player with excessive violence after skating a long distance. This is mostly a judgement call on the part of the ref; they don't like to see a player line up another and go skating up to smash into him at top speed. This penalty can also apply if a player checks a goaltender. Goaltenders may not be checked even if they leave their creases. Cross-checking: Cross-checking occurs when a player smashes into another player with his stick held in both hands in front of his body. It can be very painful, and players are very fond of it. A little bit of cross-checking, particularly when defending one's own net, is usually permitted by the refs, but if it becomes excessive or it's just gratuitous nastiness, a penalty will be called. Elbowing: You aren't allowed to stick your elbow out and hurt people. Aww! Come on! The league takes this pretty seriously, because elbowing can cause concussions.. Head-Butting: Head-butting is a major no-no. If a player attempts a head-butt, he receives a double-minor penalty. If he actually does head-butt someone, he receives a major penalty. If the head-putted person is injured, the player receives a major penalty and a game misconduct. High Sticking: If a player's stick makes contact with another player above the struck player's shoulder height, a penalty will be assessed. This applies even if the contact was accidental, unless the contact occurred in the normal windup or follow-through of a shot. If the contact is deliberate and/or causes an injury, a double minor or major penalty will be assessed. Players are also not allowed to bat a puck out of the air with a stick above shoulder height, or to redirect a puck into the net with a stick above the height of the crossbar on the goal. If a goal is scored in this manner, it will be disallowed. Holding: A player is not allowed to hold onto an opponent with his hands, arms or legs. It's okay to use a hand to hold off a player by straight-arming him, but you can't grab or hold him. Players are also forbidden to hold onto other players' sticks. Either sort of infraction results in a minor penalty. You go and sit in the box, and you feel shame. Hooking: This penalty is assessed when a player uses the blade or shaft of his stick to impede another player's movement. Players do this quite frequently and get away with it, but if they really put the hook on someone they get the whistle. Interference: This penalty describes a wide range of evils, but it mostly refers to the practice of impeding the progress of a player who is not in possession of the puck. If a player doesn't have the puck, it's nobody else's business where he wants to skate. The league has been trying very hard to crack down on this infraction in recent years, because teams had come to rely on it to shut down opposing teams' skilled players and make the game more boring. A special sort of interference call is the penalty shot. If someone has a breakaway, i.e., he is on his opponent's side of the red line and there is nobody between him and the goalie, and someone trips him up or otherwise impedes him from behind, he is supposed to be awarded a penalty shot. Refs only do this in extreme cases, usually preferring to assess a tripping or interference minor. If a penalty shot is awarded, the clock is stopped and the player is allowed to skate, all by himself, from center ice towards the opposing goalie and take his best shot. This is one of the more exciting moments in hockey, and we wish refs would award these more often. Roughing: A roughing penalty is assessed when players get feisty and hit each other or wrestle a bit, but leave their gloves on. You'll quickly notice that refs will allow quite a bit of pushing, shoving and grabbing after the whistle before they'll make a roughing call, but they'll call this penalty if things get out of hand. If the gloves come off and players start slugging each other in earnest, then it's a fight and fighting penalties will be assessed. Slashing: This is another one of those things that hockey players do all the time and are only penalized for occasionally. Slashing refers to the practice of hitting other players with your hockey stick. Players use their sticks to irritate each other, to interfere with shooting and passing, and, yes, to hurt each other. A slashing penalty is usually called when the contact is particularly nasty, or when an injury is sustained or feigned by the recipient of the blow. Many slashes are disguised as attempts to get the puck, and it's easier to get away with those. Penalties are called more often when a player slashes another player who doesn't have the puck. A slashing penalty will usually be a minor or double-minor. Majors for slashing are rare." Tripping: Just like it sounds. This can be done with the legs or stick, and it usually results in a minor penalty. See? Some of these rules are really simple! Hockey Terms Like many sports, hockey is a sport rich with terms and language that help describe many of the particular aspects of the game. Below are listed a few of the terms you'll hear around the rink. Altercation Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players that results in a penalty (or penalties) being assessed. Assist An assist is credited to a player who helps set up a goal. Assists are awarded to the last man to handle the puck immediately preceding the goal. There is a maximum of two assists per goal. Attacking zone When you are on the attack, your attacking zone is between your opponent's blue line and goal line. Back check Forwards in their offensive zone skate back quickly to their own defensive zone to protect their goal and keep the opponent from shooting. Blocker For the goalie, the glove that goes on the hand that holds the stick. Blue line Two lines running across the width of the rink, one on either side of the red line. The area between the blue lines is called the neutral zone. Boarding Violently checking an opponent into the boards from behind. Boarding is illegal and merits a penalty. Boards The wall around a hockey rink (which was at one time really made of wood but which is now usually of fiberglass) measuring about 42 inches high and topped off by synthetic glass to protect the spectators while giving them a good view of the action. Body check A body check is where you use your body against an opponent who has possession of the puck. Legal body checking must be done only with the hips or shoulders and must be above the opponent's knees and below the neck. Unnecessarily rough body checking is penalized. Box A defensive alignment (similar to the diamond) often used by a team defending against a power play. Breakaway A player in control of the puck has a breakaway when the only opponent between him and the opposition's goal is the goalie (and a reasonable scoring opportunity exists). Breakout The play used by the attacking team to move the puck out of its own zone and up the ice toward the opponent's goal. Butt ending Using the shaft of the stick to jab or attempt to jab an opposing player. Known in Quebec as "donner six pouces" (to give six inches). Catcher For the goalie, this is a glove (which looks like a fancy first-baseman's mitt) that goes on the non-stick hand. Center In a traditional alignment with three forwards, the center plays between the left and right wings. Changing on the fly When players from the bench substitute for players on the ice, while the clock is running. Charging Taking more than three strides before deliberately checking an opponent. Clearing the puck When the puck is passed, knocked, or shot away from the front of the goal net or other area. Crease The semi-circular area in front of each goal is called the crease. If any offensive player is in the goal crease when a goal is scored, the goal is not allowed. The crease is painted blue. The goal crease is designed to protect the goalies from interference by attacking players. The area marked on the ice in front of the penalty timekeeper's seat is for the use of the referee. Cross checking Hitting an opponent with the shaft of the stick while both hands are on the stick and no part of the stick is on the ice. Defensive zone When the other team is on the attack, the defensive zone is the area between your goal line and your blue line. Defensemen Two defensemen usually try to stop the opponent's play at their own blue line. The defensemen block shots and also clear the puck from in front of their goal. Offensively, defensemen take the puck up the ice or pass the puck ahead to the forwards; they then follow the play into the attacking zone and help keep it there. Deke A deke is a fake by a player in possession of the puck in order to get around an opponent or to make a goalie move out of position. To deke, you move the puck or a part of your body to one side and then in the opposite direction. ("Deke" is taken from "decoy.") Delay of game This is called when a player purposely delays the game. Delay of game is commonly called when a goalie shoots the puck into the stands without the puck deflecting off a skater or the glass. Delay of game also occurs when a player intentionally knocks a goalpost out of its stand (usually in an attempt to prevent a goal from being scored). Delayed off-side In this situation, an attacking player has preceded the puck into the offensive zone (normally a case for off-side), but the defending team has gained possession of the puck and can bring it out of their defensive zone without any delay or contact with an opposing player. Diamond A defensive alignment (similar to the box) often used by a team defending against a power play. Dig An attempt to gain possession of the puck in the corners of the rink. Directing the puck Changing the course of the puck in a desired direction by using the body, skate, or stick. Dive When a player exaggerates being hooked or tripped in an attempt to draw a penalty. Elbowing Using the elbow to impede or disrupt the opponent. Empty net goal A goal scored against an opponent that has pulled the goalie. Face-off The action of an official dropping the puck between the sticks of two opposing players to start play. Five-hole The area in the opening between a goalie's leg pads. Flat pass A pass where the puck remains on the surface of the ice. Flex Hockey sticks come in different degrees of flex - medium, stiff, and extra stiff. A stronger player, who hits more powerful shots, usually wants a stiffer stick. Flip pass A pass where the puck is lifted so that it goes over an opponent or his stick. Forecheck Forwards forecheck by hurrying into the opponent's defensive zone to either keep the puck there or take it away. Forward The center and the wings are traditionally considered to be the forwards. Freezing the puck A player freezes the puck by holding it against the boards with the stick or skates. A goalie freezes the puck (when the opposition is threatening to score) by either holding the puck in the glove or trapping it on the ice. Note: A delay-of-game penalty can be called if the goalie freezes the puck when the opposition is not threatening. Goal A goal is achieved when the entire puck crosses the goal line and enters the net. You can't deliberately kick it in or bat it in with a glove, although a goal is counted when a puck deflects off a player (but not off an official). A goal is worth one point. Goaltender The goaltender's main job is to keep the puck from entering the goal net. The goaltender is also know as the goalie, the goalkeeper, or the netminder. GP An abbreviation for "games played." Hat trick A player who scores three goals in one game achieves a "hat trick." Head butting Using the head while delivering a body check (head first) in the chest, head, neck, or back area; or using the head to strike an opponent. Heel of the stick The point where the shaft of the stick and the bottom of the blade meet. High sticking Carrying the stick above the shoulder to use against the opponent. Holding Using your hands on an opponent or the opponent's equipment to impede your opponent's progress. Hooking Applying the blade of the stick to any part of an opponent's body or stick and pulling or tugging with the stick in order to disrupt that opponent. Icing An infraction called when a player shoots the puck from his side of the red line across the opponent's goal line. Play is stopped when an opponent (other than the goalie) touches the puck. The face-off is held in the offending team's end of the ice. A team that is shorthanded can ice the puck without being penalized. Interference Making body contact with an opponent who does not have possession of the puck. Interference is also called when a player is standing in the crease or otherwise makes contact with the goaltender. Kneeing Using the knee in an effort to impede or foul an opponent. Linesman Two linesmen are used to call offside, offside passes, icing, and handle all face-offs not occurring at center ice. Although they don't call penalties, they can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called. Neutral zone The central ice area between the two blue lines (neither the defending nor the attacking zone). Offside A team is offside when a player crosses the attacking blue line before the puck does. A face-off then takes place just outside that blue line (in the offending player's defensive zone). The determining factor in most offside situations is the position of the skates: Both skates must be completely over the blue line ahead of the puck for the play to be offside. Offside pass An offside pass (also known as a "two-line" pass) occurs when a member of the attacking team passes the puck from behind his own defending blue line to a teammate across the center red line. If the puck precedes the player across the red line, the pass is legal. Also, an attacking player may pass the puck over the center red line and the attacking blue line to a teammate if the puck precedes that teammate across the blue line. The face-off after an offside pass takes place at the spot where the pass originated. One-timer Shooting the puck immediately upon receiving it without stopping it first. A one-timer is an effective way to beat the goalie before he can slide from one side of the crease to another. Penalty A penalty is the result of an infraction of the rules by a player or team official. A penalty usually results in the removal of the offending player (or team official) for a specified period of time. In some cases, the penalty may be the awarding of a penalty shot on goal or the actual awarding of a goal. Penalty killing When a team is shorthanded and attempts to prevent the opposition from scoring, this activity is known as "penalty killing." Penalty-killing unit The group of players brought in by a shorthanded team in order to defend against a power play. Penalty shot A penalty shot is awarded to an offensive player who - on a breakaway - is illegally checked or impeded. The puck is placed at the center face-off spot, and the player has a free try at the opposing goal with no other defenders on the ice besides the goalie. PIM An abbreviation for "penalties in minutes" (penalty minutes accumulated). Pipe The pipe is the goalpost, and if you hit a puck "between the pipes" you score a goal! Point The point is the area just inside the opposition's blue line close to the boards on either side of the rink. A defenseman usually occupies this area when his team is in control of the puck in the opposition's defensive zone. Poke check Trying to knock the puck away from an opponent by stabbing at it with the blade of the stick. Possession of the puck The last player or goalie to make contact with the puck is the one who has possession. This definition includes a puck that is deflected off a player or any part of his equipment. Power play When a team has more players on the ice than the opposition due to one or more penalties against the opposing team. Pulling of the goalie A team that is losing will sometimes take their own goalie off the ice and use another forward. This situation occurs most frequently near the end of the game when a team is behind and needs some emergency offense. Red line The line that divides the rink into two equal parts. This area is center ice. Referee The referee supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines if goals are scored, and handles face-offs at center ice at the start of each period and after goals. The referee has the final decision over all other officials. Roughing Engaging in fisticuffs (fighting) or shoving. Save A shot blocked by the goalie - a shot that otherwise would have gone into the net! Shadow When a player covers an opponent one-on-one everywhere on the ice in order to limit the effectiveness of this opponent. Shoot-out Some minor and international leagues refine the overtime situation by having their teams play a five-minute sudden death period, and if no one scores, the game is decided by a shoot-out. Each team picks five players, and each one of them takes a penalty shot on the other team's goalie, skating in by themselves with the puck from center ice and trying to score. Whichever team scores more wins. Shorthanded A shorthanded team is below the numerical strength of its opponents on the ice. When a goal is scored against a shorthanded team, the penalty that caused the team scored against to be shorthanded is terminated, and both teams are again at equal strength. Slap shot A slap shot occurs when the player swings the stick back and then quickly forward, slapping the puck ahead with a forehand shot. Slashing When a player swings the stick at an opponent. Slashing merits a penalty, whether contact is made or not. Tapping an opponent's stick not slashing. Slot The prime scoring area up the middle of the ice, between the face-off circles. When you "clear the slot," you shove an opposing player out of the area in front of your goal. Smothering the puck When a goalie or other players fall on the puck. Smothering is legal when done by the goalie or accidentally by another player. Sniper A player who is a pure goal scorer and who doesn't hit other players or the boards all that much. Spearing Poking or attempting to poke an opponent with the tip of the blade of the stick while holding the stick with one or both hands. Splitting the defense When a player in possession of the puck goes between two opposing defenders while attacking. Stick-handling A term for carrying the puck along the ice with the stick. Sweater The term used to designate a hockey jersey. Sweep check Using the entire length of the stick with a sweeping motion along the surface off the ice in order to dislodge the puck from an opponent. A team that is shorthanded on a power play often employs a sweep check. Team official A person responsible for the operation of a team, such as a coach, manager, or trainer. Trap Traps are defensive formations designed to minimize the opposition's scoring opportunities and keep its offense from functioning. The idea is to trap the puck in the neutral zone, halting the opponents and regaining control of the puck. Tripping Using a stick, arm, or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall. Turnover Just as in basketball or in football, you can make a turnover in hockey by losing control of the puck to the opposing team. Two-line pass An offside pass (that actually crosses two lines). Wings The left wing and the right wing (also known as forwards) move up and down the sides of the rink. Offensively, they skate on each side of the center, exchanging passes with him, while trying themselves for a shot on goal and/or a rebound of a shot from the point. Defensively, they watch the opponent's wings. Wrist shot A wrist shot is used to shoot the puck off the blade of the stick with a flicking motion of the wrist. Zamboni The vehicle used to prepare the rink's ice surface before the game and after each period. The Zamboni scrapes a thin layer off the ice, heats the ice, and puts down a fresh layer of heated water that freezes to form a new layer of ice.
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Birmingham Hockey Association View Our Guestbook | Sign Our Guestbook 10 visitors have signed our guestbook. |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
