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     The Basics! Hockey teams move a puck along the ice using stick handling, passing, and shooting in an effort to score goals. A goal counts as one point and is scored when the puck completely crosses the opposing goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. The team scoring the greater number of goals in the allotted time wins the game. What's Needed? Skates, hockey stick, puck, hockey gloves, shoulder, shin, and elbow pads, helmet with face mask and chin strap, mouthpiece, team jersey, hockey pants, garter belt, and athletic supporter with cup. How Long Is A Game? A game is divided into three equal periods, separated by fifteen-minute breaks. Depending on league rules, each period ranges from twelve to twenty minutes and begins with a “face-off” at the center circle. Teams switch playing sides after each period and are allowed one time-out per game. If a game ends in a tie, teams may play one five minute overtime of sudden death; the team to score first wins. Hot Shots! Shot on Goal - Describes a player’s shot that either scores a goal or is stopped by the goalie. Slap Shot - The fastest and most forceful shot in the game. A player raises his stick, and then putting full body power behind it, slaps the puck hard toward the goal. Backhand Shot - A player crosses the front of the body with the stick, and uses the back blade of the stick to shoot the puck toward the goal. Wrist Shot - A type of shot in which a player uses his wrists in a quick snapping motion to shoot the puck. Penalty Shot - A free shot by a player performed one-on-one against the goalie. It is taken either by the player who was fouled or a designated player. Penalty shots are awarded only under major and blatant rule infractions. To The Penalty Box! If a player breaks the rules, the referee may blow a whistle, stop the game, call a penalty, and remove the offending player from the ice. The player then sits in the “penalty box.” When a defensive penalty occurs, the referee allows play to continue until the non-offending team loses control of the puck. A penalty results in a “power play” situation for the opposing team. Infractions include: holding, hooking, cross-checking, roughing, elbowing, profanity, tripping, unnecessary contact with the goalie, slashing, or hitting a player from behind. The severity and degree of intent of a foul are determined by the referee. There are no substitutions for players during penalty time and the offending team must skate “short-handed.” The goalie is the only player exempt from going to the penalty box. However, another player on the ice is designated to serve a goalie’s penalty. Minor Penalty - Called on the less severe infractions such as cross-checking, charging, and elbowing. When called, the offending player is sent off the ice and into the penalty box for two minutes. No substitution for that player is permitted and his team skates short-handed. Bench Minor - Called against coaches or players on the bench who use profanity or interfere with the game. The result is the same as a minor penalty. In this case, the coach designates a player to leave the ice and serve the two-minute infraction. Double Minor - Occurs when a player is called for two simultaneous minor offenses. This costs him four minutes in the penalty box and no substitution is allowed for the duration of the penalty. Misconduct Penalty - Called on players for unacceptable conduct. In this situation, the penalty time is longer than for a minor penalty. A player is removed from the ice for ten minutes. However, substitutions are allowed immediately. Misconduct penalties are often called in combination with another penalty, and the player must serve the accumulated time. Game Misconduct - When a severe foul is committed, the offending player leaves the ice for the rest of the game and goes to the locker room. A substitute skater may replace the penalized player. Gross Misconduct - Similar to a game misconduct penalty except that the offending player may not skate in another game until a league official reviews the player’s conduct. A substitute player may fill the leaving skater’s position.  Did You Know That? Hockey originated in Canada between 1855 and 1860. In 1860 a puck, instead of a ball, was used in play for the first time. In 1879, the first official set of rules was incorporated in Montreal, and in 1893 the first United States Hockey organization was formed. Also in that year, Lord Stanley of Preston established the Stanley Cup Trophy to be awarded to the top hockey association in Canada. The Stanley Cup remains the pinnacle award in professional hockey. Entire contents copyright © 1997-2006, MomsGuide.com , Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form for commercial re-use without prior written permission is forbidden. “Mom’s Guide to Sports” is a registered trademark of MomsGuide.com, Inc. |
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