Understanding Hockey Rules For Olympic Hockey
Hockey is truly Canada’s game but it is popular around the world. NHL hockey keeps many of us hooked through the season. After all it’s an intense game that’s definitely worth watching! And Olympic Hockey is a real treat to watch. Understanding Olympic hockey rules will help you understand the game and better enjoy it.
Olympic hockey and NHL hockey are relatively similar in rules and regulations but there are a few minor differences between the two games. Understanding the Olympic rules will have you also better understanding the next NHL game you watch.
Each Olympic hockey team has 5 players and 1 goalie on the ice at any given time. A player can be substituted as often as every 40 to 60 seconds if desired. A men’s Olympic team can consist of a maximum of 20 players and 2 goal keepers.
An Olympic hockey game is made up of three 20 minute periods and there is a 15 intermission that occurs between periods one and two. At the beginning of each new period the teams swap ends on the ice.
If a gold medal game is tied there will be one 20 minute overtime period to determine the winner. If the game is still tied then there will be a shoot out. The shootout regulations are as follows:
1. Each team will be allowed to designate 2 goalies and 5 shooters
2. If a player is serving a penalty when sudden death overtime ends they cannot be chosen as a shooter.
3. The 5 shooters cannot be changed unless there is a penalty or injury.
4. The goalies can be changed after every shot.
5. The captains flip a coin to see which team goes first.
6. Shots are taken on an alternative basis between teams until a goal is scored.
7. If the game remains tied after 5 shots, 5 new players are chosen and the shoot out is repeated.
Now all that’s left is to know the rules. Understanding the rules will make the game more interesting to you. So what are the rules of the game?
There are really 3 categories for rules. Face off violations, violations that send a player to the penalty box, and violations that result in a penalty shot.
Face Offs Violations Include:
1. Off Side Pass – The puck cannot be passed form a team’s defensive zone to another team player beyond the red line.
2. Off Side – An offensive player can’t cross the blue line into the offensive zone before the puck does.
3. Icing – A team cannot shoot the puck over three lines
Penalty Shot
A penalty shot can be awarded if:
1. A defense player falls on the puck or grabs the puck while it is the goal crease
2. A player that is in a position to score is fouled from behind and thus deprived of the chance to score a goal.
Penalties
When a penalty is called the team with the penalized player must continue to play minus the number of players serving penalties. However there can be no fewer than 4 players on the ice include the goalie. If the number of players would drop below this number a delayed penalty will occur. A minor penalty is 2 minutes, a major penalty 5 minutes, and a match penalty 5 or 10 minutes depending on what the cause of the penalty is.
If a misconduct penalty is called the offending player must serve the penalty and a replacement player enter the rink. Misconduct is 10 minutes and served in the penalty box. A game misconduct results in the player being removed from the current game as well as an additional game suspension. A gross misconduct results in the player being banned from all future games until a review has been conducted.
These are the 10 most common reasons for penalties to be called:
1. Slashing – swinging or hitting at an opponent with your stick.
2. Elbowing – checking an opponent with your elbow extended.
3. Holding – slowing or stopping the progress of an opponent by using your stick, hand, or other methods.
4. Hooking – using your stick to slow or stop the opponent’s progress.
5. High sticking – raising your stick above shoulder height. If an injury results a major penalty will be called.
6. Charging – body checking at an excess speed or pushing your opponent from behind.
7. Tripping – an action against your opponent’s leg which causes your opponent to fall.
8. Interference – slowing or stopping the progress of your opponent who does not have the puck.
9. Checking from behind – checking your opponent directly from behind. This is a very dangerous action.
10. Cross checking – checking your opponent with your stick across the body.
It’s that easy. Now that you know the basic Olympic hockey rules get ready to really enjoy the game!
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