The Basics and Rules of hockey
Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice. The objective of the game is to get more goals than your opponent. Each team has five skaters on the ice at a time, with a goalie defending their net. Each period's time can range from 10 minutes to 20 minutes. Overtime periods can range from five minutes to 20 minutes.
The rink sizes can range from a third of a rink to NHL and Olympic-sized rinks. Olympic rinks are 200 feet long by 98 feet wide. NHL rinks are 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. Mites hockey games occupy one-third of the ice.
Each game begins with a center face-off. Play goes on until there is a save, goal scored, penalty, or the puck goes out of the playing area. Depending on where the incident occurred will determine where the face-off will take place.
Once a period ends, both teams will usually switch sides, depending on the level or league. Teams switching sides ensure fairness because it welcomes a challenge to both teams. After all, both teams have to play in the opposite direction they started from. This repeats to the third period and if there's an overtime period.
The Rules:
Closing a hand on the puck:
If a player, other than a goaltender, catches the puck, that player must immediately knock or place the puck down on the ice. If a player doesn't do this, it will result in a two-minute minor penalty.
Delay of Game:
Delays of game penalties occur if a player deliberately shoots or bats the puck out of the playing area. If a deliberately displaces the net that will result in a delay of game. If a coach fails to put the correct number of players on the ice after a warning or makes an illegal substitution, that will result in a delay of game penalty.
Icing the puck:
If a player clears the puck past the red line, the puck travels past the goal line without going in the net, and that player is behind the red line, it results in an icing call.
Playing with a high stick:
You shouldn't play the puck with a high stick. If you take a shot or bat the puck out of the air with the puck and shoot it to the net, the goal will be disallowed. Regardless of whether the puck goes in. If a puck is batted out of the air with a stick above the shoulder, the whistle is blown, play is stopped and a face-off takes place.
Penalty Shots:
Penalty shots occur when a player that was on a breakaway was interfered with. Sometimes a player could've been hooked, tripped, interfered, or checked from behind. Also, if the net is deliberately dislodged by a goaltender or defenseman that results in a penalty shot for the opposing team.
Powerplays/Penalty kills, 4 vs. 4, etc.
A team that takes a penalty loses a player and has to play with four or fewer players. The team that took no penalty or took fewer penalties goes on the Power play. The team that took more penalties goes on the penalty kill. Also, if both teams take a penalty or penalties at the same time 4 vs. 4 occurs. If both teams take two penalties each, 3 vs 3 occurs. Each team is allowed a minimum of three players. If a penalty occurs when there are already two players in the box, the next penalty begins after the one with the least amount of time.
Overtime:
Any time a game is tied after regulation, there is a five-minute overtime in the regular season. Depending on the league it could also be 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 20 minutes.
Shoot outs:
At the end of the game and after overtime, if there is a tie, both teams have a shootout. The shootout begins with three rounds. Both teams can pick their first three players. If there is a tie after the first sets of three shooters the shootout continues. Once a team has more goals and stops the other team that team wins.
Offsides:
If a player enters the offensive zone (defending team's blue line), ahead of the player with the puck, that play is ruled offsides. If a player just has one skate in the offensive zone before the puck enters, but the second skate enters as the puck does that is onside. If both skates enter the zone before the puck that is ruled offsides.
Pulling the Goalie:
If a coach wants to put an extra skater on the ice, he or she can pull the goalie and have an extra attacker on the ice. Coaches usually pull their goalies at the end of the game. However, coaches can use this tactic at any point in the game.