Ice hockey: rules at-a-glance

Ice rink, three periods, six players per side. The rules of youth hockey in five minutes.

Field/court setup

Rectangular ice rink with rounded corners. Two goals at each end. Center red line, two blue lines that divide the offensive/defensive/neutral zones. Goal crease in front of each net.

Game length

Three periods. Length scales with age — typically 12-15 minutes per period at youth, 17 at HS, 20 in college/pro. Stop time, so periods take longer than the clock shows.

Scoring basics

— Goal: puck fully crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.
— Power play: opponent in the penalty box for a minor penalty (2 minutes). Team in penalty plays short-handed.
— Major penalty (5 minutes) for fighting and serious infractions. Game misconduct = ejection.

Calls you'll see

— Offside: an attacking player crosses the offensive blue line before the puck. Play stops, faceoff in the neutral zone.
— Icing: defensive team shoots the puck from behind the center red line across the opponent's goal line without it being touched. Play stops, faceoff in the icing team's defensive zone.
— Tripping: stick or leg trips an opponent. 2-minute minor.
— Hooking: stick used to impede an opponent. 2-minute minor.
— Slashing: stick swing at an opponent. 2-minute minor (or major if violent).
— Cross-checking: hit with both hands on the stick across an opponent. 2-minute minor (or major).
— Boarding/charging: violent hit into the boards. 2-minute or 5-minute major.
— Roughing: light fight or shoving. 2-minute minor.

Three things parents most often get wrong

— Offside is determined by where the puck is relative to the blue line, not where the player is relative to the goalkeeper (like soccer). The attacker can be deep in the offensive zone as long as the puck enters first.
— Body checking is not allowed at the youngest USA Hockey levels. Checking begins at Bantam (13U) in most divisions. At younger ages, the game looks contact-heavy but legal hits are positional, not body-check style.
— Goalie has special protections. Charging the goalie or interfering with them in the crease is a penalty even if the contact is incidental.

A few specifics.

USA Hockey age divisions. 8U (Mites), 10U (Squirts), 12U (Pee Wee), 14U (Bantam), 16U/18U (Midget). Check checking is introduced at Bantam (13-14) in most divisions; some leagues delay further.

Half-ice vs full-ice. USA Hockey now mandates half-ice or cross-ice for 8U age group. More puck touches per kid, more skill development, less standing around.

Mandatory equipment. Helmet with full cage or shield (full cage required at all youth levels). Mouthguard. Shoulder pads. Elbow pads. Hockey pants. Shin guards. Skates. Stick. Gloves. Cup. Neck guard required at most youth levels.

Penalty box and power plays. Player who commits a minor penalty serves 2 minutes in the penalty box. Their team plays short-handed (5-on-4 or 4-on-3 if multiple penalties). If the team on power play scores, the penalty ends.

Fighting. Not allowed at youth levels. Penalty for fighting at any youth level results in immediate ejection plus suspension. Different from older / professional levels.

Goalie equipment. Different and more expensive than skater equipment. Mask, leg pads, blocker, glove (catcher), chest protector. Often shared at the youth level via a goalie equipment loan program.

Last updated April 2026.