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Boys Hockey - Rules & Regulations

Rules and Regulations

2012-13 NFHS Rules Changes

In an effort to promote safer play and minimize the risk of injury, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Ice Hockey Rules Committee approved changes that will strengthen the language for checking from behind.

Rule 6-7-1 states, “No player shall push, charge, cross-check or body-check an opponent from behind in open ice,” and a violation would result in a minor and misconduct penalty. Rule 6-7-2 also states, “Hitting from behind into the boards or goal frame is a flagrant violation,” and a violation calls for a game disqualification.

The checking-from-behind change was one of five rules revisions approved by the rules committee at its April 23-24 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Dan Schuster, NFHS staff liaison to the Ice Hockey Rules Committee, said that player safety was the main factor in the rules change.

“Because of the attention being given to dangerous play, the committee really took a hard look at the severity of injuries caused by these hits,” he said. “The reason behind the rule is more about addressing a change of culture in high school hockey, and players, coaches, officials and fans need to understand the consequences of these hits.”

Two additional rules changes will affect the goal crease. First, the high school goal crease will now have a different look, matching the crease used by both the National Hockey League and National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Also, Rule 6-23-4 now states, “no attacking player shall stand on the goal-crease line or in the goal crease if, in the opinion of the official, the player physically prevents the goalkeeper from defending the goal.”

According to Schuster, this rule is meant to eliminate unnecessary whistles that stop play when a player is in the crease but has no effect on the goalkeeper.

“As long as a player isn’t physically disrupting or visually impeding the goalkeeper, he or she can stand in the crease,” he said.

Additional rules changes were:

Rule 5-2-3: Officials will now be required to wear a half face shield on their helmets, effective in the 2013-14 season. All other official uniform requirements remain the same.

Rule 3-3-4: If a team challenges the opposing goalkeeper’s equipment, the official should not stop play to measure but should report the challenge to the state association. This rule was amended to limit stoppages of play.

According to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, ice hockey is the 14th-most popular boys sport at the high school level with 36,912 participants in 1,612 schools. An additional 9,022 girls participated in the sport at 578 schools.

WI Adaptations to NFHS Rules

Printable Version - Please print and place in your rules book for reference.

A. There is no limit to squad size and no limit on nonplayers in the team box during the regular season.
B. Any player receiving a total of four penalties (minor, major, or misconduct) in a game shall be removed from participation for the balance of that game. This does not include bench penalties served by the player or violations resulting in penalty shots. The ejection is not considered a game misconduct or game disqualification.
C. Players ejected for any reason are to remain on their team bench under the supervision of their coach. If off bench, adult, school personnel must be provided.
D. Game disqualification penalties will be applied from the end of one season to the beginning of the next season of varsity sports the player is involved in.
E. If at any time, starting in the second period, when a team is leading by six goals, the clock shall run continuously except for:
(1) When a goal is scored.
(2) When a penalty is assessed.
(3) An injury.
(4) A timeout.
(5) Any emergency situation requiring repairs to the ice, Plexiglas, lights, scoreboard, etc., (not to include player equipment other than goalies).
F. For regular season tournaments an alternate tie-breaking procedure may be determined by the host school. However, any hockey game where an alternate tie-breaking procedure is used (not including a sudden-victory during an eight-minute NFHS overtime period) is to be listed as a tie on a team's season record.
G. Following the assessment of the third set of coincidental minor penalties for infractions occurring between two opposing players, after a stoppage of play for "chippy conduct," the referee will inform both teams. Any further infractions of this type will result in automatic misconduct penalties being assessed (coincidental minor shall not be assessed in these situations). Some examples of these types of "chippy" penalties occurring after a stoppage of play are: roughing, head contact, unsportsmanlike conduct, avoidable contact after stoppage, slashing, high sticking and cross checking.

STATE ASSOCIATION REGULATIONS

A. Schools are to play 17-minute periods for all regular-season and Tournament Series games.
B. A 12-minute warm-up and a 12-minute intermission must be used unless extenuating circumstances (senior night, parent's night, local youth programs, etc.) are indicated to the officials and visiting team.
C. All school-aged, team attendants (managers, student trainers, statisticians, etc.) are required to wear an ice hockey helmet with full facemask and chin straps which are securely fastened to the head, when in exposed team areas.
D. It is required that all facilities (indoor and outdoor) have a screen or Plexiglas beginning at the top of the side and endboards and to a height adequate to (a) protect spectators at rink side from the puck and sticks and (b) prevent spectators from leaning over the boards and interfering with play. A screen shall be of heavy enough wire and small enough mesh to ensure that it will stop the puck and not allow it to become lodged in the screen. This screen or Plexiglas shall completely encircle the rink except for the player and penalty bench area.
E. The referees? duties shall include certification of the official scoresheet by their signatures and officials number.
F. Members of teams below the varsity level will not be penalized for failing to wear uniforms prescribed in the rules provided: 1) a reasonable attempt is made to conform to the regulations and 2) participant safety is not jeopardized. The WIAA office should be informed about questionable situations.
G. JV ice hockey players and their JV teams will be suspended at the conclusion of any game/tournament when the second game disqualification penalty of the year is assessed. The suspension will continue until a review by the WIAA office determines the JV team can be allowed to compete. (One year trial requested 08-09).

STATE ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS

At the discretion of home management, cheerleaders may be permitted to lead cheers from on the ice. They must be limited to before the game and between periods only. They are not allowed on the ice:
(1) During a period.
(2) Between periods when players are on the ice.
(3) After a contest.

Rules Related Materials

2012-13 Rule Differences (posted 10/22/12)

MRSA Information

Goalie Glove Specifications

On Ice Positioning

WIAA Line Change Procedure

Game Scoresheet

Available for purchase Hockey Score Sheets in Triplicate

25 sheets for $5.00 plus $3 to handle shipping (whether you order 25, 50, 75, etc). Contact Deb Lepak at the WIAA office.

Information

Renew Efforts to Eliminate Checking from Behind

Tournament Assignments will be available via The Arbiter.