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Official
Rules for Ice Hockey are voted on and set at the USA Hockey Annual
Meeting in Colorado every two years. Bellow are the changes for
the 2005-2007 seasons.
2005-2006
USA Hockey Youth Age Classifications
September
1, 2007 through August 31, 2008
| Date
of Birth |
Age
Category |
Age
Division |
| 1989 |
18
Years |
Midget
18 or Under |
| 1990 |
17
Years |
Midget
18 or Under |
| 1991 |
16
Years |
Midget
16 or Under |
| 1992 |
15
Years |
Midget
16 or Under |
| 1993 |
14
Years |
Bantam
14 or Under |
| 1994 |
13
Years |
Bantam
14 or Under |
| 1995 |
12
Years |
Pee
Wee 12 or Under |
| 1996 |
11
Years |
Pee
Wee 12 or Under |
| 1997 |
10
Years |
Squirt
10 or Under |
| 1998 |
9
Years |
Squirt
10 or Under |
| 1999
& Younger |
8
& Under |
Mite
8 or Under |
USA
HOCKEY OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES
Points
of Emphasis
2005-06
and 2006-07 Playing Seasons
The
goal of USA Hockey is to promote a safe and positive playing environment
for all participants while continuing to focus on skill development
and enjoyment of the sport. To that end, all officials, coaches,
players, parents, spectators and volunteers will comply with the
following “Points of Emphasis” when participating
in the sport of ice hockey.
Fair
Play and Respect
Fair play and respect are the backbone of any successful amateur
sports program. In order for a positive environment to be created,
it is imperative that all participants and spectators have respect
for all players, coaches, officials and the sport of hockey. Hockey
is a game demanding high levels of concentration and skill.
As a player, it is necessary to play the game fairly, with respect
for opponents and officials.
As
a coach, it is necessary to instruct players during games and
practices, ensuring that each player receives the training necessary
to understand and play by the rules.
Officials should be diligent and confident when officiating the
sport. Each official should enforce the playing rules fairly and
respectfully.
All
spectators are encouraged to support their teams while showing
respect for all players, coaches, officials and other spectators.
Intimidation
Intimidation or “bullying” has no place in ice hockey.
Any act that includes taunting or teasing or hazing of players,
coaches, officials, or spectators by means of verbal ridicule,
threat of physical violence, or physical violence itself will
not be tolerated at USA Hockey events.
Coaches are responsible for instructing their players to play
the sport in a safe and sportsmanlike manner. To that end, coaches
are directed to teach only those skills necessary to allow for
proper and legal body contact.
Players
are encouraged to develop a deep sense of respect for all (opponents
and officials) while endeavoring to enjoy the sport and improve
their playing ability. Each player is encouraged to develop a
sense of right and wrong when engaging in any type of body contact.
Stick
Infractions
USA Hockey is continuing to place special emphasis on eliminating
stick infractions from the game. Officials are directed to be
aware of infractions such as high-sticking, slashing, hooking,
cross-checking, spearing, and butt-ending and are encouraged to
promptly and correctly assess the proper penalty.
Conclusion
With the goal of providing a safe and positive playing environment
in mind, the Officiating and Coaching Education programs are directed
to increase awareness among all officials and coaches with regard
to these Points of Emphasis.
USA
HOCKEY
RULE
CHANGE SUMMARY
For
Youth, Girls’/Women’s and Adult Classifications
For
the 2005-06 and 2006-07 Seasons
| Rule
# |
Rule |
Description
of Change |
| |
Philosophy
of Hockey |
Moves
“Points of Emphasis” to immediately following
the Table of Contents. |
| |
Points
of Emphasis |
Establishes
the “Points of Emphasis” for the 2005-06 and 2006-07
seasons as fair play and respect. (See Attached) |
| |
Zero
Tolerance Policy |
Removed
specific language pertaining to violations occurring under
the Zero Tolerance policy and instead refers to the rules
governing these actions. |
| 102(a) |
Dimensions
of Rink |
Adds
new (Note) referring those building, or refurbishing, rinks
to the ASTM Standard Guide for Ice Hockey Playing Facilities
(#F1703-04). |
| 103(a) |
Goal
Posts and Nets |
Changed
wording relating to the anchoring of goal posts to account
for modern devices and allows for some latitude to be used
to determining whether goal posts will be anchored based on
the device used. |
| 107(a) |
Face-off
Spots in Neutral Zone |
More
accurately describes the process to be used to mark out the
neutral zone face-off spots. |
| 109
(a) |
Players’
Bench |
Specifies
that all doors leading to the playing surface should open
away from the ice surface. |
| 203(d) |
Players
in Uniform |
Designates
that only whole numbers between 0 and 99, inclusive, are permitted. |
| 301(b) |
Sticks |
Specifies
the minimum width of the blade of a goalkeeper stick shall
be 2 inches. |
| 302(c) |
Skates |
Adds
new section (c) that prohibits attaching any additional equipment
or contrivance to the skate blade of any player. |
| 304(c) |
Protective
Equipment |
Adds
new Girls/Women age classification (8-or-under) to current
rule requiring players to wear mouthpieces. |
| 306(b) |
Puck |
Updates
the requirement for the 8-or-under age classifications to
use the lightweight blue puck (strongly recommended for the
10-or-under age classifications) as was established in the
Fall of 2003. |
| 402(c) |
Minor
Penalties |
Adds
language to this rule that was inadvertently omitted from
previous Rule Book. |
| 502(a) |
Referee |
Referees
may only change their decision, or that decision of any other
official, prior to the ensuing face-off. Once play is resumed,
an official cannot change any previous decision (penalties,
awarding of a goal, disallowing a goal, etc.). This excludes
the changing/correcting of any goals and assists on the game
score sheet. |
| 506(a) |
Official
Scorer |
Clarifies
responsibility of Official Scorer to include coaching information,
including signatures, on the official game score sheet. |
| 601(j3) |
Abuse
of Officials and Other Misconduct |
Adds
verbally threatening an opposing player or Team Official to
the current rule calling for a Match penalty. |
| 611(g) |
Face-Offs |
Adds
language that eliminates all circumstances where a team may
gain a territorial advantage on the ensuing face-off for causing
a stoppage of play. |
| 617(a) |
High
Sticks |
Clarifies
(Note) to clearly indicate that the no slap shot rule applies
to both Youth and Girls 10-or-under age classifications and
below. |
| 620(f) |
Icing |
Calls
for the face-off location after an icing has been improperly
called to take place at the nearest end zone face-off spot. |
| 623(a) |
Kicking
Player |
Adds
language from Playing Rules Handbook that more clearly identifies
the distinction between kicking actions that require a major
plus game misconduct versus a match penalty. |
| 634(a) |
Spearing |
Replaces
the word “stabbing” with the word “poking”
in this rule to make consistent with description that appears
in Glossary. |
|
