Hockey — rink layout, core rules, simple systems, and a deeper knowledge check

Understand offside and icing, penalties and face-offs, basic formations, plus practical forecheck, breakout, and special teams patterns. Finish with an expanded, neutral self-check.

Rules first Clear patterns Deeper self-check

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Rules & basics

Rink • Players • Offside • Icing • Penalties • Face-offs

Rink & players

Zones: Defensive, neutral (between blue lines), and offensive.
Crease: Semi-circular area in front of each goal for goaltender protection.
Lineup: Typically 5 skaters + 1 goaltender per side on the ice.
Timing: Commonly three periods; stoppages reset play with a face-off.

Offside & icing (with common variations)

Offside: An attacking skater enters the offensive zone before the puck.
Delayed offside / tag-up: If offside occurs without touching the puck, attackers can exit the zone (“tag up”) and re-enter legally.
Icing: Puck shot from own side of center crosses the opponent’s goal line untouched → stoppage, face-off back in the offending team’s zone.
Hybrid icing: Linesperson judges the race to the face-off dots; if defenders would arrive first, icing is called, otherwise it can be waved off.
Common exceptions: Many leagues waive icing for a shorthanded team on the penalty kill; after icing, the offending team cannot change players.

Penalties & face-offs

Minor penalties: Typically 2 minutes; if the power-play team scores, the minor usually ends early.
Major/misconduct: Longer penalties; player may be ejected (varies by infraction/league).
Bench minor: e.g., too-many-players; any skater serves.
Face-offs: Restart at marked dots; violations can replace the center or assess minors if repeated/egregious.

Key terms

Forecheck

Pressuring opponents in their end to regain the puck.

Backcheck

Rushing back to defend after losing possession.

Breakout

Structured exits from the defensive zone with control.

Slot

Prime scoring area between the circles in front of goal.

Neutral zone

Space between the blue lines; transitions flow here.

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Strategy & patterns

Lines • Forecheck • Breakout • Special teams • Goaltending angles

Lines & shifts

Short shifts keep energy high; change on the fly when safe.
Centers support low in the D-zone and connect breakouts.
Defencemen manage gaps, contain entries, and initiate exits.

Forecheck (simple systems)

1-2-2: One pressures the puck; two across the middle; two D hold the blue line.
2-1-2: Two press deep; one supports high; defenders hold gaps.
Objective: angle play to boards and create safe turnovers.

Breakout patterns

Options: D-to-D, wheel (skate behind net), reverse, or bump to center.
Wingers provide wall targets; center supports low between hashes.
Prefer short, safe passes; chip off glass when pressured hard.

Special teams: power-play & penalty kill

Power-play: Extra skater creates lanes; common shapes: 1-3-1, umbrella. Shoot through screens and recover pucks.
Penalty kill: Protect the middle; common shapes: box or diamond; clear pucks decisively on gain.

Goaltending angles & rebounds

Set angle to the puck, square up, and manage depth (challenge vs hold).
Control rebounds to corners or cover when safe; defenders tie up sticks.
Communicate on rimmed pucks and net-front traffic.

Common mistakes

Chasing puck with poor support → middle lanes open.
High-risk stretch passes under pressure → giveaways.
Leaving the slot unmarked after shots → rebound chances.
Late changes → too-many-players or odd-man rushes.

Try the deeper self-check