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Off-Sides

Situation 1

Which edge of the 12-inch blue line is the determining edge when considering whether or not a player is off-side?

The determining edge is the edge further from the zone in which the puck is located. Rule Reference 630(a).

If the puck moves from the Neutral Zone into a team’s Attacking Zone, the edge of the blue line closer to the Attacking Zone is the determining edge. Until the puck completely crosses the blue line, the 12-inch width of the blue line is a part of the Neutral Zone. However, the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line, the determining edge is reversed and the width of the blue line becomes a part of the Attacking Zone.

Situation 2

The attacking team is in possession of the puck in the Attacking Zone and the puck is passed back to the blue line. The puck stops on the blue line, then is shot back again. Has an offside infraction occurred?

No. Rule Reference 630(a).

The puck would have had to completely cross the blue line before being shot back into the Attacking Zone for an offside to occur.

Situation 3

A player has both skates completely in the Attacking Zone the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line. Are they offside?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(a).

The position of the player’s skates at the instant the puck enters the Attacking Zone determines offside.

Situation 4

A player has one skate on the blue line and one skate in their Attacking Zone at the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line into their Attacking Zone. Are they offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(a).

As long as the player’s skate is in contact with the Neutral Zone when the puck enters their Attacking Zone, they are onside.

Situation 5

A player has both skates in the Neutral Zone and the stick in their Attacking Zone at the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line into their Attacking Zone. Are they offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(a).

The position of the player’s skates at the instant the puck enters the Attacking Zone determines offside.

Situation 6

The puck is in the possession of the attacking team in the Attacking Zone. The puck is passed back to the blue line by an attacking player. The pass is received by a teammate on the far edge of the blue line (half on the line and half in the Neutral Zone), and then is shot on goal. Has an offside infraction occurred?

No. Rule Reference 630 (a Note).

The line is always a part of the zone in which the puck is located.

Situation 7

At the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line into the Attacking Zone an attacking player has their leading skate in the Attacking Zone. Their trailing skate is directly above the ice in the Neutral Zone (off the ice). Are they offside?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(a Note).

In order for the player to be onside in this situation, they must have at least one skate in contact with the ice in the Neutral Zone, which in this instance includes the blue line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the blue line.

Situation 8

A player straddling the blue line falls to the ice while the boot of their skate remains in contact with the Neutral Zone. The puck crosses the blue line at the same time. Are they considered to be offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(a).

The word “skate” in the Rule refers to the blade or the boot of the skate.

Situation 9

If the players’ bench has a door opening in the Attacking Zone, may a player entering from this door be considered onside if the puck enters the zone after they step onto the ice?

No. Rule Reference 630(a).

Such a player must be ruled offside if the puck crosses the line while they are entering or leaving the ice and has at least one skate in contact with the ice surface at the time. Any player entering from the bench area into the Attacking Zone is considered as any other attacking player on the ice for the purposes of offside.

Situation 10

An attacking player with both skates over the blue line receives a pass from a teammate in the Neutral Zone. They stop the puck with their stick before the puck crosses the blue line. This player then puts one skate on the blue line, holds the skate on the line, and pulls the puck over the blue line while the skate is still on the line. Are they offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(a Note).

The offside cannot be determined until the puck has completely crossed the blue line.

Situation 11

An attacking player crosses the blue line with the puck. They then bring the puck on their stick back out over the blue line into the Neutral Zone, while their skates are still in the Attacking Zone, and brings the puck back again into the Attacking Zone. Are they offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(a and b).

Even though they maintains control throughout the play, once they bring the puck back into the Neutral Zone they place themself in an offside position, and as soon as the puck comes back into the Attacking Zone the play is offside. A player in control of the puck is permitted to precede the puck across their attacking blue line, but once the puck has initially crossed the blue line, this exception to the rule expires and the player may not continue to violate the basic offside rule.

Situation 12

An attacking player, about to be caught offside, jumps into their players’ bench just before a teammate crosses the attacking blue line with the puck. Has any offside violation occurred?

No. Rule References 630(a) Note 2 and 204(b).

Provided the player jumped into their own players’ bench and no substitution entered the ice prior to the puck crossing the blue line (creating an offside situation), no offside violation has occurred. However, if the player jumped off the ice surface into any other part of the rink, and was substituted for, their team must be assessed a bench minor penalty for illegal substitution.

Situation 13

A defending player pushes an attacking player, who does not have possession of the puck, into the Attacking Zone just prior to the puck entering that zone. Is the attacking player offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(a) and 625(a).

Even though the attacking player was pushed, the offside infraction must still be called. If the push was severe enough, the Referee may elect to assess a minor penalty for interference.

Situation 14

An attacking player straddling the attacking blue line receives a pass on their stick in the Neutral Zone. They then bring the skate which was in the Neutral Zone over the line while the puck is still on their stick in the Neutral Zone. They then pull the puck over the blue line. Are they offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(b).

As long as the player receiving the pass has control of the puck while at least one skate is in contact with the Neutral Zone, they can legally precede the puck into the Attacking Zone while they maintain control.

Situation 15

A player with both skates over the blue line receives a pass from a teammate. They stop the puck with their stick before the puck crosses the line, then pulls it over the line with both skates over the line. Are they offside?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(b).

The player receiving the pass must have control of the puck with at least one skate in the Neutral Zone before they can legally precede the puck into the Attacking Zone.

Situation 16

A player carries the puck across their attacking blue line and is immediately forced to skate parallel to the blue line in such a manner that, while both skates remain in their Attacking Zone, the puck is stick-handled back across the blue line into the Neutral Zone. The player then brings the puck back into the Attacking Zone without contacting the Neutral Zone with a skate. Are they still onside?

No. Rule Reference 630(b).

Even though they maintain control throughout the play, once they bring the puck back into the Neutral Zone they place themself in an offside position, and as soon as the puck comes back into the Attacking Zone the play is offside. A player in control of the puck is permitted to precede the puck across their attacking blue line, but once the puck has initially crossed the blue line, this exception to the rule expires and the player may not continue to violate the basic offside rule.

Situation 17

If a player has control of the puck in the Neutral Zone, turns around and skates backwards, and precedes the puck across the attacking blue line while still in control of the puck, are they considered to be offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(b).

As long as they establish control in the Neutral Zone before and while they cross the line, play shall be permitted to continue.

Situation 18

An offside is created when the puck is carried into the Attacking Zone. At which Neutral Zone face-off spot shall the ensuing face-off be conducted?

At the face-off spot closest to the location where the puck crossed the blue line. Rule Reference 630(c).

Situation 19

The puck is shot by a player from behind their defending blue line. A teammate who is already in the Neutral Zone skates down the ice and precedes the puck across their attacking blue line. Offside is called. Where does the face-off take place?

The puck is to be faced-off at the nearest defending zone face-off spot of the offending team to where the puck was shot. Rule References 630(c) and 612(b).

Situation 20

The puck is passed by a player in the Neutral Zone to a teammate near their attacking blue line, but the puck is deflected by an opponent, thereby causing the receiving player to be over the blue line ahead of the puck. Play is stopped for the offside. Where is the face-off held?

At the nearest neutral zone face-off spot (provided no territorial advantage is gained) to the point of origin of the pass (regardless of any deflection by the opposing team). Rule References 630(c) and 612(b).

Situation 21

When the puck is batted with a high stick to a teammate who is offside, what infraction takes precedence and where is the ensuing face-off? The high stick infraction takes precedence and the ensuing face-off will take place at a Defending Zone face-off spot of the offending team.

Rule References 630(c) and 621(d).

As a general rule, the more “serious” infraction is penalized.

Situation 22

The Linesman makes an obvious error as they stop play for an offside at the blue line. Should the ensuing face-off take place at center ice?

No. Rule Reference 630(e).

The ensuing face-off should take place at the nearest Neutral Zone face-off spot.

The following situations apply in classifications where both the delayed offside and the “tag-up” (to nullify a delayed offside) do not apply — Youth 18 & under and Girls’ 19 & under age classifications and below (excluding High School).

Situation 23

An attacking player has both skates in their Attacking Zone. An opposing player has possession of the puck in the Neutral Zone. If the player in possession of the puck carries or passes the puck back into their Defending Zone while that attacking player is still in the zone, is the attacking player offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(b).

Offside is nullified if the defending team carries or passes the puck back into their defensive zone.

Situation 24

A defending player shoots the puck into the Neutral Zone. It then deflects off another defending player in the Neutral Zone back into their Defending Zone while an attacking player is in the zone. Is the play offside?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(b).

Any deflection, whether off a teammate, an opponent, an Official, or the boards or glass creating an offside situation at the blue line, must be treated as such. The puck deflecting off a defending player is not the same as a defending player carrying or passing the puck back into their Defending Zone.

Situation 25

An attacking or defending player in an end zone shoots the puck into the Neutral Zone. The puck hits an Official in the Neutral Zone and deflects off the Official back into the end zone while an attacking player is still in the Attacking Zone. Where is the ensuing face-off?

At the point of deflection. Rule Reference 630(b).

Any deflection, whether off a teammate, an opponent, an Official, or the boards or glass creating an offside situation at the blue line, must be treated as such. Officials must always strive to position themselves in such a manner that would allow the puck to leave the zone before striking them, thereby creating the offside situation.

Situation 26

The puck is deliberately shot directly on goal by an attacking player in the Neutral Zone with a teammate clearly positioned in the Attacking Zone. What is the proper ruling?

Intentional offside. Rule Reference 630(c).

There was no effort to create a legal play at the blue line in order to be onside.

Situation 27

An attacking player in the Neutral Zone passes the puck to a teammate who is completely in the Attacking Zone. However, the puck is deflected by the opponent before entering the zone. Is this play offside?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(c).

Any deflection off a teammate, opponent, Official or rink defect does not nullify an offside.

Situation 28

Team A has possession of the puck in their Attacking Zone. During the play the puck leaves the zone. A Team A defenseman gains control of the puck just a few feet outside of their Attacking blue line. They look up and notice that some of their teammates are still in the Attacking Zone, not in the vicinity of the blue line and making no attempt to leave that zone. Without any chance of making a legal play, they advance the puck one foot into their Attacking Zone and obtains a stoppage of play. Is this infraction considered to be an intentional offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(c and Note).

In this instance the attacking player deliberately secured an immediate offside solely for the purpose of stopping the game.

Situation 29

Team A has a power play and is passing the puck around in their Attacking Zone. The puck is passed back to the point and the Team A defenseman cannot handle it as the puck trickles completely outside the zone. The Team A defenseman, in a desperate effort to keep the puck in the Attacking Zone, dives for the puck and hits it back into the Attacking Zone with three of their teammates deep in the attacking zone. Is this situation an intentional offside?

No. Rule References 630(c and Note).

If the defenseman has made an honest effort to keep the puck in the Attacking Zone, but cannot, and in doing so happens to create an offside infraction, intentional offside has not occurred and a normal immediate offside shall be called.

Situation 30

Team A has possession of the puck in their Attacking Zone. During the play, the puck leaves the zone. A Team A defenseman gains control of the puck just a few feet outside of their attacking blue line. They look and notice that some of their teammates are still in the Attacking Zone and a Team B player is converging in on them. Without any chance of making a legal play, they pass the puck directly to a teammate in the attacking zone. Is this infraction considered to be intentional offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(c and Note).

In this instance the attacking player deliberately passed the puck to a teammate who played the puck to secure an immediate stoppage of play.

Situation 31

Team A has possession of the puck in their Attacking Zone. During the play, the puck leaves the zone. A Team A defenseman gains control of the puck just a few feet outside of their attacking blue line. They look and notice that some of their teammates are still in the Attacking Zone and a Team B player converging in on them. Without any chance of making a legal play, they shoot the puck directly on goal. Is this infraction considered to be intentional offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(c and Note).

In this instance the attacking player deliberately shot the puck to secure an immediate stoppage of play.

Situation 32

Are there general offside situations to help decide regular vs. intentional offside?

Yes. Rule References 630(c and Note).

Judge the intent of the attacking team. The onus is on that team to create a legal play at the blue line. If it appears that the team has knowingly gone offside, an intentional offside is warranted. Otherwise, a regular offside is the proper call. A play where attacking players are barely across the blue line going into the Attacking Zone, or within a stride of clearing the Attacking Zone as the puck is crossing the blue line into the zone would be examples of regular offside situations (timing issues). If an attacking player is bumped offside, that would be a regular offside.

The following situations apply in classifications where the “tag-up” (to nullify a delayed offside) applies — High School, Junior and all Adult Classifications.

Situation 33

A player shoots the puck from their defending half of the Neutral Zone across their opponent’s goal line. A teammate is completely over their attacking blue line before the puck crosses that blue line and is therefore offside (non-intentional situation). Which infraction takes precedence, the offside or the icing?

The icing infraction takes precedence. Rule References 630(d) and 624(a).

As soon as the puck crosses the blue line, an offside has occurred, even though delayed, while the icing is still a “potential” icing. The front Linesman’s first reaction in this situation must be to immediately raise their arm to signal the delayed offside. The back Linesman should already have their arm raised to indicate the potential icing. With both Linesmen now having an arm raised for different events, the front Linesman will blow the whistle to signify “icing.” In this instance, if the puck crosses the goal line and all criteria for icing are met, play shall be stopped and the face-off shall take place in the end zone of the offending team because the icing infraction was completed.

Situation 34

Is the defending goalkeeper eligible to play the puck on a delayed offside (non-intentional situation) without causing a stoppage of play?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(d).

As long as the goalkeeper is not preventing the original pass or shot from entering the goal, they may play the puck without causing a stoppage of play for the offside infraction.

Situation 35

During a delayed offside (non-intentional situation) the attacking team is allowed to completely clear the Attacking Zone to nullify the delayed offside infraction. Must all offside players make skate contact with the Neutral Zone (white part) or the blue line to satisfy this condition?

The blue line only. Rule Reference 630(d.2).

For the purposes of this rule, the offside players in the Attacking Zone must only make skate contact with the blue line even though, with the puck in the Attacking Zone, the blue line is considered to be a part of the Attacking Zone. The interpretation is based on the ease of identifying the blue line on the part of players and Officials. Also, by making skate contact with the line, players are merely required to establish an onside skate position which would have applied when the puck originally entered the Attacking Zone.

Situation 36

During a delayed offside (non-intentional), the only attacking player who was offside turns to go back to the blue line to “tag up.” Before they reach the blue line, a teammate who was onside skates into their Attacking Zone. The original offside player touches the blue line with one skate. At that instant their teammate is about 10 feet into the Attacking Zone. Is the delayed offside now nullified and are all attacking team players eligible to play the puck?

No to both questions. Rule Reference 630(d.2).

At the instant the offside player(s) make skate contact with the blue line, the Attacking Zone must be completely clear of all other attacking players. If this condition is not met, all attacking players who enter their Attacking Zone are offside until this condition is met or until the puck leaves the zone.

Situation 37

The only offside attacking player turns immediately and makes skate contact with the blue line. At that instant a teammate is crossing the blue line and has one skate completely across the blue line into the Attacking Zone and the other skate fully on the blue line and not touching any part of white Neutral Zone ice. Should the delayed offside (non-intentional) be nullified?

Yes. Rule Reference 630(d.2).

Even though neither player is “clear” of the Attacking Zone and are both completely in the Attacking Zone when they contact the blue line, for the purposes of this rule both players are only required to make skate contact with the blue line, not the Neutral Zone.

Situation 38

When attempting to advance the puck, may a defending player carry the puck anywhere in their Defending Zone with a delayed offside (non-intentional) in effect?

Yes, as long as they are not being forced deeper into their zone by an attacking player. Rule Reference 630(d.2).

The intent of the delayed offside rule is to keep play in progress as long as the defending team has a reasonable opportunity to advance the puck out of the Defending Zone and moves promptly to do so. The attacking team is not required to “tag up” at the blue line in order to nullify the offside if it elects not to.

However, when the Linesman becomes aware that one or more offside attacking players are not returning to the blue line, they should be alert to stop play as soon as the defending puck carrier is forced back further into their Defending Zone or as soon as contact, however slight, is made with the puck or puck carrier.

In addition, the defending team is not to be permitted to take advantage of this rule to delay the game. The Linesman must stop play immediately for the offside infraction when it becomes apparent that the defending puck carrier is not making a serious attempt to advance the puck out of their zone.

Situation 39

The puck is shot by an attacking player from the Neutral Zone into a corner with a teammate offside (non-intentional situation). The offside player continues toward the corner in an obvious attempt to play the loose puck. A defending player is slightly closer to the puck and it appears that they will get to the puck before the attacking player. Should the Linesman continue to delay the offside call?

No. They should stop the play immediately. Rule Reference 630(d.2).

As a general rule, when one or more offside players decline to turn immediately and go back to the blue line to “tag up” and instead continue in pursuit of the puck, play should be stopped immediately. The potential for unnecessary body contact should not be allowed in a situation where an infraction (offside) has already occurred. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. If it is apparent that a defending player will reach a loose puck well ahead of any offside attacking player and will have a reasonable chance to advance the puck out of their Defending Zone, or if a defending player already has possession of the puck with a similar reasonable chance to advance the puck, play should be permitted to continue. But, where there is any doubt this will occur, the Linesman is expected to stop play immediately.

Situation 40

The puck is shot directly on goal by an attacking player in the Neutral Zone with a teammate in the Attacking Zone (non-intentional situation). Should the Linesman allow play to continue under the delayed offside rule?

No. Rule Reference 630(d.3).

As soon as the Linesman is aware that the puck will not be intercepted by a defending player before it reaches the goal and/or goalkeeper, they must stop play immediately due to the offside (last play face-off).

Situation 41

May a goal ever be allowed during the course of a delayed offside?

No. Rule Reference 630(d.3).

The attacking team caused the puck to enter the end attacking zone illegally, therefore no goal may be scored from a direct shot on goal. Even if the defending team shoots, passes or deflects the puck into its own goal, a goal may not be allowed. This is also true in cases where the attacking team has nullified the delayed offside by clearing the zone prior to the puck entering the goal. The Official responsible for the call at the blue line should stop play immediately for the offside once it is determined the puck is shot on goal.

However, provided the puck was not shot directly on goal and the attacking team has cleared the zone, play shall be allowed to continue and any goal legally scored shall allowed.

As a final reminder regarding the preceding situations:

  • 1-22 apply for all classifications
  • 23-32 apply in classifications that play using the immediate off-sides rule (Youth 18 & under and Girls’ 19 & under age classifications and below)
  • 33-41 apply in classifications that play using the delayed off-sides rule (High School and Adult classifications)