As one of the fastest and most intense sports in the world, hockey has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people. From its humble beginnings as a Northern Canadian pastime to its current status as an international sensation, hockey has evolved into one of the most popular and exciting sports in the world.
If you’re new to hockey, or if you just want to brush up on your basic skills and knowledge, then this comprehensive guide to hockey basics is for you! So grab your stick, lace up your skates, and let’s dive in!
The Basics
Hockey is a team sport played on a sheet of ice by two teams of six players, including a goalie. The objective is to score more goals than the opposing team by shooting a puck into the opposing team’s net using a stick. The game is divided into three periods, each lasting 20 minutes.
Each team has three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. The forwards are responsible for generating offense, while the defensemen are responsible for preventing the opposing team’s offense. The goalie’s job is to stop the puck from going into the net.
The puck is made of vulcanized rubber and is two and a half inches in diameter and one inch thick. The sticks are made of wood, composite materials, or a combination of both.
The game begins with a faceoff at center ice between two opposing players. The players from each team line up opposite each other, and the referee drops the puck between them. The team that wins the faceoff gets possession of the puck and tries to score a goal. If the puck goes out of play, the play is stopped, and a faceoff is taken at the spot where the puck went out of play.
Scoring
The objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team. A goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line and enters the net. If the puck hits the post or crossbar and does not completely cross the goal line, it is not considered a goal.
If a player scores a goal, his team is awarded one point. If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the game enters sudden death overtime. The first team to score a goal in overtime wins the game.
Penalties
There are many penalties in hockey, most of which result in a player being sent to the penalty box for a set amount of time. The most common penalties are tripping, slashing, hooking, high sticking, roughing, interference, and holding.
When a player commits a penalty, the opposing team is awarded a power play. During a power play, the team with the man advantage has one extra player on the ice. The goal of the power play is to score a goal while the opposing team is short-handed.
If a player commits a particularly flagrant penalty, such as a major penalty for fighting, he may be ejected from the game entirely.
Rules
Hockey has many rules that players must follow in order to play the game properly. Some of the basic rules include:
– No checking from behind: Players are not allowed to hit an opposing player from behind into the boards or another player. This is a dangerous play that can result in serious injury.
– No offside: A player is offside if he enters the opposing team’s zone before the puck. Offside is called if a player crosses the blue line before the puck.
– No icing the puck: Icing is when a player shoots the puck from behind his own red line and it crosses the opposite goal line without being touched. If the opposing team gets to the puck first, it is waved off and play continues. If the icing call is not waved off, the faceoff takes place in the offending team’s zone.
– No hand passes: Players are not allowed to pass the puck to a teammate using their hand. If a player does make a hand pass, the play is stopped, and a faceoff occurs.
Equipment
Hockey players wear a lot of equipment to protect themselves from injury. The standard equipment includes:
– Skates: Players wear skates with steel blades to move around on the ice.
– Helmet: Players wear a helmet to protect their heads from injury. The helmet must be certified by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC).
– Shoulder Pads: Players wear shoulder pads to protect their shoulders and chest from hits.
– Elbow Pads: Players wear elbow pads to protect their elbows from hits.
– Gloves: Players wear gloves to protect their hands from injury and to grip the stick.
– Shin Guards: Players wear shin guards to protect their lower legs from the hard rubber puck and hits from other players.
– Jock: Male players wear a protective cup to protect their groin area.
– Mouth Guard: Players wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth and gums from injury.
– Stick: Players use a stick to handle the puck and shoot it towards the opposing net.
Conclusion
Hockey is a thrilling and intense sport that requires a lot of skill, speed, and strength. With this comprehensive guide to hockey basics, you should now have a general understanding of the rules, equipment, and gameplay involved in this exciting sport. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran, the puck drops here, and the adventure begins!