105 - Protective Glass

a. The protective glass located above the boards shall be 160cm to 200cm in height on the ends and shall extend 4m from the goal line towards the Neutral Zone and not less than 80cm in height along the sides, except in front of the players' benches.

b. The gaps between the glass panels shall be minimized to 5 mm.

c. At any interruption of the protective glass there shall be protective padding to prevent the injury of the players.

d. No openings are allowed in the protective glass.

Commentary

Protective Glass and Boards (All measurements in cm)

106 - End Zone Nets

Protective nets shall be suspended above the end zone boards and glass.

110 - Division and Marking of the Ice Surface

The ice surface shall be divided in its length by five lines marked on the ice and extending completely across the rink and continuing vertically up the side of the boards.

Commentary

At open air rinks, all of the lines and face-off spots outlined in Rules 112 and 113 shall be marked by two lines 5 cm wide.

In case of advertising allowed on the boards, the lines shall at least be marked on the kick plate.

The entire width of the line shall be considered as part of the zone that the puck is in.

111 - Goal Lines

Lines shall be marked 4m from each end of the rink, 5cm wide and red in colour, known as the: "Goal Lines".

112 - Blue Lines

[a] The ice area between the two goal lines shall be divided in three equal parts by lines 30cm wide and blue in colour known as the: "Blue Lines".

[b] These lines shall determine the three Zones, defined as follows:

For one team, the zone in which their goal is situated is the:

The central zone is the:

The farthest zone is the:

113 - Center Line

A line known as the "Center Line" shall be located in the middle of the rink. It shall be 30 cm wide and red in colour.

114 - Face-Off Spots and Circles

All spots and circles are marked on the ice surface in order to position the players for a face-off as ordered by the officials at the beginning of the game, at the beginning of each period and after each stoppage of play.

Commentary

All measurements in cm.

Detail of Face-Off Spot

115 - Center Face-Off Spot and Circle

A circular blue spot, 30cm in diameter, shall be marked exactly in the center of the rink.

With this spot as a center, a circle with a radius of 4.5m shall be marked with a blue line 5cm wide.

Commentary

All measurements in cm.

Center Ice Spot and Circle

116 - Face-Off Spots in Neutral Zone

Two red spots, 60cm in diameter, shall be marked in the neutral zone, 1.5m from each blue line as illustrated on the opposite page.

117 - End Zone Face-Off Spots and Circles

a. Face-off spots and circles shall be marked on the ice in both end zones and on both sides of each goal as illustrated on the opposite page (image below).

b. The face-off spots shall be 60cm in diameter, red in colour, as illustrated on the opposite page (image below).

c. On opposite sides of the end zone face-off spots shall be marked double "L", as illustrated on the opposite page (image below).

d. The circles shall have a radius of 4.5m from the center of the face-off spots and marked with a red line, 5cm wide (image below).

Commentary

All measurements in cm.

End Zone Face-off

118 - Referee Crease

An area known as the "Referee Crease" shall be marked on the ice in a semi-circle by a red line, 5cm wide, and with a radius of 3m, immediately in front of the Scorekeeper's Bench, as illustrated on the opposite p

Commentary

All measurements in cm.

Referee Crease

119 - Goal Crease

a. In front of each goal a "Goal Crease" area shall be marked by a red line, 5cm wide, as illustrated on the opposite page (image below).

b. The goal crease area shall be painted light blue. The inside of the goal area from the goal line to the back of the net shall be white.

c. The goal crease shall include all the space outlined by and include the crease line and extending vertically 1.27 m to the top of the goal frame.

d. The goal crease shall be laid out as follows: A semi-circle 180 cm in radius and 5 cm in width shall be drawn using the center of the goal as the center point. In addition, an "L" shaped marking of 15 cm in length and 5 cm in width (both lines) at each front corner shall be painted on the ice. The location of the "L" marking is measured by drawing an imaginary line 122 cm from the goal line to the edge of the semi-circle. At that point, the "L" marking shall be drawn.

Commentary

All measurements in cm.

Goal Crease

Case Book

B - Interpretation

1. The goal crease shall be measured from the outside edge of the lines forming the crease. The lines are considered as part of the crease.

130 - Goal Frame, Posts and Netting

[a] The goal nets shall be located in the center of the goal lines.

[b] The goal posts shall extend vertically 1.22 m above the ice surface and be 1.83 m apart (internal measurements). The goal posts and horizontal crossbar that form the tubular steel frame shall be of a specified design with an external diameter of 5 cm and shall be painted red.

[c] The goals and crossbar shall be completed by a frame supporting the netting, the deepest point of which shall not be more than 1.12 m or less than 0.60 m. It shall be painted white, except for the exterior part of the base frame, which shall be painted red.

[d] A netting of white nylon cord shall be draped over to enclose the back of the goal frame in such a manner as to prevent the puck from coming to rest on the outside of it, yet strung in a manner that shall keep the puck inside the goal net.

[e] The inside of the supports, other than the goal posts and crossbar, shall be covered by a white padding. The padding of the base frame shall start not less than 10 cm from the goal posts and shall be attached in a manner that shall not restrict the puck from completely crossing the goal line.

Commentary

1. Goal posts and nets shall be set in such manner as to remain stationary during the progress of the game.

2. For Olympic Games, IIHF World Senior A Men and Women, Division 1, Junior Under 20, Junior Under 18 championships, flexible goal pegs are mandatory and are strongly recommended for other competitions.

Goal Frame

140 - Players' Benches

[a] Each rink shall be provided with two identical benches, exclusively for the use of players in uniform and officials of both teams.

[b] The benches shall be on the same side of the rink, immediately along the ice but opposite to the penalty benches, separated by a substantial distance or by other facilities, and convenient to the dressing rooms.

[c] Each bench shall begin 2 m from the center line with a minimum length of 10 m and a minimum width of 1.5 m.

[d] Each bench shall accommodate:

Commentary

[1] Each player's bench shall have two doors, one of which shall be in the "NEUTRAL ZONE".

[2] The players' benches shall be protected from access by persons other than the players and the six team officials.

141 - Penalty Benches

[a] Each rink shall be provided with two benches to be known as the penalty benches for a minimum of 5 players each.

[b] They shall be located on both sides of the Scorekeeper's desk and opposite to the players' benches and shall have a minimum length of 4 m and a minimum width of 1.5 m.

Commentary

Case Book

B - Interpretation

1. A team shall take the penalty bench that is opposite to their player's bench. They shall not change benches during the game.

142 - Goal Judges' Benches

Properly protected cages to eliminate interference with the Goal Judges' activities shall be placed at each end of the rink behind the board and glass in the area of the goal.

Commentary

143 - Scorekeeper's Bench

Between the penalty benches shall be located the Scorekeeper's bench which shall have a length of 5.5m to accommodate 6 people.

Commentary

151 - Siren

Each rink shall be provided with a siren or other suitable sound device to be used by the Timekeeper.

152 - Clock

Each rink shall have an electric clock (scoreboard) in order to provide spectators, players and officials with accurate information concerning:

1. Names of both teams

2. Time played in any period, counting up in minutes and seconds from 0.00 to 20.00,

3. Penalty time remaining to be served for at least two players on each team, counting down from the total number of minutes to 0,

4. Score

5. Time-outs, counting down from 30 to 0 seconds,

6. Intermission time, counting down from 15 to 0 minutes.

Commentary

Electronic scoreboards with video text are recommended for IIHF competitions.

Clock

153 - Red and Green Lights

Behind each goal there shall be:

1. A red light to be switched on by the Goal Judge when a goal is scored,

2. A green light to be switched on automatically by the electric clock when the Timekeeper stops the clock and at the end of each period.

Commentary

1. The red light shall be connected to the timing device in such a manner so that, when the period has ended, it should be impossible for the Goal Judge to turn it on.

2. At the end of a period, the fact that the Goal Judge is not able to turn on the red light does not necessarily mean that a goal is not valid. The determining factor is whether or not the puck is completely over the goal line and in the goal before the period ends.

3. The purpose of the green light is to enable the Referee and Linesmen to observe the goal and light in the same sight line and know exactly when the period ends.

160 - Players' Dressing Rooms

Each team shall be provided with a suitable room with sufficient space for 25 team officials and players and their equipment, equipped with benches, sanitary toilet and showers.

161 - Referee's and Linesmen Dressing Room

A separate dressing room equipped with chairs or benches, sanitary toilet and shower shall be provided for the exclusive use of the Referees and Linesmen.

Commentary

No one, except as authorised by the association concerned, shall be allowed to enter the Official's dressing room during the course of or immediately following the game. In case of an infraction to this rule:

170 - Rink Lighting

All rinks shall be sufficiently well illuminated so that the players, officials and spectators may conveniently follow the play at all times.

Commentary

1. If, in the opinion of the Referee, there is not sufficient light to continue the game, he shall have the authority to postpone the reminder of the game or take time-out, pending improvement of the lighting situation.

2. If one team is handicapped to a greater extent by the failure of lights, and in the opinion of the Referee the game should not be cancelled, he shall have the authority to alternate the teams so that each team shall play the same amount of time in each end of the rink.

171 - Smoking In The Arena

In enclosed rinks, smoking shall be prohibited in the playing and spectator areas, as well as in the dressing rooms and all the facilities where the players are involved.

Commentary

No Smoking

172 - Music In The Arena

a. No music shall be played while the game is in progress, or during the time-outs.

b. Compressed air horns and whistles are forbidden in the ice rink.

Commentary

Music may be played during the warm-up and during any stoppage of play.