200 - Players in Uniform
a. Before the game, the Manager or Coach of each team shall provide the Referee or Scorekeeper with a list of names and numbers of eligible players and goalkeepers, including the names of the Captain and Alternate Captains.
b. Each team shall be allowed a maximum of:
Commentary
1. No changes or additions shall be permitted to the list once the game has started.
2. If, during the game, a team cannot place the correct number of players on the ice because of penalties or injuries, the Referee shall declare the game a forfeit.
Case Book
B - Interpretation
1. Player names may be changed on the Official Game Sheet at any time up until the start of the game
2. A team may dress only two goalkeepers.
3. A registered player may participate in the pre-game warm-up provided he is eligible to play in the game, even though he may not be listed on the Official Game Sheet.
201 - Captain of Team
[a] Each team shall appoint a "Captain" and no more than two "Alternate Captains".
[b] The Captain shall wear the letter "C" and Alternate Captains shall wear the letter "A", 8 cm in height and in a contrasting colour, in a conspicuous position on the front of their sweater.
[c] On the ice, only these designated players, if they are not penalized, shall have the privilege to discuss with the Referee any questions relating to the interpretation of rules that may arise during the course of the game.
Important:
A complaint concerning a penalty is not a matter relating to the interpretation of the rules and shall be penalized.
Commentary
Captain
1. It is not permitted to appoint a goalkeeper, Playing Coach or Manager as a Captain or Alternate Captain.
2. If a Captain or Alternate Captain is not on the ice, they cannot come off the bench to discuss any situation with the Referee, unless invited by the Referee.
3. If both the Captain and Alternate Captain are on the ice, only the Captain has the privilege of conversing with the Referee.
4. Players that do not wear a "C" or "A" on their jersey shall not be granted the privileges of conversing with the Referee.
Case Book
B - Interpretation
1. When a situation arises and both the captain and alternate captain(s) are on the player's bench, the Referee should request to speak to the captain by calling him from the player's bench.
2. A captain may not come off the player's bench to request a stick measurement.
3. In all cases the referee shall speak to the Captain. If for some reasons Referee obtains the problems of communication with the Captain, he shall go directly to the bench and talk with the Coach.
4. A captain or alternate captain(s) cannot come off the players bench to question or argue with a game official or complain about the penalty. If the captain does come off the player's bench uninvited, he shall be sent back and the coach warned that a second violation shall result in a Misconduct penalty (See Rule 572).
210 - Equipment
a. Player's and goalkeeper's equipment shall consists of sticks, skates, protective equipment and uniforms.
b. All protective equipment, except gloves, helmets and goalkeepers' leg guards, shall be worn entirely underneath the uniform.
c. All infractions related to the wearing of equipment shall be penalized under Rule 555.
Commentary
1. The official playing rules specify the use of protective equipment out of concern for the orderly playing of the game, and for the safety, health and welfare of participants. However, such rules do not imply a guarantee by the IIHF that the use of such equipment will provide protection from injury. It is the responsibility of the player to ensure that the equipment used conforms, where specified, with the official playing rules and is worn and maintained in good condition in accordance with the manufacturer's warranties.
2. For advertising and/or brand identification on the player's equipment, see Annex A1.
221 - Players' Skates
The players shall wear "Ice Hockey Skates" with safety blades.
Commentary
Player's Skate
222 - Player's Stick
[a] Sticks shall be made of wood or other material approved by the IIHF.
[b] It shall not have any projections and all edges shall be bevelled.
[c] Adhesive non-fluorescent tape of any color may be wrapped around the stick at any place.
[d] Player's Stick Dimensions:
1. Shaft:
2. Blade:
Commentary
Player's Stick (all dimensions in cm)
Case Book
B - Interpretation
Fluorescent colour painted sticks are NOT permitted.
223 - Player's Helmet
Amended IIHF/ IHV web site
a. During the game and during the pre-game warm-up, all players shall wear a hockey helmet with chin strap properly fastened.
b. A helmet shall be worn so that the lower edge of the helmet is not more than finger-width above the eyebrows, and there shall only be enough room between the strap and the chin to insert one finger.
c. Should the helmet of a player come off while play is in progress, the player shall not be permitted to participate in the play except if he replaces the helmet on his head with the chin strap properly fastened.
d. Should the helmet of a player come off while play is in progress, the player shall not be permitted to participate in the play except if he replaces the helmet on his head with the chin strap properly fastened.
Commentary
Case Book
Player's Helmet
B - Interpretation
1. The back-up goalkeeper is not required to wear his helmet and face mask when he crosses the ice to return to his players' bench during intermission.
2. The players and substitute goalkeeper are not required to wear their helmets while sitting on their players' bench.
224 - Player's Face Mask and Visor
a. It is recommended that all players wear a full face mask or a visor.
b. Players born after December 31, 1974 shall wear, as a minimum, a visor.
c. The visor shall extend down to cover the eyes and the lower edge of the nose in frontal and lateral projections.
d. All women players shall wear full face masks.
e. Players and goalkeepers in the category under 18 years and younger shall wear a full face mask.
f. Players shall not be permitted to wear a coloured or tinted visor or tinted full face mask.
Commentary
Rule 224 applies for players:
Each national association participating in an IIHF championship shall ensure that each of their players is equipped with a hockey helmet and where applicable, a visor or face mask, properly attached to the helmet all fit for the purposes for which they were intended by the
The full face masks shall be constructed in such a way that neither the puck nor a stick blade might get through it.
Player's Visor, Full Face Masks
Case Book
B - Interpretation
Visors shall be transparent and clear. This rule applies to players and game officials.
225 - Players' Gloves
The players' gloves shall cover hand and wrist and their palm shall not be removed to permit the use of bare hands.
226 - Neck and Throat Protector
a. It is recommended that all players wear a neck and throat protector.
a. Players and goalkeepers in the category under 18 years and younger shall wear a neck and throat protector.
Commentary
Rule 226 applies for players:
227 - Mouth Guard
[a] It is recommended that all players shall wear a custom made mouth guard.
[b] All players in the age category under 20, and not wearing a full face mask, shall wear a custom made mouth guard.
Commentary
Rule 227 applies for players:
230 - Goalkeeper's Equipment
With the exception of skates and stick, all the equipment worn by the goalkeeper shall be constructed solely for the purpose of protecting the head and the body and shall not include any garment or addition which would give the goalkeeper undue assistance in keeping goal.
231 - Goalkeepers' Skates
The goalkeeper shall wear special "Goalkeeper Skates" of approved design.
Commentary
Goalkeeper's Skate
232 - Goalkeeper's Stick
a. The stick shall be made of wood or other material approved by the IIHF.
b. It shall not have any projections and all edges shall be bevelled.
c. Adhesive non-fluorescent tape of any colour may be wrapped around the stick at any place.
d. Dimensions:
1. Shaft:
Widened part of the shaft:
2. Blade:
Commentary
The goalkeeper's stick blade may be curved, and the curvature shall be restricted in such a way that the distance of a perpendicular line, measured from a straight line drawn from the heel to the end of the blade, shall not exceed 1.5 cm.
Goalkeepers' Stick (all dimensions in cm)
Case Book
B - Interpretation
1. The shaft of a goalkeeper stick above the widened portion shall not be curved and, if it is, Rule 555(a) shall be implemented.
233a - Goalkeepers' Gloves - Blocking Glove
The maximum outside dimensions of the protective padding attached to the back, forming part of a blocking glove, shall not exceed:
Commentary
Blocker Glove
233b - Goalkeepers' Gloves - Catching Glove
a. The maximum outside dimensions of the catching glove shall not exceed:
b. The perimeter of the catching glove shall not exceed 114.3 cm.
Commentary
Catching Glove
234 - Goalkeeper's Helmet and Face Mask
a. All goalkeepers shall wear a "Face Mask" with a hockey helmet, or a goalkeeper's full face head protector.
b. Should the helmet and /or face mask come off while play is in progress, the Referee shall stop play.
c. If a goalkeeper removes his helmet and/or face mask in order to bring a stoppage in play in a breakaway situation, the Referee shall award to the non-offending team a:
d. If a goalkeeper removes his helmet and/or face mask in order to bring a stoppage in play during a Penalty Shot, the Referee shall award to the non-offending team a:
e. Should a hard shot hit the goalkeeper's face mask while play is in progress,the Referee shall stop play.
Commentary
Helmet off Goalkeeper, Goalkeeper Full Face Mask
Case Book
B - Interpretation
1. If the helmet and/or face mask come off while the play is in progress and before Referee's whistle to stop the play the puck enters the net, the GOAL shall be allowed.
2. If the puck hits goalkeeper's helmet/face mask and goes in the net, the Referee shall allow a GOAL.
3. A puck contacting a goalkeeper's helmet/face mask does not mean an automatic stoppage of play.
235 - Goalkeepers' Leg Guards
The goalkeepers' leg guards shall not exceed 28 cm wide when on the leg of the goalkeeper.
Commentary
Goalkeeper Leg Guards
240 - Uniforms
[a] All players from each team shall be dressed uniformly in sweaters, pants, stockings and helmet (except for the goalkeeper who is permitted to wear a helmet of a different colour to the rest of the team).
[b] In IIHF competitions, each player shall wear his name on the upper portion of the back of his sweater, printed 10 cm high, in block capital Roman letters.
Commentary
1. Any player that does not comply with these provisions shall not be permitted to participate in the game.
2. If, in the opinion of the Referee, the uniform colours of the competing teams are so similar that there is the possibility of miscalling a penalty, it is the responsibility of the home team to change their sweaters, if ordered to do so by the Referee.
3. If a player's hair is long and obscures the name plate or number on the sweater, the hair shall be worn in a pony tail or under the helmet.
Goalkeeper Jersey Measurements
Case Book Bulletin (Nov 2007)
B - Interpretation
1. Graffiti type of design, patterns or art work shall not be permitted on goalkeepers' pads or gloves. Graffiti are markings, initials, slogans, drawings which are written, painted in any way or sketched.
2. Any drawings or slogans which are abusive or obscene and/or refer to cultural, racial and religion shall not be permitted on any type of equipment including the helmet and facemask.
250 - Puck
[a] The "Puck" shall be made of vulcanized rubber or other material approved by the IIHF and be primarily black in colour.
[b] The dimensions of a puck shall not exceed:
[c] The printed logo, trademark and/or advertising shall not exceed in diameter of the area of each side of a puck or 35% of the area of each side of the puck. There may be printing on both sides of a puck.
Commentary
Puck (all measurements in cm), Puck Logo
260 - Measurement of Equipment
[a] The Referee may, at any time and at his own discretion, measure any equipment.
[b] The Captain of a team may make a formal complaint against a specific dimension of any equipment. The Referee shall make the necessary measurement immediately. However, no goal shall be disallowed as a result of any measurement.
If the complaint is not sustained, the requesting team shall be penalized.
If the complaint is sustained, the guilty player shall be penalized.
[c] Such request shall be limited to one team at any stoppage of play.
[d] If a Captain of the team that is two men short in the last two minutes of the game or at any time in overtime, requests an equipment measurement that proves to be legal equipment following the measurement, the Referee shall award to the non-offending team a:
Case Book
A - Referee Procedure
1. All stick measurements (curvature) shall be made using a regulation stick gauge.
2. Goalkeeper equipment shall be measured immediately after the end of the period.
3. No measurement of the stick or the goalkeeper's equipment between the end of the overtime and Game Winning Shots.
4. Goalkeeper equipment measurement may be carried out in the Referee's crease or in a suitable location as determined by the facilities.
5. A Referee can measure any type of stick or equipment that is dangerous without a request from a team, and the dangerous stick or equipment shall be removed from play. Any other equipment deemed illegal shall be measured only on appeal by the opposing team.
B - Interpretation
1. Goalkeeper sticks or player sticks can be measured at any time.
2. Stick measurement is permitted after a goal by either team (See also Rule 260).
3. It is not necessary that a player participated physically in the game for his stick to be measured. The fact that the player was legally on the ice is sufficient to justify a request for a measurement.
4. A goalkeeper may participate in the game using a player's stick and if a stick measurement is requested, the stick shall be measured as if it is a player's stick.
5. The measurement of the width of the blade of a player's stick is to be taken 1.5 centimeters in from the toe of the blade or at any spot from this point along the blade to the heel of the stick.
6. If the stick is found to be illegal, the Referee shall return the stick to the team and the teammate of the player, whose stick was found to be illegal, shall bring a legal stick to the penalized player on the penalty bench. The team can adjust the curvature of the blade at the bench, and if the player uses the stick again and another measurement is requested, the stick can be measured again.
7. When a formal complaint is made to the Referee by a team captain concerning the dimensions of an opponent's stick, that opponent shall be on the ice at the time the request is made.
8. If a team captain formally complains about the curvature of an opponent's stick blade and the Referee is unable to effect the measurement, the stick shall be removed from the game. Under Rule 555, no penalty shall be assessed to either team.
9. A stick measurement can be requested during Game Winning Shots (G.W.S.)
10. A player other than a Captain or Alternate Captain is not permitted to request or make a formal complaint against the specific dimensions of any equipment of the opposing team.
C - Situations
Situation 1: A stick measurement is requested on the attacking team when play is stopped in the attacking end zone.
Ruling: If the stick is found to be illegal, assess a penalty and the face-off shall take place at the face-off spot in the neutral zone closest to that end zone. If the stick is found to be legal, the team that made the request shall be penalized and the face-off shall take place at the end zone face off spot in the attacking zone of the attacking team.
Situation 2: A goalkeepe's equipment is measured between periods and found to be illegal and the goalkeeper is to be assessed a Minor penalty.
Ruling: Any player may serve the penalty since there were no players on the ice at the time of the measurement. When a goalkeeper's stick is measured during a stoppage of play and is found to be illegal, a player of his team who was on the ice at the time the play was stopped shall serve the penalty (See Rule 511(a).
Situation 3: A formal complaint is made by a team captain against the dimensions of an opponent's stick. The opponent, who was on the ice, has proceeded to the player's bench and has stepped off the ice.
Ruling: Once the request is made, and as long as the officials maintain visual contact with the stick, it can be measured. This means that if the player whose stick is about to be measured steps off the ice into the player's bench, his stick may still be measured provided the request was received prior to him leaving the ice surface and the stick remained in view by at least one of the on-ice officials.
Situation 4: A player who has just entered or exited the penalty bench where he was about to serve or just served a penalty has his stick challenged regarding its legality.
Ruling: A player who is on the penalty bench or who has returned to the playing surface is eligible to have his stick measured at any time.
Situation 5: A player has been designated to take a Penalty Shot. Before the player takes the shot, the opposing team requests a measurement of the player's stick that shall take a shot.
Ruling: If the stick is found to be legal, than the requested team shall be assessed a Bench Minor Penalty. Manager or the Coach through the Captain shall designate a player to serve a Minor penalty and this player shall immediately proceed to the penalty bench and remains there regardless off the result of the shot. If the stick is found to be illegal, the player shall be assessed a Minor penalty. He shall immediately proceed to the penalty bench. Manager or the Coach through the Captain shall designate another player who will take a shot. Note: The period in front of taking the penalty shot and after its end is to be classified as one stoppage.
Situation 6: The player selected by his team to take a Penalty Shot refuses to surrender his stick for measurement when asked to do so by the Referee or intentionally breaks it.
Ruling: The player may not use this stick unless it is measured and deemed to be legal. The player is NOT permitted to take the shot. He shall be assessed a Minor plus Misconduct penalty and shall immediately proceed to the penalty bench and remain there for 12 minutes. Manager or the Coach through the Captain shall designate an additional player to serve his Minor penalty who shall immediately go to the penalty bench before taking the shot. Manager or the Coach through the Captain shall also designate another player who shall take a penalty shot.
Situation 7: Team A requests the measurement of the stick of the Team B player who will be taking a Penalty Shot and the stick is found to be legal.
Ruling: Team A shall be assessed a penalty, A player of Team A shall go immediately to the penalty bench and shall serve the penalty regardless the result of the Penalty Shot. (See Rule 502b)