A player will be permitted to stop, knock down, or push the puck with their open hand. Play will not be stopped unless the player has directed the puck to a teammate in the neutral or attacking zone with the hand. No player, excluding the goaltender, may deliberately fall on the puck or gather the puck into their body.
Play will be stopped but a Minor penalty will NOT be assessed for a player who commits a “hand pass” violation.
- A hand pass occurs when a player stops, knocks down, or pushes the puck with their open hand, thereby directing the puck to a teammate in the neutral or attacking zone. This includes where the puck deflects off any person or object prior to the teammate gaining possession and control of the puck.
No goal may be scored as a result of a hand pass.
A Minor penalty for Handling the Puck will be assessed for a player, except the goaltender, who commits any of the following infractions:
- Closes their hand on the puck and, by doing so, gains an advantage. This will not include a player who closes their hand on the puck to catch or stop the puck and immediately drops it to the ice without gaining or attempting to gain an advantage.
- Deliberately falls on or gathers the puck into their body while standing or laying on the ice.
- A Penalty Shot will be awarded to the non-offending team for violations of (iii) and (iv), when the infraction occurs inside the offending team’s goal crease (see Rule 4.11 (a)(v) – Penalty Shots and Rule 1.5 (c) – Goal Crease)
- The Referee will Award a Goal to the non-offending team for violations of (iii) and (iv), when the infraction occurs inside the offending team’s goal crease and the goaltender has been legally substituted for an extra skater (see Rule 4.12 (a) – Awarded Goals).
A Minor penalty for Handling the Puck will be assessed to a goaltender who deliberately falls on or gathers the puck into their body or holds or places the puck against the goal, while outside their crease, thus delaying the game.
No Major penalty may be assessed for a handling the puck infraction.
No Match penalty may be assessed for a handling the puck infraction.
No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a handling the puck infraction.
No Game Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a handling the puck infraction.
INTERPRETATIONS |
Interpretation 1 | Rule 10.2 (a)(i) Where a player in the neutral or attacking zone hand-passes the puck back into their defending zone and a teammate gains possession and control of the puck, play would continue. Note: For the purpose of this rule, the position of the puck and not that of the player’s skates determines which zone the player is in when the hand pass is completed. |
Interpretation 2 | Rule 10.2 (a)(i) QUESTION: A player on Team A bats the puck with the hand. The puck hits an opposing player, rebounds and is picked up by another player of Team A. Does play continue or is play stopped? ANSWER: Play is stopped. Play can only continue if the non-offending team gains possession and control of the puck. Since the puck only hit the opposing player (possession but not control), play would be stopped. This situation should be the guiding principle of any variations of this rule. |
Interpretation 3 | Rule 10.2 (a)(ii) If an attacking player bats the puck and it is deflected into the goal by any player (attacking or defending) or goaltender, the goal will NOT be allowed. The key principle of this rule is that no goal can be scored when an attacking player bats the puck, unless the puck is subsequently clearly “shot” into the goal. After any batted puck, the Referee or Linesperson should watch closely for a clear shooting action. If the puck enters the goal and no clear shooting action was observed, disallow the goal. |
Interpretation 4 | Rule 10.2 (a)(iii) General guidelines for closing the hand on the puck: - When a player closes their hand on the puck and then throws the puck, stop play immediately. A Minor penalty for Handling the Puck must be assessed.
- When a player closes their hand on the puck and tries to maneuver around another player while holding the puck, or where a player is prevented from playing the puck by the player changing the general location of the puck while holding it, a Minor penalty for Handling the Puck must be assessed.
- When a player takes a stride while holding the puck in their hand, assess a Minor penalty for Handling the Puck.
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Interpretation 5 | Rule 10.2 (a)(v) The puck is in the goal crease. A player, who is outside the crease, bats or scoops the puck out of the crease and into their body. They do not cover or grab the puck while the puck is still in the crease, just scoops it out and then grabs it or falls on it. RULING: Assess a Minor penalty under Rule 10.2 (a)(iv). The puck was not actually covered in the crease; therefore, no penalty shot may be awarded. |
FAQs
ANSWER: Play is stopped. Play can only continue if the non-offending team gains possession and control of the puck. Since the puck only hit the opposing player (possession but not control), play would be stopped.
Is closing your hand on the puck a penalty? ›
If he catches it and skates with it, either to avoid a check or to gain a territorial advantage over his opponent, a minor penalty shall be assessed for “closing his hand on the puck”. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who, while play is in progress, picks up the puck off the ice with his hand.
Can you pass the puck with your hand? ›
Ice hockey players are not allowed to close their hand on the puck - the can bat it down from the air onto the ice, or redirect it backwards. A hand-pass forward is not allowed, nor are you allowed to throw the puck in the net.
Does a hand pass have to be deliberate? ›
79.1 - Hand Pass - A player shall be permitted to stop or “bat” a puck in the air with his open hand, or push it along the ice with his hand, and the play shall not be stopped unless, in the opinion of the on-ice officials, he has directed the puck to a teammate, or has allowed his team to gain an advantage, and ...
What is the penalty for laying on the puck? ›
(a) A minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed to a player other than the goalkeeper who deliberately falls on or gathers the puck into his body, deeming the puck unplayable and causing a stoppage of play.
Can you hand pass to yourself in hockey? ›
No. Rule Reference 618(b). In this situation the attacking player , in effect, hand-batted the puck to himself, because the goalkeeper did not gain possession and control of the puck . A goal scored legally with his stick immediately following this type of action would be allowed.
Is it illegal to kick the puck? ›
(c) Kicking the puck shall be permitted provided the puck is not kicked by an attacking player and entered the goal either directly or after deflecting off any player including the goalkeeper .
Can you pass the puck to your own goalie? ›
Putting the goalie in deliberate possession of the puck for any reason other than stopping play is leaving him in a remarkably vulnerable position, which leads to point number two.
Can you pick up your goalie stick? ›
A goaltender has lost their stick in the corner. Can any defending player pick it up and bring it back to the goaltender, without being assessed a penalty? RULING: Yes, as long as that player does not participate in the play while carrying the goaltender's stick.
Does the puck have to fully cross? ›
(a) A goal shall be scored when the puck has completely crossed the goal line between the posts and under the cross bar.
The official NHL rules state you cannot intentionally direct the puck into the net with anything other than your stick.
Is the last player to have intentionally played the puck is considered to have possession of the puck? ›
The last player to have intentionally played the puck is considered to have “ possession of the puck .” A player may be in “ possession of the puck ” without establishing “control of the puck.” However, a player must first gain “ possession of the puck ” prior to being considered in “control of the puck.”
Is high sticking the puck a penalty? ›
If a players stick makes contact with an opposing player above the shoulders, a High-Sticking penalty will be called. If a player makes contact with the puck while it is above the shoulders, the play will be stopped, and a faceoff will take place where the infraction occurred.
Can you hold the puck? ›
A penalty shot/optional minor penalty shall be awarded to the non-offending team anytime a defending player , other than the goalkeeper , picks the puck up off the ice with his hand or holds the puck while play is in progress and the puck is in the goal crease.
Can you stop the puck with your hand in air hockey? ›
The player is permitted to stop the puck with hands or body. No point would be scored if the puck enters the opponent's goal due to the distraction.
Is holding the stick a penalty in hockey? ›
In ice hockey, holding the stick is a penalty called when a player intentionally holds an opposing player's stick in his hands and between any part of his body (i.e. under arms or between legs) to restrict the opposing player's ability to play the puck. The referee will call a minor penalty for this infraction.
What is considered a penalty in hockey? ›
Officials may call a major penalty for the same offenses that are otherwise considered minor penalties if they were severe enough and/or perpetrated with the intent to cause harm to others. Examples of major hockey penalties include fighting, butt-ending, spearing, and boarding.
