Rule 101 Rink

(a) The game of "Ice Hockey" shall be played on an ice surface known as a "RINK."

Rule 102 Dimensions of Rink

(a) As nearly as possible, the dimensions of the rink shall be two hundred feet long and one hundred feet wide. In all ice rinks used for invitational tournaments and regional Playoffs and national championships the ice surface dimensions shall be not less than 185 feet by 85 feet.

The rink shall be surrounded by a wooden or fiberglass wall or fence, known as the "BOARDS," which shall extend not less than forty inches and not more than forty-eight inches above the level of the ice surface. The ideal height of the boards above the ice surface shall be forty-two inches. It is recommended that the kickplate at the bottom of the boards be yellow or light in color.

The corners shall be uniformly rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of twenty-three feet minimum to twenty-eight feet maximum.

(b) The boards shall be constructed in such a manner that the surface facing the ice shall be smooth and free of any obstruction or any object that could cause injury to players.

All doors giving access to the playing surface must swing away from the ice surface.

It is recommended that the entire rink, including players and penalty benches, be enclosed by

protective safety glass, wire and/or other protective screens of sufficient height designed to separate players from spectators. All gear used to hold such protective equipment in place shall be mounted on the boards on the side away from the playing surface.

Rule 103 Goal Posts and Nets

{a) A minimum of twelve feet to a maximum of fifteen feet from each end of the rink and in the center of a red line two inches wide drawn completely across the width of the ice and continuing vertically up the side of the boards, regulation goal posts and nets shall be set in such a manner as to remain stationary during the progress of a game. The goal posts may be kept in position by metal rods, pipes or similar means affixed in the ice or floor. If anchoring of the goal posts is applicable, they shall be anchored in such a manner as to permit a goal post to be dislodged when hit by a degree of force such as would be provided by a player sliding into or being checked into it.

Where the length of the playing surface exceeds two hundred feet, the goal line and goal posts may be placed not more than fifteen feet from the end of the rink.

(b) The goal posts shall be of approved design and material, extending vertically four feet above the surface of the ice and set six feet apart measured from the inside of the posts. A cross bar of the same material as the goal posts shall extend from the top of one post to the top of the other. It is recommended that the goal frames do not have a metal deflector plate along the base of the back of the goal frame.

(c) There shall be attached to each goal frame a net of approved design.

(d) The goal posts and cross bars shall be painted in red and all other exterior surfaces shall be painted in white.

(e) The red line, two inches wide, between the goal posts on the ice and extended completely across the rink, shall be known as the "GOAL LINE. "

(f) The Goal area, enclosed by the goal line and the base of the goal, shall be painted white.

Rule 104 Goal Crease and Goalkeeper's Privileged Area

(a) In front of each goal a "GOAL CREASE" area shall be marked by a red line two inches in width.

(b) The goal crease shall be laid out as follows: A semicircle six feet in radius and two inches in width shall be drawn using the center of the goal line as the center point. The goal crease area, excluding the red lines, shall be painted light blue in color.

(c) The goal crease area shall include all the space outlined by the semi-circular crease lines (including crease lines) and extending vertically four feet to the level of the top of the goal frame.

(d) The goalkeeper's "PRIVILEGED AREA" is an area bounded in the rear by the end boards, in front by an imaginary line connecting the end zone face-off spots and on the sides by imaginary lines extending perpendicular from the end boards to the and zone face-off spots. (For the goalkeeper's privileges within this area, see Rules 6061b) Note, Charging, and 6121b), Falling on Puck.)

(e) The goalkeepers may only take warm-ups in the Goalkeeper's Privileged Area extended to include the area formed by a line from each end zone face-off spot to where the goal line meets the side boards. (See Rink diagram.)

For a violation of this rule, after a warning, the offending team shall be assessed a bench minor penalty.

Rule 105 Division of Ice Surface

(a) The ice area between the two goals shall be divided into three parts by lines, twelve inches in width, and blue in color, drawn sixty feet out from the goal lines, and extended completely across the rink, parallel with the goal lines and continued vertically up the side of the boards. The sixty feet shall be measured from the edge of the goal line closest to the end boards to the furthest edge of the blue line.

(b) That portion of the ice surface in which the goal is situated shall be called the "DEFENDING ZONE" of the team defending that goal; the central portion shall be known as the "NEUTRAL ZONE" and the portion farthest from the defended goal as the "ATTACKING ZONE." The zone line shall be considered part of the zone that the puck is in.

(c) There shall also be a line, twelve inches in width, and red in color, drawn completely across the rink in center ice, parallel with the goal lines and continued vertically up the side of the boards, known as the "CENTER LINE." This line shall contain at regular intervals markings of a uniform and distinctive design which will easily distinguish it from the two blue lines, the outer edges of which must be continuous.

Rule 106 Center Ice Spot and Circle

(a) A circular blue spot, 12 inches in diameter, shall be marked exactly in the center of the rink; and with this spot as a center, a circle of fifteen feet radius shall be marked with a blue line two inches in width. The width of this line shall be included in the radius.

Rule 107 Face off Spots in Neutral Zone

(a) Two red spots two feet in diameter shall be marked on the ice in the Neutral Zone five feet from the near edge of the blue line. Within each face-off spot draw two parallel lines four inches from the top and bottom of the spot. The area within the two lines shall be painted red, the remainder shall be painted white. The spots shall be forty-four feet apart and each shall be a uniform distance from the adjacent boards.

Rule 108 End Zone Face-off Spots and Circles

(a} In both end zones and on both sides of each goal, red face-off spots and circles shall be marked on the ice. The face-off spots shall be two feet in diameter. Within each face-off spot draw two parallel lines four inches from the top and bottom of the spot. The area within the two lines shall be painted red, the remainder shall be painted white.

One foot away from the outer edge of the face-off spot, two lines shall be drawn parallel with the side boards that shall be four feet in length and eighteen inches apart. Parallel to the end boards, commencing at the end of the line nearest to the face-off spot, a line shall extend two feet ten inches in length. All lines shall be two inches in width.

The circles shall be two inches wide with a radius of fifteen feet from the center of the face-off spots. The width of this line shall be included in the radius. On both sides of each end zone face-off circle shall be two lines two feet long, two inches wide and four feet apart.

(b) The location of the face-off spots shall be fixed in the following manner: Along a line twenty feet from each goal line and parallel to its mark two points twenty-two feet on both sides of the straight line joining the centers of the two goals. Each such point shall be the center of a face-off spot and circle.

Rule 109 Players' Bench

(a) Each rink shall be provided with seats or benches for the use of players of both teams and the accommodations provided including benches and doors shall be uniform for both teams. Such seats or benches shall have accommodations for at least fourteen persons of each team, and shall be placed immediately alongside the ice, in the Neutral Zone, as near to the center of the rink as possible with doors opening in the Neutral Zone and convenient to the dressing rooms.

Each player's bench should be twenty-four feet in length. The players' benches should be on the same side of the playing surface opposite the penalty bench and should be separated by a substantial distance. Where physically possible, each players' bench shall have two doors in the Neutral Zone and all doors opening to the playing surface shall be constructed so that they swing inward.

(b) None but players in uniform, and Team Officials Cup to a maximum of four) shall be permitted to occupy the bench area so provided.

(c) There shall be no smoking, alcoholic beverages or spitting of tobacco on the players' bench, penalty bench, time keeping area or on the ice by any person. A team shall be warned by the Referee for the first offense by any player or Team Official during a game and, thereafter, a bench minor penalty shall be assessed for each such offense during the game.

Rule 110 Penalty Bench

(a) Each rink must be provided with benches or seats to be known as the "PENAETY BENCH." It is preferable to have separate penalty benches for each team to be separated from each other and substantially separated from either players' bench. The penalty bench(es) must be situated in the Neutral Zone.

(b) On the ice immediately in front of the Penalty Timekeeper's seat there shall be marked in red on the ice a semicircle of ten feet radius and two inches in width which shall be known as the "REPEREE'S CREASE."

Rule 111 Signal and Timing Devices

(a) Each rink shall be provided with a siren, or other suitable sound device, for the use of Timekeepers.

(b) Each rink shall be provided with some form of electrical clock for the purpose of keeping the spectators, players and game officials accurately informed as to all time elements at all stages of the game, including the time remaining to be played in any period.

Time recording for both game time and penalty time shall show time remaining to be played or served.

(c) Behind each goal electric lights shall be set up for the use of the Goal Judges. A red light will signal the scoring of a goal. Where automatic lights are available, a green light will signify the end of a period or a game.

(Note) A goal cannot be scored when a green light is showing.

The red light shall be connected to the timing device in such a manner so that when the period ends it will not be possible for the Goal Judge to turn it on. However, the fact that the Goal Judge may not be able to turn on the red light does not necessarily mean that no goal has been scored. The determining factor is whether or not the puck completely crosses the entire goal line before the period ends