how to play hockey
sources:www.teamopolis.com, www.howtodothings.com
Hockey is a team sport played on a large surface of ice. Players wear ice skates with sharp blades that glide smoothly along the ice surface. Sticks in hand, player’s battle to put the puck past the goalie into the opposing teams’ net.
Each team has anywhere from 12 to 30+ players with at least one designated goalie. Players are designated as either defensive or offensive players. Each team has three forwards on the ice, a center, right wing and left wing, two defensive players and a goalie. That is unless a team is shorthanded because of a penalty.
Each team has anywhere from 12 to 30+ players with at least one designated goalie. Players are designated as either defensive or offensive players. Each team has three forwards on the ice, a center, right wing and left wing, two defensive players and a goalie. That is unless a team is shorthanded because of a penalty.
The rules of ice hockey may at first seem complex and confusing. By understanding certain calls such as offsides and icing, however, one can easily master the basics of the game. Pick up your hockey stick and let's play hockey! Here's how to play hockey:
To win the game:
To win the game:
- One team must score more goals than the opposing team.
- A goal is scored each time the puck goes past the goal line of the opposing team's net.
- A goal does not count if it is purposely kicked in by the foot, thrown in by the hand, or hit in by a high stick.
- A goal accidentally deflected off of a player does count.
The setup of the players:
- Six players from each team are allowed on the ice at one time. This includes one goalie, two defenders, and three forwards.
- There is a right defender and a left defender, although usually they may choose to rotate.
- Among the forwards, there is a center, a right wing, and a left wing.
- For a team playing in a league, there is usually a designated captain and assistant captain. These players are allowed to talk to the referees if any problems arise during the game.
- A typical hockey rink has two blue lines defining the offensive and defensive zones for each team and a red line dividing the rink in half.
- A team's offensive zone is the area above the far blue line guarded by the opposing team.
- A team's defensive zone is the area below the near blue line guarded by its own team.
- The zone between the two blue lines is called the neutral zone.
- Circles on the left and right side of the goal nets define face-off dots for face-offs called in that zone. Centers line up in the centers of the circles, and wings usually line up on the sides of the circles. Defensemen usually line up in back of their wings outside of the circles. The defending team may reposition their forwards to better cover the offensive defensemen.