DEFINITION: Offside in hockey refers to a rule violation where an attacking player crosses the opposing team’s blue line ahead of the puck, before the puck itself crosses the blue line.
FAQs:
1. What happens when a player is offside in hockey?
– When a player is deemed offside, play is stopped, and a faceoff is conducted outside the offending team’s attacking zone.
2. Can a player be offside in their own defensive zone?
– No, offside only applies to the offensive zone. A player can freely enter and exit their own defensive zone without any restrictions.
3. Is offside determined by the position of a player’s skates or stick?
– Offside is determined solely by the position of a player’s skates, specifically the back skate. If the back skate is ahead of the blue line while they enter the offensive zone, they are offside.
4. Does offside always result in a penalty?
– Offside itself does not result in a penalty, but rather a stoppage of play and a faceoff. However, if a player intentionally plays the puck while offside or interferes with an opponent while offside, it may result in a penalty.
5. Can offside be challenged using video review?
– Yes, offside calls can be challenged by coaches using the coach’s challenge system. Video review is used to determine if a player was indeed offside at the time of entry into the offensive zone.
