NCAA Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee -- 2003-04 Major Rules Changes:

Rule(s)      Explanation                                                                              Page(s)

2-1-b         Visiting team may light-colored jerseys during HR-19

                regular season when teams agree

Light-colored jerseys (e.g., white, gold, yellow or light blue) may be worn, during the regular season, by the visiting team only when the teams have agreed prior to the game. If the teams are unable to agree the visiting team will wear dark-colored jerseys.

2-5-b-3      Home team has up to eight seconds to  HR-23 change players

1. Referee points to location of the face-off. This starts the line change procedure. The referee should be positioned at the blue line or in the neutral zone.

2. The referee signals the visiting team that it has up to five seconds to change players.

3. The referee puts his or her hand up to the visiting team indicating no further changes can be made, and signaling the home team that it has up to eight-seconds to change players.

4. When the referee’s hand comes down, the official dropping the puck blows a quick whistle, signaling the start of the face-off and that the puck will be dropped in no more than five seconds.

2-5-f         Teams must begin play with proper number of players        HR-23

Both teams must start play with the proper number of players.

PENALTY -- First offense: warning. Second and subsequent offenses: bench minor penalty.

Note: Should a team start with fewer players than allowed and the officials err in detecting this situation, any subsequently entering players shall not be eligible to play the puck coming from the player's defensive zone until that player has returned to the defensive zone or until possession and control of the puck have been gained by another player in the neutral zone or in the player's attacking zone.       

Rule(s)      Explanation                                                                         Pages    

3-5            Helmet chinstrap must be fastened so that there is HR-30

                only room for two fingers between chin and strap   

All players, including goalkeepers, are required to wear ice hockey helmets with chin straps securely fastened. There shall only be enough room between the chin strap and the chin to insert two fingers.

3-5-Note    Officials shall check goalkeeper’s chin strap prior     HR-30

5-3-c, 5-4-e                                                        to starting game HR-45, 47

An on-ice official shall check each starting goalkeeper’s chin strap prior to the start of the game. If in violation, equipment must be corrected before the player will be allowed to participate.

5-9-d, 6-57 Game timekeeper shall time and signal                  HR-50, 79

                termination of timeouts                      

The game timekeeper shall be responsible for timing and signaling the termination of the timeout by blowing the horn.

6-8            Penalty for contact to the head added                    HR-54

A player shall not make contact to an opposing player’s head or neck area in any manner.

PENALTY—Minor or major or disqualification at the discretion of the referee. Contact to the head shall be assessed in front of the infraction (i.e. contact to the head – elbow)

Note: The Rules Committee instructs officials to use a zero tolerance policy in this area.

6-13          Penalty for excessive roughness added                  HR-56

A player shall not commit an action not permitted by the rules that may cause or causes an injury to an opponent, to team personnel or game official.

PENALTY—Disqualification.

Rule(s)      Explanation                                                                         Page(s)

6-15-d       Players must be stationary in immediate vicinity            HR-58

                of faceoffs                                         

On all face-offs, players must take a stationary position in the immediate vicinity of the face-off before the puck is dropped.

6-18-c-1     Goal disallowed when puck is struck above four feet        HR-61

                above four feet                                  

A goal shall not be allowed in any of the following cases…

If an attacking player strikes the puck with a stick when the puck is above the height of the crossbar of the goal frame (4 feet [1.22m]);

6-18-c-14   Goal disallowed if scored on non-offending team             HR-62

                during delayed offside                         

A goal shall not be allowed in any of the following cases…

If the puck enters the defending team’s goal during a delayed offside, the goal is disallowed. The face-off will be in the neutral zone.

6-21-c       Puck shall not be touched with stick above four feet         HR-64

When the puck is above the height of 4 feet [1.22m] it shall not be batted with the stick

6-30-c       Referee’s discretion to issue warning for crowd                 HR-68

                control issues                                            

PENALTIES—a. through c.—Warning or bench minor against offending fans’ team for delay of game. It is the referee’s discretion, depending on the severity of the action, whether or not a warning is appropriate.

Note: Conferences or the proper disciplinary authority are encouraged to develop policies in this area if necessary.

Rule(s)      Explanation                                                                        Page(s)

6-56-c       Altered video replay criteria to include puck that            HR-78

                strikes protective netting and leads to goal   

One of the following criteria must be met for replay to be used…

To determine if a goal was scored, as a direct result of the puck deflecting off of the protective netting above the glass, by the first team to gain possession of the deflecting puck.

6-57          Clarified that team timeout may be taken at any            HR-78

                stoppage of play                                

Each team shall be allowed a one-minute timeout during the game; the timeout may be taken anytime during a stoppage of play. 

6-58-a       Interpretation added for diving sweep check            HR-79, HI-21

A.R.: Player A1, on a two-on-one, has the puck. Player B1 slides on the ice, knocking the puck away from A1, but in the process, tripping A1. RULING: Minor for tripping must be called. Tripping must be called anytime it occurs, regardless of whether or not contact is made with the puck.

7-1            Puck does not need to be present for checking             HR-80

                to occur in women’s game                   

Body checking is not permitted in any area of the ice. Body checking occurs when a player’s intent is to gain possession of the puck by separating the puck carrier from the puck with a distinct and definable moment of impact. The puck does not need to be present for body checking to occur.

Note: The rules committee deleted some confusing language in this section with the hope that officials will call this rule more consistently.

2003-04 Points of Emphasis

Contact To The Head

The Rules Committee is concerned that, in some cases, previously legal body checking and contact are causing head injuries. The committee added a new penalty for contact to the head and urges officials and conferences to take a zero tolerance policy in this area.

Equipment

Players must be equipped with proper protection. The committee is requiring that goalkeeper's helmets be checked prior to all games and that institutions and conferences assist officials in this area. All players must wear a helmet with chinstraps securely fastened.

Goaltender Interference

Particular attention must be paid to contact with the goaltender. These infractions often escalate and lead to altercations. Goaltenders must be allowed to play their position. To that end, the crease rules must be enforced strictly and consistently.