Ice Hockey·Winter Sports

NCAA

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NCAA Ice Hockey Rules of the Game· 2025-26 NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Book (M's + W's; 60-min regulation, 5-min 3v3 OT in regular season, college rink dimensions)Open source

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Section 1: Introduction

NCAA Ice Hockey is the collegiate variant of ice hockey contested by NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions across both men's and women's brackets in the winter season. NCAA Ice Hockey uses the IIHF rule baseline with NCAA-specific modifications around overtime format, video review, goaltender equipment, and team penalty handling. The current edition is the 2025-26 NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Book. For international rules see the sibling IIHF Ice Hockey Rules entry; NHL professional rules are under Team Sports/Hockey/NHL Official Rulebook.

Section 2: Equipment

Puck: vulcanized rubber, 3" diameter × 1" thick, 5.5-6 oz, frozen pre-game
Stick: max 63" length, blade max 12.5" × 3" (skater); goalie stick 26" max paddle, 15.5" blade
Skates: NCAA-approved figure with secure ankle support and toe cap; goaltenders use specialized goalie skates
Required protective: NOCSAE-approved helmet with chinstrap fastened, full face mask (mandatory at NCAA — distinguishes NCAA from some pro leagues), neck guard recommended/required by some conferences, mouthguard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, hockey pants, shin guards, jock
Goaltender: full goalie helmet/mask, throat protector, chest+arm protector, blocker, glove, leg pads (max 11" wide per side), goalie pants, NCAA-approved goal stick
Goal frame: 6 ft wide × 4 ft high × 44" deep with white netting

Section 3: Playing Area

NCAA rink: 200 ft × 85 ft (standard "North American" dimensions; some venues use larger international 200 × 100)
Two blue lines defining the offensive/defensive zones; one red center line
Two end-zone faceoff dots in each defensive zone, neutral-zone faceoff dots, center faceoff dot
Goal crease: D-shape with 6-ft radius from center of goal line
Trapezoid behind each goal where the goaltender may play the puck (NHL-style, adopted by NCAA)
Boards 40-48" high topped with safety glass (84" minimum height behind the goals)

Section 4: Players & Officials

5 skaters + 1 goaltender per team on the ice during regulation play
Roster: typically 25-28 players for NCAA D1; suit list 20-22 per game
Unlimited line-change substitutions on the fly through the bench area or at stoppages
Officials: 2 referees + 2 linespersons (4-official system) for NCAA D1 men's; 1 referee + 2 linespersons (3-official) for some D2/D3 / women's games
Off-ice officials: scorer, timekeeper, penalty timekeeper, video review official
NCAA Coach's Challenge: head coach may challenge designated reviewable plays (offside leading to a goal, goaltender interference, missed stoppage); successful challenge does not cost the team timeout, unsuccessful one charges a timeout

Section 5: Rules of Play

Game Structure

Three 20-minute periods, separated by two 15-minute intermissions
Tied game in regular season: 5-minute 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime, then 5-round shootout if still tied (per NCAA / conference adoption)
NCAA Tournament: 20-minute 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime periods until a goal is scored; no shootout in postseason

Faceoffs

Game starts and resumes after stoppages with a faceoff at the appropriate dot. Centers position sticks flat on the ice; the linesperson drops the puck.

Movement

Forward passing: legal in all three zones (no two-line-pass restriction since 2005)
Offside: an attacking player may not enter the offensive zone before the puck
Icing: a non-power-play team that shoots the puck from its own side of the center red line across the opponent's goal line is whistled for icing (touch-up icing in NCAA — opposing player must touch the puck to confirm, with hybrid icing safety modifications)
Goaltender may handle the puck in the crease and within the trapezoid; outside the trapezoid behind the goal line is a delay-of-game penalty

Section 6: Scoring

Goal: entire puck crosses the goal line between the posts and below the crossbar
Goals are reviewable by NCAA video review for legality (offside, puck in net, kicking motion, hand-pass, distinct kicking motion)
Empty-net, shorthanded, power-play, and game-winning goals are recorded for stat purposes
Match result: most goals at end of regulation/overtime/shootout wins

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Minor penalty: 2 minutes in the penalty box; team plays short until the penalty expires or the opposing team scores (power play ends on goal for minor)
Major penalty: 5 minutes; team plays short for the full 5 minutes regardless of goals scored against
Misconduct: 10 minutes (player only — team plays full strength)
Game misconduct: ejection from the game + supplementary discipline review
Match penalty: ejection + 5-minute power play to the opposing team + suspension review
Common minor offenses: tripping, hooking, slashing, holding, interference, roughing, cross-checking, boarding, charging, elbowing, high-sticking
Major-only or potential major offenses: checking from behind, head contact, charging causing injury, fighting (game misconduct + automatic suspension at NCAA)
NCAA contact-to-the-head framework: any contact to the head is a major + game misconduct, regardless of intent (stricter than some pro leagues)
Fighting: NCAA assesses a game misconduct + minimum one-game suspension for the first offense

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Mandatory full face mask (NCAA standard); contact-to-the-head zero-tolerance framework; fighting penalty includes mandatory game misconduct + suspension. Concussion protocol: removal + graduated return-to-play assessment. Independent medical observers may be present at championship-level games. NCAA-mandated safety equipment, ice/glass inspection pre-game. Medical coverage: certified athletic trainer required at every NCAA-sanctioned game; team physician + EMT/ambulance at championship-level. Emergency action plan + AED access at every venue.

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Full Rulebook(10 sections)

Overview

How to win

The game

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Equipment

Section 3: Playing Area

Section 4: Players & Officials

Section 5: Rules of Play

Game Structure

Faceoffs

Movement

Section 6: Scoring

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Playing the ball

Fouls & penalties

Equipment

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