Hockey Basics

The regulation Hockey is typically 200 ft long and 85 ft wide. It is equipped with several markings for the different positions of play. These include; the defense Zone, Neutral Zone and the Attack Zone. The defense Zone is located just in front of your team’s goal. This is a high action space designated for keeping the opponents team from scoring while pushing them back towards their goal and advancing towards the Attack Zone to score a goal. The Goal line, which determines how far a goalie can travel past their goal, is located just behind the goal crease. The Goal crease is a small semi circle right in front of the goal cage. This circle is the goalies personal area for movement. They cannot protect outside of it, nor should No player or stick shall go past it, only the puck. The end Zone face-off is located in the two circles placed just beside the goalie. Each end of the rink is a mirror image of each other and serves the same purpose for each team. The Neutral Zone stays constant. This is the area in the middle of the rink and it is the area with the least overall action. It is home of the face of spot and the center face off where the game starts. Six players each make up a center, a right and left winger and two defensemen, and a goaltender and there is a total of 12 hockey players on a rink at all times. The two defensemen are located in the Defense Zone and try to stop incoming plays before any chance of scoring is possible. They attempt this by blocking shots and clearing the puck from their area. They pass the puck to their teammates in challenging ways to entertain and confuse their opponents. Offensively, they move the puck up the ice and pass and advance towards their opponent’s goalie. Located in Attack Zone’s, goaltender’s job at that point is the last line of defense. They must keep the puck from entering the goal at all costs.

This involves using their legs, hands, stick or head to protect their net. The Center’s are located in the Neutral Zone and their job is to operate up and down the middle of the ice. They lead their team’s attack by passing the puck back and forth between their right and left winger. Defensively, the center tries to keep the play from leaving the attack zone as the play approaches their goal. Left and right wingers travel alongside the rink and fall victim to most of the “Checks” (body slams or hits) in the game. Their job is to make the goal shots from the sides and defensively, they guard the opponent’s wingers from shooting in their goal. The winner of each age advances their way to the championship where they just might get a chance to take home the Stanley cup.