Rules
The goal of the SOCALICEHOCKEY club is to make playing recreational hockey fun and safe. No more showing up not knowing if anyone will be there and wondering if you’ll be shooting for posts and cones. All games are GUARANTEED to have 2 GOALIES*! Lines are arranged by experience/ability level so you’ll be playing against players of like ability. Players are expected and REQUIRED to pass and skate hard in both zones (see rules). Shifts are timed to allow equal ice time for all players. Please bring a white and dark jersey to all games. Jerseys are made available for select morning games. All players are responsible to wear required equipment.
So reserve your spot, show up and have a great time playing the great game of hockey!
1. Have FUN!
2. NO HITTING – EVER. Do not bump, hit, slash or high stick. THERE IS NO CONTACT. If someone is going to beat you on either side DO NOT move into the lane, move out of the way. Those ignoring this rule will not be welcome at future games.
3. Don’t be a puck hog. Pass the puck. You’ll find an amazing thing happens when you pass, you usually get it back.
4. Look ahead for your Wingers and make the pass. Ever notice how the skaters without the puck are always skating faster than those with the puck? Make the pass.
5. Use the boards to clear. Don’t pass up the center and give the other team a clear shot on goal. Use the boards as an additional skater.
6. Communicate on the ice. Be your team mates eyes, tell them what’s around them and tell where you are. Make sure you are listening.
7. Defensemen don’t go behind the net! Let the wingers do their job, you do yours.
8. Play both sides of the ice. If you cherry pick you’ll be unpopular and make your team mates work much harder. Skate hard all the time regardless of who has the puck – you paid for it.
9. Centers watch for the 3rd attacker deep in your zone. If you can count 3 offending jerseys in front of your goalie and your high in the zone waiting for a break out pass, you are out of position.
10. Get off the ice QUICKLY at the end of each shift. Your turn is over, watch out for the new skaters rushing to the puck.
11. When you hear the buzzer ending your shift DON’T TOUCH THE PUCK. It’s right there, everyone knows you could score if you had just 1 more second, trust me they know. So leave it where it is. Do not shoot it down to the other end. Do not shoot it one more time at the goalie. Just skate away..
12. OFFSIDES/PENALTIES. If you come in offside or commit a clear penalty give up the puck to the other team. Yes, hooking and holding are penalties.
13. No face offs or referees. Play fair, play nice, it’s just for fun. Keep each other accountable on the ice.
14. Play is always on. Unless the puck is covered by the goalie the puck is live at all times.
15. Take the player looking for the pass on defense. Give the goalie less to think about by taking the other player out of the equation. The player without the puck always poses the biggest threat.
16. Defensemen stay inside the blue lines in the offensive zone. It’s your job to keep the puck in the zone. Keep your team from having to skate out of the zone by doing your job at the blue line.
17. Warm up the goalies. Although you probably need the practice, DO NOT practice your deking, the goalie needs to get a feel for the puck.. so SHOOT IT hard and low. Don’t give away your patented finesse moves that nearly got you to the show just yet, save those gems for the game.
18. NO Slap Shots. Taking a slap shot at any time during a SoCal Ice Hockey game is not allowed. Notice the PERIOD. No slap shots.
19. Make suggetions, not demands. A great way to help other players, especially those who are still learning the game, is to share your hockey smarts. The more you “suggest” and the less you “demand” the more likely others are to learn from you. Keep in mind however that nobody likes a tyrant on the bench, just ask Mike Babcock.
20. Stay until the game is complete. Leaving the game early (even if you are tired) is a good way to make everyone on your team very frowny. The game needs you, your teammates need you, so stay and play to the end whenever possible. You won’t find yourself gaining additional fitness sitting in the locker room.