While soccer fans know that no player can touch the ball except the goaltender-quick pause here to say, "Go Sounders!" in the MLS title game Sunday - there are times when NHL players can use his hands on the puck.
And there are times when it most definitely not allowed.
Let's start with who and what is allowed. NHL goalies, of course, use their hands to defend shots with a stick-hand "blocker" glove and other hand "catch glove." They can "freeze" the puck or stop play by covering up on the puck or keeping it in the catch glove to get a referee's whistle and a subsequent nearby faceoff. There are exceptions when and how a goalie can freeze a puck, but basically if the attacking offensive team is threatening to shoot or control the puck, the goalie can use any means necessary to freeze the puck, including his hands.
There can be proper hand use for NHL skaters (the hockey term for everyone on ice but the goalies, who, believe it, are excellent skaters at the pro level and superior at lateral movement). Players are permitted to stop or "bat" a puck in the air with his open hand but must immediately place or knock it down to the ice. This might throw off a soccer fan new to ice hockey, but it can be useful to control an errant pass or lobbed puck provided the puck is immediately dropped for stick control.
The player can even push the dropped puck along the ice with his hand and, according to the NHL "Official Rules" book, "the play shall not be stopped unless in the opinion of the referee, the player has directed the puck to a teammate."
Here's where the details are important: If the hand pass is between two players in their defensive zone (goal end), then play is not stopped. If the hand pass is performed by teammates in the offensive zone (other team's goal end) or neutral zone (center ice), then play is whistled dead and there will be a faceoff. The exact faceoff circle is determined by the referee to make sure there is no advantage to the offending player's team.
One more no-no from the NHL rulebook for all players, defenders or attackers: "If the player catches it and skates with it, either to avoid a check or to gain a territorial advantage over his opponent, a minor penalty shall be assessed for "closing his hand on the puck."
Hard stop. Rewind to Game 4 of last spring's Western Conference Final. In overtime, with the San Jose attacking in the St. Louis zone, Sharks forward Timo Meier swatted a deflected puck in mid-air toward the goal and teammate Gustav Nyquist, who then passed to Eric Karlsson for an overtime winning goal. The Sharks won 5-4 and took a two games to one lead in the series that determined which team advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
As it turns out, no hand pass was called on the play by the on-ice officials. The play, according to last season's rulebook, was not reviewable for video replay officials. The Blues, from goalie Jordan Binnington to GM Doug Armstrong were understandably demonstrative and upset.
Every sports fan knows calling a hand pass or penalty or inbounds/out-of-bounds is easier with slow motion and multiple replay angles. This missed call-NHL executives admitted the same the next day-occurred in lots of traffic and players to the side of the goal with all four officials (two referees and two linesmen) in typical positions.
The Blues went on to win the series and the Stanley Cup. Along with admitting the error the next day, the NHL revised its "Official Rules" book to now include video replay on hand passes as an option for a coach's challenge to prevent just this sort of "black-and-white" play that resulted in an offensive goal.
For his part, St. Louis coach made a rare direct route to the locker room immediately after the Game 3 overtime loss to encourage his players to not complain in media interviews when the doors opened. Like fans watching the game, he saw his players slamming sticks and yelling at the officials.
"Gotta move on," Berube told his team. "We all gotta move on from it and get ready for Game 4. Really that's all you can do."
FAQs
adjective. A hands-off policy or approach to something consists of not being personally or directly involved in it.
What does hands-on role mean? ›
Hands-on experience or work involves actually doing a particular thing, rather than just talking about it or getting someone else to do it.
What is the difference between hands-on and hands off approach? ›
Those who overuse a hands-on or directive approach stifle creativity, autonomy, and people's ability to do their best work. Those who overuse a hands-off or empowering style create chaos or confusion, fuzziness about roles / responsibilities, and cause some problems to linger for longer than needed.
What does hands off government mean? ›
The term "hands-off approach" is used to explain a type of government under which government allows people to make their decision and government does not directly intervene in the market. The government that uses this approach is also known as Laissez-faire.
What was the hands-off policy called? ›
Laissez-faire refers to an economic philosophy that advocates for minimal government interference in the economy.
What does hands-on mean management? ›
Hands-on management is a particular style of management where the manager or person in charge is particularly active in day-to-day business and leadership. It is not to be confused with micromanagement and is seen as the opposite of Laissez-faire management style.
What can I say instead of hands on? ›
actively and personally involved in something Supervisors at the company are expected to take a hands-on role in the projects of their subordinates.
- direct.
- active.
- primary.
- firsthand.
- immediate.
- unmediated.
- engaged.
- diligent.
Instead of using "Hands-on," job seekers can use synonyms like "Operated," "Managed," or "Controlled" to convey their experience in operating machinery or equipment. These alternatives highlight their technical skills and proficiency in handling specific tools or systems.
What is hands on leadership role? ›
Hands-on leadership, on the other hand, is where employees are directed and coached while you work beside them, showing them the ropes. This style of leadership ensures higher quality is achieved, their careers are nurtured, and a stronger connection and engagement with you and your business vision is fostered.
Why is a hands-on approach good? ›
Hands-on learning encourages students to become active participants in their education. This approach helps students develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Hands-on learning can be applied to a variety of subjects, not just science and art.
Examples of hands-on learning activities include science experiments, field trips, role-playing simulations, building projects, and service learning opportunities. Hands-on learning can be incorporated into any subject area and can be adapted for learners of all ages and abilities.
What is the hand on approach theory? ›
The Role of Experience in Learning
He believed that genuine learning only occurs when we actively engage with an experience, interact with our environment or work through a scenario. In other words, learning requires a 'hands-on' approach.
What does hand off mean in the workplace? ›
A Business Process Handoff is an activity of transferring a person, responsibility, or information from one person to another, one system to another, or one department to another. The successful transfer of this information is critical to run smooth business processes.
What does take a hands off approach mean? ›
dealing with situations and people in a way that allows others to make decisions: a hands-off attitude/policy/style. a hands-off approach to sth The family is said to take a hands-off approach to the day-to-day running of the business they own.
What does a hands on person mean? ›
hands-on adjective [before noun] (INVOLVED)
Someone with a hands-on way of doing things becomes closely involved in managing and organizing things and in making decisions: She's very much a hands-on manager. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Excited, interested and enthusiastic. abubble.
What is the hands off policy quizlet? ›
The hands-off doctrine held that inmates were entitled to the same constitutional protections as citizens, while the restraining hands doctrine of the Supreme Court gave correctional administrators freedom from excessive lower-court interference.
When was the hands off policy? ›
Until the 1960s, the courts did not practically interfere with prison life. The courts adopted a hands-off doctrine towards convicted offenders.
What is a policy meaning hands off the government should keep its hands off the market? ›
Laissez-faire is often synonymous with the phrase "hands-off," and it embodies the idea that the government shouldn't interfere with the economic/transactional affairs between people and businesses.
What does the expression hands off mean? ›
An order to stop touching or interfering with something, as in Hands off the cake, children! This idiom is also put as keep one's hands off, as in She knew she had to keep her hands off so he could learn to tie his shoes by himself. [
