Hockey Goal Crease (2024)

Hockey Goal Crease (1)

The goal crease in hockey is the shaded blue area in front of each team’s goal. The crease is painted onto the iceand is shaded blue to stand out. This is the area given to the goalie to stop the opposing teams’ shots and keep the puck out.This area is intended to be a safe zone for the goalie where they are protected. Many goalies also use the crease to determine where they are positioned in relation to the goal without having to look behind their back.

Table of Contents

  • Crease Rules
  • Crease Dimensions
  • FAQ

Crease Rules

There are several rules in hockey regarding the crease. First, opposing players are prohibited from making any contact with the goalie in the crease. If players contact the goalie in the crease, they will receive a two-minute penalty, and a goal could be waived off if it was scored during the interference. For reference, when goalies are outside of the crease, they are still not allowed to be hit, but incidental or unintentional contact is allowed.

Another rule is that the puck has to enter the crease before any part of the opposing player's body enters the crease, including a skate or a stick.Lastly, defenders are prohibited from grabbing, covering, or concealing the puck in any way within the crease. If they do so, a penalty shot is awarded for the opposing team.

Crease Dimensions

The standard National Hockey League crease is 8 feet wide, with two sides measuring 4 feet, each connected by a semi-circle. The semi-circle is 6 feet long at its apex and connects the two 4 foot long sides.The goal itself is 6 feet wide, making the width of the crease a foot longer than the goal on both sides. The crease is shaded blue and is outlined with a 2-inch red border.

FAQ

Can a player be in the crease when a goal is scored?

In the NHL, a player can be in the crease when a goal is scored, as long as they don’t violate certain criteria. They are not allowed to impede the goalie’s movement within the crease, and any contact with the goalie will result in the goal being waived off.If a player interferes with a goalie in the crease, the player will receive a two-minute penalty for goaltenderinterference on top of the goal being waived off.

Isa goalie allowed to push a player out of the crease?

Players are not allowed to impede the goalie’s movement within the crease in any way, shape, or form. Therefore, if players are in a position that is impeding the goalie’s movement within the crease, goalies can initiate contact with a player by pushing them.This will prove that the player is impeding the goalie’s movement, and if the player does not immediately vacate their position, they can be called for a two-minute goalie interference penalty.

Can the goalie get hit outside of their crease?

Outside of their crease, goalies are allowed to be intentionally hit.If a player makes intentional contact with a goalie, whether it is inside or outside of their crease, they will receive a two-minute penalty.However, if a goalie is outside of their crease, they are allowed to be hit if the contact is unintentional or incidental. This decision is up to the referee’s discretion and is often a difficult call to make.

Hockey Goal Crease (2024)

FAQs

Are players allowed in the goal crease? ›

Can a player be in the crease when a goal is scored? In the NHL, a player can be in the crease when a goal is scored, as long as they don't violate certain criteria. They are not allowed to impede the goalie's movement within the crease, and any contact with the goalie will result in the goal being waived off.

Are goalies allowed to leave the crease in hockey? ›

Goaltenders can leave their crease to make a save or play the puck – as long as it's not in the trapezoid or beyond center ice. If they leave the blue paint to join a scrum, they'll be serving time.

Why do goalies rough up the crease? ›

Goalies scrape the ice around them with their skates and stick to prepare the crease before the start of play. They do this for a few reasons, to stop the build-up of snow, to make their crease flatter and to make the puck slide slower.

What is the crease rule? ›

In the NHL, the crease -- also known as the "goal crease" -- is the area of ice directly in front of the net, identified by a red border and blue interior. An attacking player is not allowed to precede the puck into the crease, though the referee is instructed to use his discretion in enforcing this rule.

Who is not allowed in the goalie crease? ›

What players are not allowed to do in the goal crease? A player may not enter the crease to impede the goalie in anyway from their ability to make a save. Contact with the goaltender is divided into two categories in the referee's decision making: Incidental or intentional.

Who is the only one allowed in the goal crease? ›

Only the goalie is allowed inside the goal crease. The only exception when another player is allowed in the goal area is when they take off from outside the goal area, and shoots or passes the ball before landing.

How long can a goalie stay in the crease? ›

Your goalie or player has 5 seconds to get the ball out of the crease after stopping and gaining control of it; they must have both feet out to be considered out and once out, they or any other player cannot go back in or through! You can pass to the goalie as much as you want if they are out of the crease.

How far can a goalie come out of the crease? ›

A player from either team can remain in the crease without the ball. A goalie can pick the ball up as long as they have at least one part of their body in the crease. allowed to touch it/pick it up with their hands. Goalies can come out of their crease, but cannot cross half.

Why is it called a goal crease? ›

In the neophyte days of hockey before ice paint a stick or skate was used to mark a “crease” in the ice. This was the “you better damn well not enter” part of the ice in front of the goaltender. It's more commonly known as the goal crease.

Why can't goalies go in the trapezoid? ›

The goaltenders are only allowed to play the puck inside of the trapezoid when the puck goes behind the net. The idea was that this would limit the goaltender's ability to retrieve the puck for their team and would give the attacking team a greater chance at winning possession of the puck deep in their offensive zone.

What a goalie should not do? ›

Goalies should not stay back, flat footed, on the goal line. Be ready to come out. There is nothing worse than rolling the ball right into the feet of the opponent. Don't act quickly as a goalie, instead, take your time and make the right judgement!

Why do goalies slap their stick on the ice? ›

Scraping the ice to make it less slippery

As you watch a goalie they will be constantly be going up-and-down and side-to-side from post to post as the plays move in front of them. When the ice is really slippery it makes it more difficult for the goalie to control his slide from one side of the post to the next.

What's a crease violation in hockey? ›

Regulations also state that the puck has to enter the crease first before an attacking player can enter; no part of the attacking player's body, or a stick or skate, can enter the crease first, otherwise they're whistled for an infraction.

What is crease violation? ›

Crease Violation—An offensive player cannot touch or enter the circle around the goal. If a player is shooting and steps in the crease, the goal will not count. Offsides—Offsides occurs when there are too many offensive or defensive players on a particular side of the field.

When did the goalie crease change? ›

The 1990s rime with communication. In 1991-1992, the league installs a system allowing referees to consult instant replays to determine if there was goal or not. The goal crease changes shape, first enlarged, then from a rectangle to a semi-circle.

Does a goal count if an offensive player is in the crease? ›

No goal may be scored with an attacking player in the goal crease unless the puck has preceded the player (s) into the goal crease or the goalkeeper is out of the goal crease area.

Can you check the goalie outside the crease? ›

In all cases in which an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, whether or not the goalkeeper is inside or outside the goal crease, and whether or not a goal is scored, the attacking player will receive a penalty.

Can a hockey goalie cover the puck outside the crease? ›

The rules allow a goalie to cover the puck outside the crease if it is part of blocking a shot then freezing the puck immediately. Otherwise, a goalie who comes outside of the crease to freeze the puck will be assessed a 2 minute penalty for delay of game.

Can a goalie take his mask off? ›

When a goalkeeper deliberately removes his helmet and/or face mask in order to secure a stoppage of play, the Referee shall stop play as outlined above and in this case asses the goalkeeper a minor penalty for delaying the game.”

Can you pull a goalie then put him back in? ›

Once pulled, can a goalie come back in? Yes. Goalies are allowed to return to the game if they are pulled. There is no rule against this.

What is the 7 hole in hockey? ›

'Six and Seven Hole': the six and seven holes are relatively new terms to identify the areas under either armpit of the goalie. Goaltenders who hold their trapper high or blocker further out to the side of their body are said to have six and seven holes.

What is a trapezoid in hockey? ›

It is used to judge goals and icing calls. New since the 2005–06 NHL season, after testing in the American Hockey League, a trapezoid is marked behind each goalie net. The goalie can only play the puck within that area or in front of the goal line.

What sports have a goal crease? ›

Ice hockey

The goaltender usually plays in or near the area in front of the net called the goal crease (often referred to simply as the crease or the net).

Why can't NHL goalies have colored tape? ›

The reason for the use of white tape, rather than other colors is to distinguish between the puck and the knob of the stick. Some goalie's have a quite large knob which can be mistaken for a puck.

Why can't goalies have colored tape at the top of their stick? ›

A black knob on the end of a goaltender's stick could easily be mistaken as a puck. And when the rule was written years ago, players had two tape colors to choose from. Black and white. By mandating goaltenders use white tape, the NHL was lessening the chance of blown calls by the goal judges.

Why do NHL goalies not play every game? ›

Simple: the risk of injury is greater for goaltenders than it is for players. Goalies themselves might be champing at the bit to play a full slate, but those behind the scenes caution against it.

Why do goalies tape their fingers? ›

It helps to prevent excessive force being applied to the joints in the fingers when gripping and grappling. This increases your grip strength by moving the strength emphasis away from your fingers to your wrist and hands.

Do goalies wear socks under their pads? ›

> Goalies do not typically have to wear hockey socks. Often track pants are more comfortable and less likely to bunch up under their pads. > Goalies sweat a lot so a good dry-wick t-shirt is recommended.

Can a goalie play without gloves? ›

Currently, there is no known law in football which states that goalkeepers must wear gloves. Yet seeing keepers playing with bare hands is rare these days. IFAB 2020-21 Law 4 outlines all the equipment and clothing players and goalkeepers must wear. This includes shin pads, shirts, shorts, socks and boots.

What is a pizza in hockey? ›

Pizza: A brutal pass up the middle of the ice intercepted by the opposing team. "Bidini is serving up more pizzas tonight than Little Caesar's."

What does a squid mean in hockey? ›

Having eight arms, the octopus symbolized the number of playoff wins necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. The practice started April 15, 1952, when Pete and Jerry Cusimano, brothers and storeowners in Detroit's Eastern Market, hurled an octopus into the rink of Olympia Stadium.

Why do goalkeepers jump before a shot? ›

Owing to the short distance between the penalty spot and the goal, there is very little time to react to the shot. Because of this, the goalkeeper will usually start their dive before the ball is actually struck.

What is Rule 56 in hockey? ›

In 1922, the NHL introduced Rule 56, which formally regulated fighting, or "fisticuffs" as it was called in the official NHL rulebook. Rather than ejecting players from the game, as was the practice in amateur and collegiate hockey, players would be given a five-minute major penalty.

What is the goal crease measurement? ›

Goal crease

This line is 1.2m long and extends at a right angle from a point on the goal line, 30cm from the outside of each goal post. A line parallel to the goal line joins the ends of these two lines.

When did the NHL crease size change? ›

1998-99The league instituted a two-referee system with each team to play 20 regular-season games with two referees and a pair of linesmen. Goal line moved to 13 feet from end boards. Goal crease altered to extend one foot beyond each goal post (eight feet across in total. Sides of crease squared off, extending 4'6".

What is Rule 48 in the NHL? ›

Rule 48 formally appeared in the NHL rulebook for the 2010-11 season. Illegal checks to the head were now defined: "A lateral or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted."

Which player can enter into the crease? ›

Crease. The goal crease is a zone in front of the goal mouth where only goalies are permitted. If another player goes into the crease while carrying the ring, play is stopped, and the goalie receives the ring for a goalie ring.

Can you go in the crease in soccer? ›

Any player can pass, shoot, or dribble the ball while in the crease. A goal may be scored from within the crease. A player from either team can remain in the crease without the ball. A goalie can pick the ball up as long as they have at least one part of their body in the crease.

Who is allowed in the crease area in lacrosse? ›

What is the crease in lacrosse? In lacrosse, the crease is the small circular area around the net measuring 18 feet in diameter. Only the goalkeeper and defensive players are allowed inside the crease during a lacrosse game, and the goaltender is the only player who is allowed to control the ball inside the crease.

Can an offensive player step in the crease? ›

Crease Violation—An offensive player cannot touch or enter the circle around the goal. If a player is shooting and steps in the crease, the goal will not count. Offsides—Offsides occurs when there are too many offensive or defensive players on a particular side of the field.

Which player is allowed everywhere except in the goal circles? ›

Centre (C)

She is also required to feed the ball to the shooters in the goal circle. Area of play: Anywhere except the goal circles of both teams.

What does it mean when a batsman asks for 2? ›

"Covering two', which is what most players want, means that you have got a position in which your bat is covering the leg and middle stumps.

Can a player stand in the crease in hockey? ›

It belongs to the goaltender and is used both for protection and for reference as a guide to positioning in making saves. Opposing players are allowed to go into the crease as long as they do not interfere or impede his ability to stop the puck. The goalie crease rules have a long history of change.

Can you score in the goalie crease? ›

No goal may be scored with an attacking player in the goal crease unless the puck has preceded the player (s) into the goal crease or the goalkeeper is out of the goal crease area.

Who is the only player that can touch the ball in lacrosse? ›

The only player allowed to touch the ball with his/her hands is the goalie. Players attempt to gain control of the ball by scooping or catching it with a stick or by dislodging the ball from opponent's stick by checking. Checking involves poking, slapping or hitting an opponent's stick and gloved hand.

What does respect the crease mean? ›

Therefore, if a goalie clamps onto a loose ball outside the crease, the opposing players have to respect that the goalkeeper has established possession of the ball and leave him be.

Can girls hit sticks in lacrosse? ›

In women's lacrosse, a stick check can be used to knock the ball out of an opponent's possession. However, there are specific rules pertaining to stick checking, so check out CoachUp's guide in order to avoid fouls and force turnovers!

Is it OK for the defender to step into the goal crease to block a shot? ›

Either of these infractions results in a free throw. Back to the goal crease. If a defender steps into the goal crease in an attempt to block or disrupt a shot, a 7-meter throw is awarded.

Can you step on the line when shooting a free throw? ›

In addition, the shooter must release the ball within five seconds (ten seconds in the United States) and must not step on or over the free-throw line until the ball touches the hoop. Players are, however, permitted to jump while attempting the free throw, provided they do not leave the designated area at any point.

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