What Is Red Line In Hockey? (2024)

What Is Red Line In Hockey? (1)

The red line in hockey splits the ice into two halves. It is used primarily to determine whether icing has occurred. There are also two goal lines in each team’s defensive zone, which are red as well. Read on to learn about the functions of the red line and goal lines in hockey.

Table of Contents

  • Center Red Line
  • Goal Lines
  • FAQ

Center Red Line

The center red line is the most notable red line on the ice, and it is present on every hockey rink. The center red line cuts through the middle of the ice and divides the ice into two halves. The center red line is 12 inches thick and runs the entire 85-foot width of the ice.

In addition to dividing the ice into two halves, the main purpose of the center red line is to enforce the icing rule.The icing rule states that the player in possession of the puck must cross the center red line before sending the puck into the offensive zone. There are a few exceptions to the icing rule. First, if the team that dumps the puck is shorthanded, they do not have to be ahead of the center red line. Another exception is if the puck is dumped on goal or the goalie is the first player to play the puck.

A separate rule that relates to the red line states that goalies are not allowed to cross this line at any time during the game. If a goaltender interferes with play by crossing the center red line, they will be assessed a minor penalty. However, since goalies cannot serve penalties, another player on the ice for their team will serve two minutes in the penalty box.

Goal Lines

What Is Red Line In Hockey? (2)

Not to be confused with the center red line, the goal lines in each team’s defensive zone are also red. The goal lines serve two important functions. First, like the center red line, it helps enforce the icing penalty. The puck must go past the red goal line for a play to be counted as icing. Secondly, the red goal lines also help determine what is a goal.

There are two nets on each end of a hockey rink. In order for a play to be considered a goal, the puck must go into the net and completely pass the red line. If the puck does not go completely across the red line, then it will not be considered a goal.There have been a lot of very close calls in the history of the NHL, and referees will often use instant replay to get a better look and determine if the puck has fully crossed the line.

FAQ

What is the red line in hockey?

The red line in hockey typically refers to the center red line, although the two goal lines in each team’s defensive zones are also red.The center red line is 12 inches thick, while the two red goal lines are much smaller, spanning 2 inches. Both lines stretch 85 feet, the full width of the ice. Both the center red line and the goal lines aid in the enforcement of the icing rule, and the goal lines also aid in determining if a goal is scored.

What is “dumping the puck” in hockey?

“Dumping the puck” in hockey is a popular tactic where the player in possession of the puck shoots the puck down the ice into their offensive zone.There are a few reasons and advantages to dumping the puck.First, dumping the puck forces the opposing team to go back and fetch it, which allows the team in possession to make substitutions or change lines. Another strategy is to chase after the puck and put pressure on the defense, forcing them into a turnover in their own defensive zone.

What year did the NHL remove the two-line pass rule?

In 2005, the NHL removed the two-line pass rule, which the center red line was critical for.The two-line pass rule stated that a player could not make a pass that spanned two lines or more. This meant that a player could not make a pass from their defensive zone over the center red line. The removal of this rule has improved the speed of the game by allowing for more breakaways and goal scoring opportunities.

Can a goalie cross the red line?

In the NHL, goaltenders are not allowed to play the puck over the center red line.In fact, goaltenders are not allowed to interfere with the play by any means across the red line.If they do this, they will be called for a minor penalty and there will be a stoppage in play. If a team is trailing with a few minutes left and needs to push for a goal, they will pull their goalie and bring on a skater who is free to roam wherever they want on the ice.

What Is Red Line In Hockey? (2024)

FAQs

What is red line in hockey? ›

The area between the bluelines is called the neutral zone. At the far ends of the rink, a red line extends the width of the ice. That is the goal line. If the puck legally crosses the goal line into the net, a goal is scored.

What is red line and blue line in hockey? ›

1. A typical hockey rink has two blue lines defining the offensive and defensive zones for each team and a red line dividing the rink in half. 2. A team's offensive zone is the area above the far blue line guarded by the opposing team.

How many red lines are there in hockey? ›

On an ice hockey rink there are three red lines. The center red lines main function is to help with the rule of icing, whereas the two thinner goal lines at the ends of the rink help to determine icing and whether a goal is scored.

What are the lines in hockey? ›

The lines in hockey refer to the different lineups that teams utilize throughout the game. Each line typically consists of three forwards, a center and two wingers on either side of the center, and two defensem*n. Usually, teams field four lines of forwards and three lines of defensem*n.

What red line means? ›

'Red lines' in negotiations are areas that one side states it will not compromise on, due to some fundamental interest.

What does the red line represents? ›

The Red line, or "to cross the red line", is a phrase used worldwide to mean a figurative point of no return or line in the sand, or "the fastest, farthest, or highest point or degree considered safe."

What is the best line in hockey? ›

Minimum Ice Time: 75 Minutes
RankLinexGoals For Per 60 Minutes
1Marchand-Bergeron-Debrusk3.52
2Zetterlund-Hischier-Tatar3.4
3Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko4.03
4Lindholm-Clifton2.92
38 more rows
1 Dec 2022

What is a hockey blue line? ›

The blue line in ice hockey is what divides the hockey rink into three zones: the defensive zone, the neutral zone, and the attacking zone. The blue lines also determine whether or not a player is offsides.

Can a goalie cross the red line? ›

(c) If a goalkeeper deliberately participates in the play in any manner when they are beyond the center red line, a minor penalty shall be assessed.

What was the old red line rule in hockey? ›

In 1943 through 2005, a rule known as the 2-line pass rule was used league wide. This rule prevented teams from passing the puck from their defensive zone to a player that was already on the opposing team's side of the red line.

What is 2 line hockey? ›

Players get together a team of 10 skaters (2 lines) and 1 goalie and enter the tournament as a team. Each team will have an opportunity to play a minimum of 4 games with lots of ice time for all of those players involved!

What color is the goal line in hockey? ›

Lines on the Hockey Rink

Two thick blue lines cross the rink 25 feet away from the center line. This creates a fifty foot neutral zone in between the two blue lines. The red lines near the ends of the rink are known as the goal line; there is one of these in both ends of the rink.

What are 3 rules in hockey? ›

Ice Hockey Rules
  • Game time is forfeit time.
  • If you do not have a legal team (5 skaters and a goalie) at game time, your team must forfeit. ...
  • No more than 11 can dress per game; only one manager/coach allowed on the bench per team - they must wear a helmet at all times!
  • Skates only allowed on the ice - no dress shoes.

How many blue lines are there in hockey? ›

There are two thick blue lines that divide the rink into three parts, called zones. These two lines are used to judge if a player is offside. If an attacking player crosses the line into the other team's zone before the puck does, he is said to be offside.

What happens if you red line? ›

Consistently redlining your car can cause serious damage to not only your tires, but also your engine. For those with manual-shift modes or manual transmissions, it can be quite easy to redline (whether on accident or on purpose) and eventually cause your engine to wear down prematurely.

How do you redline? ›

Click and drag your cursor through the text that you want to modify, which highlights it. Highlighting the text means that any formatting or editing tools you use are going to affect that section alone. While highlighted, click the "Font color" button, then the "Strikethrough" button. This text is now redlined.

How did the red line form? ›

The term “redlining” was coined by sociologist John McKnight in the 1960s and derives from how the federal government and lenders would literally draw a red line on a map around the neighborhoods where they would not invest based on demographics alone.

Who is No 1 in hockey? ›

IIHF World Ranking
RANKMEN'S (May 2022)WOMEN'S (September 2022)
01.Finland – 4130Canada – 4160
02.Canada – 3990United States – 4090
03.Russia – 3935Finland – 3850
04.United States – 3775Switzerland – 3820
52 more rows

What is 3 goals in hockey called? ›

A hat trick as hockey fans know it comes when a player scores three goals in a game, usually earning him a cascade of hats thrown onto the ice by fans (especially if the player is on the home team). A natural hat trick is when a player scores three consecutive goals in a game.

What are 4 goals in hockey called? ›

Scoring four goals in a hockey game is much less common than a hat trick. If a player scores four goals in a single game, it is sometimes referred to as a “Texas hat trick.” This term is less commonly used than a hat trick, and its origins are uncertain.

What is 23m line in hockey? ›

A hockey ground is rectangular in shape, measuring 91.4m in length and 55m in width. Modern pitches are made from synthetic material. The ground is divided into two halves by a centreline and each half is further divided by a 23m line and includes a Dee or the striking circle – a semi-circle with a 14.63m diameter.

What are the 4 types of hockey? ›

Most people have heard about the more popular forms of hockey (ice hockey, field hockey, roller hockey, Shinny), so this article takes a look at some of the lesser known, but equally interesting variations of the sport we all love. Enjoy!

What is the 6 hole in hockey? ›

SIX-HOLE: The space created between the stick arm and body when the stick paddle is too large or when the goalie “rolls” the stick arm shoulder in a half butterfly. SPECTATOR: When a goalie, while “reading the play” watches rather than moves with the puck on a pass or shot.

Why is it called 5 holes? ›

The reason for naming this location five-hole comes from Canadian bowling, which uses 5 pins, the centremost of which is worth 5 points. This pin is often called the 5-pin. When the 5-pin is knocked down without hitting any other pins, the hole left in the middle is known as the 5-hole.

What are the 7 holes 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.

Is a two-line pass legal in hockey? ›

Offside pass. a pass to a player who is offside. This can mean a two-line pass(no longer current in the NHL since 2005), a pass that crosses two lines marked on the ice for such purposes. Depending on the era and league, the centre red line may or may not count as such a line.

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 a blue line penalty in hockey? ›

A player is judged to be offside if both of their skates completely cross the blue line dividing their offensive zone from the neutral zone before the puck completely crosses the same line. In both organizations, it is the position of a player's skates that are important.

When was red line added in hockey? ›

In 1943 the league introduces the red line, permitting passes through the defending blue line. This way, a defenseman can make a pass from his zone to a teammate in the neutral zone, as long as the latter receives the puck before crossing the red line. The two-line rule is born.

What is +1 hockey? ›

The plus (+) indicates the underdog when you place a bet on hockey games.

What is a 60 minute line hockey? ›

A 60 minute line is a bet similar to the moneyline, but includes only the result at the end of 3 periods and thus includes the tie option. If Toronto is playing New Jersey, bettors can bet on Toronto to win in 60 minutes, New Jersey to win in 60 minutes, or the tie at the end of 60 minutes.

What is C2 in hockey? ›

C2 Division – For beginner to proficient hockey players. In this division, there a reasonable mix of beginners to players with some high school or club hockey experience. Some players in this division started the sport as adults or went many years without playing.

What is yellow in hockey? ›

There are three cards, green, yellow, and red, which are used for misconduct violations. The green card is used for warnings, the yellow card is used to remove a player from the game for a minimum of five minutes, and the red card disqualifies the player from the game.

What does green mean in hockey? ›

For, rules of hockey stipulate a player can be cautioned (by spoken words), warned (by a green card), temporarily suspended for a minimum of five minutes (by a yellow card) or permanently suspended from the match in progress (by a red card).

How wide is the blue line? ›

(c) The ice surface between the two (2) goal lines shall be divided into three (3) areas by lines, known as the “BLUE LINES.” The blue lines shall be twelve inches (12”) wide and dark blue in color. The neutral zone side of the blue lines shall be sixty-four feet (64') from the back of the goal lines.

What are 5 fouls in hockey? ›

Types of foul in field hockey
  • Obstruction. This is awarded against a hockey player who uses their body or stick to prevent an opponent from reaching the ball.
  • Third-party obstruction. ...
  • Advancing. ...
  • Backsticks. ...
  • Hockey stick interference. ...
  • Undercutting. ...
  • Sticks.

What are the two fouls in hockey? ›

When a player violates one of the rules of the game, he is given a penalty by a referee. Penalties are given for body fouls such as hitting from behind, elbowing and fighting. Penalties are also given for stick fouls like slashing, spearing, hooking, holding, tripping, cross-checking and high-sticking.

What is the hardest lead to keep in hockey? ›

A two-goal cushion is often referred to as the “most dangerous lead in hockey,” so named because a team will squander it four out of every 10 times.

Why does hockey use 3 periods? ›

The brothers apparently believed the change would allow for more frequent rink cleanings while offering players additional rest and encouraging fans to visit concession stands. By the time the NHL rolled out several years later, the three-period structure was well underway and has remained a staple for over 100 years.

How many types of hockey are there? ›

There are many types of hockey. Some games make the use of skates, either wheeled, or bladed while others do not. In order to help make the distinction between these various games, the word "hockey" is often preceded by another word i.e. "field hockey", "ice hockey", "roller hockey", "rink hockey", or "floor hockey".

What are the two blue lines in hockey? ›

There are two blue lines located 25 feet in both directions of the center line, which designate the offensive and defensive zone. Players can't cross the blue line to enter the offensive zone until after the puck crosses the line or it's offsides.

How far is the red line from the blue line in hockey? ›

The blue lines sit 50 feet apart with the red line slicing down the middle between them. Everything after the blue lines and toward a team's net is considered their defensive zone. The space between the blue lines is the “neutral” zone.

What are the 2 lines behind the goal in hockey? ›

When you go to a hockey game you will notice that their are a lot of different lines on the ice. The lines behind the goalie net are what is called the trapezoid.

What are the 4 lines in hockey? ›

A complete forward line consists of a left wing, a center, and a right wing, while a pair of defensem*n who play together are called "partners." Typically, an NHL team dresses twelve forwards along four lines and three pairs of defensem*n, though some teams elect to dress a seventh defenseman, or a thirteenth forward.

What is a butterfly in hockey? ›

In ice hockey, butterfly style is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the spread goal pads and hands to a butterfly's wings.

How big is the red line? ›

Red Line (CTA)
Red Line
Line length26 mi (42 km)
CharacterElevated, Expressway and Subway
Track gauge4 ft 81⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationThird rail, 600 V DC
17 more rows

What is the blue line rule? ›

The rule states that "a player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line."

How far is the red line from the goal? ›

In American football the goal lines run 10 yards (9.1 m) parallel to the end lines, while in Canadian football they run 20 yards (18 m) parallel to the dead lines.

What is the goal line rule? ›

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal. If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded.

What are the 5 tools in hockey? ›

Building a 6-Tool Hockey Player
  • Skating (Speed/Agility/Transition)
  • Puck Control.
  • Passing.
  • Shot Quality (Power/Accuracy)
  • Positioning (Offensive and Defensive play)
  • Hockey IQ.
2 Oct 2020

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