Ice Hockey Offside Simply Explained

If the puck leaves the attacking zone and enters the neutral zone, all attacking players must clear the zone before re-entering.

📌 Passive Offside:

• If attacking players remain in the offensive zone without touching the puck, it is considered passive offside.
• Players are given time to leave the zone before play resumes.

Understanding the Blue Line in Different Situations

📌 The blue line belongs to the zone where the puck is currently located.

• If the puck is in the neutral zone, the blue line counts as part of the neutral zone.
• If the puck is in the offensive zone, the blue line counts as part of the offensive zone.
• A player can control the puck on the blue line without causing an offside violation.

Intentional Offside – A Special Case

📌 Intentional offside occurs when:

• A team deliberately shoots or dumps the puck deep into the offensive zone while a teammate is already in an offside position.
• The offside player fails to leave the zone and pressures an opponent or plays the puck.

⛔ Penalty for intentional offside:

• The next face-off takes place in the defending team's zone.
• The offending team cannot make substitutions during the stoppage.

Conclusion

✔ Ice hockey offside is easy to understand once you focus on the blue line and the puck's position.
✔ Players must enter the offensive zone only after the puck has fully crossed the blue line.
✔ The blue line shifts between the neutral and attacking zone based on the puck’s location.
✔ Intentional offside leads to a disadvantageous face-off and no line change for the offending team.

Understanding these rules helps players and fans follow the fast-paced nature of hockey more effectively! 🏒🔥