Hockey Offensive Zone
In hockey, the offensive zone is the area where the goal your team is attempting to score on is located. The offensive zone is marked by a 12-inch thick blue line that stretches across the ice and separates the offensive zone from the neutral zone. The offensive zone is also referred to as the attacking zone or attack zone.
Offensive Zone Rules
There are several rules in hockey regarding the offensive zone. The most prominent is the offside rule. In hockey, the puck must enter the offensive one before the first attacking skater’s entire body. The player’s stick is not considered part of the player's body and, therefore, may enter the offensive zone before the puck. If most of a player’s body is over the blue line before the puck, but their skate is being dragged along the blue line, they are still considered onside.
Another rule that applies to the offensive zone is the hand pass. In your defensive zone, you are allowed to use your hand to pass the puck to a teammate or move the puck. However, if a player is in the offensive zone and uses their hand to pass the puck to their teammate, they will be whistled for a hand pass violation, and a face-off will take place at one of the neutral zone dots.
Lastly, if a player flips the puck up over the protective glass in their defensive zone, they will be whistled for a delay of game penalty. However, if a player flips or shoots the puck over the protective glass in their offensive zone, there is no penalty, and a face-off will ensue.
Offensive Zone Strategy
There are several different strategies that teams deploy when entering the offensive zone. Some coaches prefer to dump the puck into the zone and chase after it, putting the opposing team’s defenders under pressure. In contrast, other coachers prefer that their teams enter the offensive zone in a more organized way that involves movement and passing. Offensive zone strategy is a matter of preference and is dependent on the type of players that make up a team.
FAQ
What is the offensive zone in hockey?
The offensive zone in hockey is the zone where the goal your team is trying to score on is located. It is on the opposite side of the defensive zone and the goal that your team is defending. The offensive zone is distinguished by a blue line that is 12 inches thick and runs the width of the ice. The puck must enter the offensive zone before the entirety of the first attacking player's body, or the attacking team will be whistled for being offside.
What does F1 mean in hockey?
In hockey, strategy is a very important part of the game, and it is important that players stick to their positions. However, because the game moves so fast, players are not always where they are supposed to be. Therefore, coaches use F1, F2, and F3 instead of RW, C, and LW to identify their forwards when formulating a strategy. F1 is the first forward that enters the offensive zone. This may be a different player on each play, but the F1 has specific instructions to carry out a team's strategy.
What does a center do in hockey?
In hockey, the center is responsible for playmaking in the offensive zone and assisting the defenders down low in the defensive zone. The center is a key part of a team's offensive and defensive strategies. Another one of the center’s main responsibilities is to take face-offs. In hockey, when there is a stoppage of play, the referee drops the puck in between the two centers who battle to win possession for their team.
What is a penalty box in hockey?
In hockey, the penalty box is where penalized players go for a required amount of time after committing a violation. Each team has a penalty box that is on the opposite side of their bench. When a player commits a penalty, they are required to sit in their team's penalty box for 2 minutes or 5 minutes, depending on the severity of the penalty. Players must sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes when they commit a minor penalty and 5 minutes when they commit a major penalty.