Structure of Play
Thesetypes of rules set the fundamental guidelines for the sport. The rulesdescribe such items as the playing surface, markings, nets, playerequipment and make-up of the teams. Also included are elements such ashow goals are scored and rules pertaining to the crease.
Flow of Play
Thesetypes of rules set out how play is started and stopped and the basicsof how the game is played. Included in the flow of play rules are the30-second rule (getting a shot on net), the 10-second rule (advancingthe ball into the attacking zone while playing short-handed) or the5-second rule (time the goaltender can keep possession of the ball inthe crease). These rules also cover out-of-bounds guidelines,face-offs, time-outs, and how to re-start play.
Infractions
Thethird class of rules deals with undesirable behavior in the game. Therules set out the guidelines for acceptable play and what constitutesan infraction of the intent of the game. These rules generally stemfrom three types of behavior - interfering with the flow of play,attempting to gain an illegal advantage, and creating a risk of, oractual personal injury to an opponent.
Interferingwith play includes such items as an illegal pick or pushing an opponenton a loose ball. Illegal advantage refers to such acts as too many menon the floor on a line change. The risk of injury is the broadest typewhich includes such acts as slashing, high sticking, or checking frombehind.
There are three types of penalties which are given when a player commits an infraction of the rules.
1. Loss of Possession
Theloss of possession means the ball must be turned over to the opponent.it is the penalty applied to violating the flow of play rules such asout-of-bounds, interference by an offensive player, or violation of anyof the time rules (5, 10 and 30-second).
2. Penalty Shots
Thisis the most extreme penalty which is applied when a player, incommitting an infraction, has taken away a clear scoring opportunity -for example tripping an opponent who has a breakaway, or a defensiveplayer touching the ball with his hand in his own crease. For this typeof penalty, the game is stopped and a player is given an uncontestedshot on the goaltender.
3. Time-served Penalty
Thistype of penalty has the player who commits the infraction being removedfrom the game for a specific period of time. The amount of time rangesfrom two minutes to the remainder of the game. There are five types oftime-served penalties:
a) Minor penalty - 2 minutes (which is released if the opponent scores one goal);
b) Major penalty - 5 minutes (which is released if the opponent scores two goals);
c) Misconduct - 10 minutes or for the remainder of the game;
d) Expulsion - immediate removal from the game;
e) Match - immediate removal from the game and carries a further suspension for games.