Dimensions Of A Hockey Goal

Every hockey player knows that his goal is to score by putting the puck into the other team's goal and to prevent the other team from putting the puck into his team's goal. Such a demand makes it is essential for a player to understand the dimensions of the goal and how much space he is working with.

Parts

The face of a hockey goal is made up of two goal posts and a crossbar. The crossbar is the upper post that runs parallel to the ice, and the goal posts are the two structures that run from the ice to each end of the crossbar. Goal posts have hollow bottoms and must be held by pegs that are connected to the playing surface. These pegs must be made of a flexible material so that the goal will move if a player crashes into it. This prevents injuries from crashing into a fixed, metal structure. A net connects to the crossbar and posts. The crease is the marked-off area in front of the goal where the goalie stands.

Dimensions

According to National Hockey League rules, the dimensions of a hockey goal must be 6 feet by 4 feet. This means the posts must be 4 feet tall, running from the ice to the bar. The crossbar running between the posts must be 6 feet long, so the posts must be 6 feet apart. Inline skating goals follow the same dimensions. The pegs must be 10 inches long. The crease starts one foot outside of each post and extends four feet in front of the net at a 90-degree angle to the goal line. These four-foot lines are connected by an arch at the front of the crease.

Colors

The goal posts and crossbar must be painted red and the pegs should be lime green. The rest of the goal should be painted white. The crease is marked by a 2-inch-wide red line.

Nets

Nets must be made of white nylon cords. The purpose of the net is to keep the puck in the goal after a team scores, but the net should be draped so that the puck does not stick on the outside or back of the goal. White nylon fabric is fastened around the base of the goal to prevent the nylon cord of the net from being cut or damaged by players' skates. This padding starts six inches behind each goal post and runs around the net. The padding runs only along the bottom one inch of the goal.