While leagues are free to fashion their own rules and regulations, many high schools adopt codes consistent with standards set forth by the National Federation of High School Associations, a nationwide organization dedicated to the support and promotion of high school sports. Whatever the origin of their guidelines, high school leagues strive to adopt regulations that are both comprehensive and enforceable.
Dates and Times
High school leagues are responsible for setting the dates when the season starts and stops. This charge encompasses when practices can begin, when exhibition games start, the length of the regular season and the dates for playoffs. Furthermore, the duration of games themselves is set at the league level. The Minnesota state league, for example, limits games to three periods of 17 minutes each for varsity players, and 15 to 17 minutes for junior varsity teams.
Uniforms and Equipment
The NFSA publishes rules regarding jersey colors, number placement, logo placement and the number of athletes that can suit up per game. The Ohio state league takes it a step further, specifying the allowable dimensions for goaltenders' leg pads, blocker and catching gloves. In addition, leagues must decide whether to mandate throat protectors, or to simply recommend them. Skate design, stick length and allowable jewelry are also subject to league dictates. The New Jersey league, for example, does not stop play when a player loses a dental guard, though it orders retrieval by the player at the earliest opportunity thereafter.
Player Conduct
High school sports are as much about character formation as they are about athletic performance. How a hockey player interacts with teammates and opposing players is as important as technical execution. Hockey leagues impose penalties for students who defy their standards of sportsmanship. Hockey is known for rough play. The Metroplex High School Hockey League in the Dallas-Fort Worth area imposes graduated penalties for episodes of fisticuffs. For instance, the third offense carries a season suspension. Insults, profanities or banging the boards with a hockey stick often earns time in the penalty box. Not immune to rules are the coaches and officials. California officials are governed by their own association, which assigns and pays its member officials. Understandably, this organization has procedures to address official misconduct.
Rules of Play
Leagues approach the game rules with varying degrees of specificity. Unlike college ice hockey, the NFSA does not require players to be still at face-off. Yet like its NCAA counterpart, it limits face-off locations to nine designated spots in the rink. Icing the puck -- shooting from a player's own defensive zone to points beyond the opposition's goal -- is permitted when a team is understaffed. But leagues must decide for themselves what constitute avoidable occasions for body checking and what do not. Other league prerogatives include game clock management. The Maryland state league, for one, will allow the clock to keep running during the second and third periods if a 10-point score margin exists between teams. This contrasts with the normal practice of stopping the clock after each play.
References
- Ohio High School Athletic Association: Ice Hockey 2011-2012 -- Ice Hockey -- Boys -- General Regulations
- Ohio High School Athletic Association: 2010-2011 Ice Hockey Manual for Coaches and Officials
- National Federation of State High School Associations: Ice Hockey
- Minnesota State High School League: 2011-12 Boys' Hockey -- Rules and Policies
- New Jersey State Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association: 2010-2011 Ice Hockey Rules Modification
- Ice Hockey Officials of Northern California: Policies
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