The net (or goal) is the center of action during a hockey game. Players are constantly trying to get hold of the puck and shoot it into the net in order to score a goal. Hockey organizations like the National Hockey League have uniform regulations on the size, makeup and placement of hockey nets in order to ensure consistency in their league. Other hockey organizations, such as those in college sports and youth and recreation leagues, often alter these regulations based on the level of play.
Goal Posts
The standard hockey net is made up of a two goal posts, a crossbar and the frame that holds the net onto the goal. The goal posts in the NHL must be four feet tall and six feet apart and are required to be red.
Crossbar
The crossbar is a metal pole that extends from the top of one goalpost to the other. In the NHL, the crossbar is six feet in length. Like the goalposts, the crossbar must also be painted red.
Net and Frame
The frame of the hockey goal extends back from the line of the crossbar 44 inches at the bottom and 18 inches at the top of the frame, and a net is attached to the frame to catch the puck. While the crossbar and goalposts are painted red in the NHL, the frame of the hockey goal and net are white to distinguish them from the other sections.
Youth Nets
Due to the smaller size of players, youth leagues often use smaller nets to make game play comparable to the high levels of competition. Hockey goals at the youth level are usually a half a foot shorter and 18 inches narrower (or more) than their professional counterparts. This reduces the overall opening of the hockey net by about 30 percent to accommodate for the smaller body of a youth goalie.
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