Floor / Ice Hockey Study Guide
History
There are a number of theories about how ice hockey began. The most recently verified historically, is that ice hockey originated in northern Europe as a winter variation of field hockey, a sport played for over 500 years.
Tom Harter, director of Civic Recreation in Battle Creek, Michigan, introduced the newgame of floor hockey modified from the original game of ice hockey. Ice hockey began inCanada in the mid 1800’s. By 1900, it became the national sport of Canada. In the 1870’s, a group of college students at McGill University began organized play at a downtown ice rink in Montreal. These students developed the first known standardized rules for the game, known as McGill rules, which substituted a puck for a rubber ball and set the number of players on a team at nine. By 1893, the game was so popular that Lord Stanley of Preston, the British Governor-General of Canada, donated a silver bowl to be awarded annually to Canada’s champion hockey team. This bowl is the modern-day Stanley Cup, the NHL’s championship prize. It is a fast paced game,and the only game allowing player substitutionsduring play. Now, over 1000 amateur players take part at the community, high school andcollege levels.Typically, hockey games are divided into 3-20 minute periods with 2 intermissions betweenthem. The object is to score points by hitting the puck into the goal or net. Floor hockey isa modification of ice hockey with differences in rules and modifications and of course, nouse of ice or skates. Balls can be used in replacement for pucks. Use of a ball makes stickhandling easier and increases the pace of the game.
Terms
Assist – a pass from a teammate that leads to a goal.
Boards – Walls at the ends and on the sides of the rink that keep the puck in play.
Blade – the curved end of the stick, front and back, used to hit the puck.
Body or Shaft – the main part of the stick, used to hold and stickhandle.
Center– Usually one on the ice at a time. Center may go on both halves of the ice.
Defensive Players – Usually two of these players per team on the ice at a time. Defensive players usually help the goalie stop the offensive team from scoring.
Forward or Wing – Usually two of these players per team on the ice at a time. One usually plays on the right and the other on the left. These players are often good scorers and passers.
Glass – Protective glass that rises above the boards to prevent the puck from going out of play and also allow spectators to view the action.
Goalie – Player that protects the goal. The goalie tries to prevent the puck from traveling into the net. The goalie in ice hockey wears large pads on their legs and arms to prevent injury.
Goalie Crease – the area where no player’s feet or stick, except for the goalie, is allowedduring play. (This area is designated by the teacher.)
Hat Trick – when one player scores 3 goals in one game.
High Stick – a foul, when the blade of the stick is higher then the player’s knees.
Face-Off – starts play by either an official dropping of the puck or by students tapping sticks3 times and then beginning play.
Wrist Shot – quick snap of the wrist, used for quickness and accuracy. The puck should stayin contact with the blade of the stick throughout the execution. There should not be a backswing and you shouldn’t hear the ball make contact with the stick. Used as a pass or a shoton goal.
Rules and Regulations
• Each team consists of 6 players – center, 2 forwards (right wing, left wing) right defense, left defenseand a goalie.
• Goalies must stay in their crease, the wings must stay in the offensive half and thedefensive players must stay in the defensive half.
•All players must stay on their designated half of the court with the exception of the center. The center may go on either side of the court at any time.
• Play starts with a face-off at the center circle and after each goal is scored.
• No player is allowed in the crease except the goalkeeper.
Fouls and Penalties
• High sticking – whistle stops play. Results are a one minute power play for the
opposite team. Face off in the defensive zone starts play. The player may not enterthe game until notified by the teacher. Three offensives will result in an ejectionfrom the game.
• Rough Play – intentional contact that will result in an extended penalty period
depending on the severity of the infraction.
•Players are not allowed to raise their stick above the waist on either the back swing or the follow through when attempting to contact the puck.
•Players must have a “sleeve” covering the blade on their stick. If their stick should become uncovered during play, the sleeve or cover should be put back on the blade before the player continues.