Rule 6.12 – Off-side

An off-side violation occurs when players of the attacking team precede the puck into the attacking zone.

Once the puck has completely crossed the blue-line, it is the position of the player’s skates, and not that of their stick or any other part of their body, will be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. Only the player’s skate(s) that are in physical contact with the ice surface will be used in determining an off-side.

The question of an off-side never arises until the puck has completely crossed the blueline.

A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the edge closest to the defending zone of the blue-line involved in the play, prior to the puck crossing that blue-line.

If a pass deflects off a defending player, their skates or their stick, causing an attacking player to precede the puck into the attacking zone, the off-side rule will apply.

Note 1: A player is NOT off-side when any part of either of their skates, are in physical contact with, or on their own side of the line at the instant the puck completely crosses the edge closest to the defending zone of the blue-line involved in the play, regardless of the position of their stick.
If an attacking player precedes a puck that is shot, passed or deflected into the attacking zone by a teammate, or deflected into the attacking zone by a defending player or On-Ice Official, the Linesperson will signal a delayed off-side.

The Linesperson will drop their arm to nullify the off-side violation and allow play to continue if:
1. the defending team passes or carries the puck into the neutral zone, or
2. all attacking players clear the attacking zone by making skate contact with the blue-line, so that the attacking zone is completely clear of attacking players.
During a delayed offside, if:

the puck enters the net, either directly or as a deflection, the goal will not be allowed as the original shot was off-side.
Note 1: This applies even if, after the puck is shot, the attacking team clears the attacking zone and the linesperson drops their arm to nullify the delayed off-side, prior to the puck entering the net.
if any attacking player touches the puck or attempts to gain possession of a loose puck while the puck is still in the attacking zone, the Linesperson will stop play.

An attacking player who precedes the puck into the attacking zone will not be considered off-side if:
1. a player propelling the puck crosses the attacking blue-line ahead of the puck but is maintaining possession and control of the puck, which was gained prior to both skates crossing the blue-line.
2. a player legally carries or passes the puck from the neutral zone back into their own defending zone while a player of the opposing team is in the defending zone.
An attacking player will be called for an intentional off-side, under the following circumstances:
When this occurs, play will be stopped immediately and the face-off will occur at an end zone face-off spot, in the defending zone of the offending team.

INTERPRETATIONS
Interpretation 1	Rule 6.12 (a) A player has one skate on the blue-line and one skate over the blue-line at the instant the puck completely crosses the blue-line. ON-SIDE.
Interpretation 2	Rule 6.12 (a) A player has both skates in the neutral zone, with their stick over the blue-line at the instant that the puck completely crosses the blue-line. ON-SIDE.
Interpretation 3	Rule 6.12 (a) A player has one skate above the blue-line (not touching the ice) and one skate over the blue-line at the instant the puck completely crosses the blue-line. OFF-SIDE.
Interpretation 4	Rule 6.12 (a) A player has both skates over the blue-line, but the puck is still on the blue-line. Potential OFF-SIDE, but not until the puck completely crosses the blue-line.
Interpretation 5	Rule 6.12 (a) An attacking player has both skates over the blue-line. A teammate in the neutral zone shoots the puck. The puck deflects off an opponent and then the puck crosses the blue-line. DELAYED OFF-SIDE.
Interpretation 6	Rule 6.12 (a) The puck is in the possession of the attacking team in the attacking zone. The puck is passed back to the blue-line. The puck comes halfway over the blue-line (half on the line and half over the line) then is shot deep in the zone again. ON-SIDE.
Interpretation 7	Rule 6.12 (a) The puck is in possession of an attacking player with both skates over the attacking blue-line. Using their stick, they bring the puck over the blue-line into the neutral zone, with their skates remaining in the attacking zone, and then bring the puck back into the attacking zone. OFF-SIDE.
Interpretation 8	Rule 6.12 (b) Where icing occurs with an attacking player in an off-side position, the infraction that is called is icing and the ensuing face-off will take place in the offending team’s end zone.
Interpretation 9	Rule 6.12 (b) When a penalty is over, the Penalty Timekeeper should open the Penalty Bench door. If the Penalty Bench door is inside the attacking zone, the player is considered to be in an off-side position. Even if they wait until the puck crosses the blue-line to come on the ice, that would not change the fact that they are still off-side. As soon as the Penalty Timekeeper opens the Penalty Bench door, the player is considered on the ice.
Interpretation 10	Rule 6.12 (b) GUIDELINES FOR DELAYED OFF-SIDE SITUATIONS i. The attacking zone must be completely clear of all attacking players before the off-side is nullified. ii. Attacking players who were not off-side when the delayed off-side went into effect must wait until the delayed off-side is nullified before they can enter their attacking zone. iii. If the puck is shot from behind the center red line (an icing situation) with attacking players in their attacking zone, and the puck is not able to be played by a defending player before it crosses the goal line, then the icing call would be made in lieu of the off-side. If the play is stopped because of the off-side, the ensuing face-off would go to the face-off spot nearest to where the shot originated.
Interpretation 11	Rule 6.12 (b) A delayed off-side is signaled by a Linesperson. Attacking players A5 and A8 leave the attacking zone into the neutral zone (“tagging up”). Attacking player A10 leaves the ice inside the attacking zone and goes into their Players’ Bench. The puck is still in the attacking zone. ONSIDE. The Linesperson would drop their arm, thereby nullifying the delayed off-side, provided that the substitute for player A10 does not enter the attacking zone until such time as the delayed off-side has been nullified (the instant the zone is completely free of attacking players). If the substituting player enters the zone before the Linesperson drops their arm, the delayed off-side would remain in effect.
Interpretation 12	Rule 6.12 (c) A player with both skates over the blue-line in the attacking zone receives a pass from a teammate. They stop the puck with their stick in the neutral zone and then bring it into the attacking zone. OFF-SIDE. The player must have control of the puck with one foot touching the blue-line or in the neutral zone, for the propelling-the-puck rule to be applicable.
Interpretation 13	Rule 6.12 (c) A defending player shoots the puck over their defending blue-line into the neutral zone. It then deflects off another defending player back into their defending zone while an attacking player is in that zone. DELAYED OFF-SIDE.