Rule 8.7 – Clipping

Rule 8.7 – Clipping 

Clipping, also known as a “low hit”, is where a player uses their body to make contact below an opponent’s hips. This may take the form of a player lowering their body prior to making a check or being checked. Players may not crouch down to avoid being bodychecked.

  1. A Minor penalty will be assessed to any player who commits a clipping infraction. 

  2. A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact (including the impact with the ice or boards), may be assessed to any player who commits a clipping infraction.

    A Major penalty and Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who injures an opponent by a clipping infraction that would otherwise call for a Minor penalty

  3. A Match penalty will be assessed to any player who attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent by clipping.

  4. No Misconduct penalty may be assessed for a clipping infraction.

  5. A Game Misconduct penalty must be assessed any time a Major penalty is assessed for tripping, as detailed under Rule 8.7 (b).

INTERPRETATIONS 

Interpretation 1

Rule 8.7 (a) 

While players may attempt to lower their centre of gravity, in preparation for a hit, the onus is on the player lowering themselves to ensure that they do not commit a clipping infraction, by contacting their opponent at or below the knee area. 

Interpretation 2

Rule 8.7 (b) 

In determining “degree of violence”, the Referee should also consider the degree of impact with the ice, as clipping fouls may cause players to be thrown through the air and the subsequent impact with the ice can be very dangerous.