USA Hockey, NFHS, NCAA and ACHA rules compared
The places where the four U.S. rule codes most often differ in how penalties are run. Each cell is our own summary with the rule number, page and book. NFHS page numbers are from the 2024-25 book; the 2025-26 and 2026-27 change lists show no change to penalty administration.
| Topic | USA Hockey | NFHS | NCAA | ACHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of minor, major and misconduct penalties | Minor penalties scale with period length: 1:00 for periods of 12 minutes or less, 1:30 for periods up to 17 minutes, 2:00 for longer periods (Adult minors are 2:00). Shorter majors and misconducts are an option for the governing body. USAH 402; 403 Note; 404 Note pp. 84-86 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
Always 2:00 minor, 5:00 major and 10:00 misconduct, even though NFHS periods are 15 minutes (a state may allow 17). NFHS 4-1-1; 4-6-1; 9-12-1 pp. 22, 24, 51 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Always 2:00 minor, 5:00 major and 10:00 misconduct. Periods are always 20 minutes, so nothing is pro-rated. NCAA 16.1; 20.1; 21.1; 82.1 pp. 35, 38, 96 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA: ACHA plays the NCAA Men's Division I rules. NCAA 16.1; 20.1; 21.1 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| The most serious removal penalty | Match penalty: the player is removed for the game and a substitute serves 5:00 (or the designated time) in the box; it is recorded as 10 minutes. USAH 405(a) and Note p. 88 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
Game disqualification: the player is removed and a substitute (not a spare goalkeeper) serves the major penalty time. Only one disqualification per player per game. NFHS 4-6-1; 4-6-2 p. 24 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Game disqualification: removal plus a five-minute major; a substitute (not a spare goalkeeper) goes to the box immediately and plays when the 5:00 ends. NCAA 23.1 pp. 39-40 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 23.1 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Majors and ejection | The infraction rules that call for a major also call for a game misconduct. A second major in the same game brings a game misconduct and a two-game suspension. USAH 403(b) p. 85 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
A second major in the same game brings a game misconduct; otherwise ejection follows the infraction rule. NFHS 4-3-4 p. 23 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
New in 2026-28: a second major in the same game brings an automatic game misconduct. Otherwise ejection follows the infraction rule. NCAA 20.4; 22.3 pp. 38-39 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 20.4; 22.3 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Penalty limit for one player in one game | Four penalties in a game bring a game misconduct (all classifications except Adult). An Adult player with five penalties in a game is ejected for the rest of that game, with no further suspension. Separately, a non-Adult head coach whose team takes 12 or more penalties in a game is suspended for the team's next game. USAH 401(b) p. 83 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
A fifth penalty of any kind in the same game brings a game misconduct. NFHS 4-5-2 p. 24 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
No in-game limit. (Three game misconducts in a season bring a suspension, which is a separate rule.) NCAA 22.2 p. 39 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 22.2 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Coincidental minors | Equal numbers of minors are substituted immediately, so coincidental minors never create 4-on-4 play. USAH 402(f) p. 85 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
Equal numbers of coincident minors are substituted immediately; their time starts at once even while other penalties are being served. NFHS 4-2-7 p. 22 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
When one player on each team gets one minor at the same stoppage, nothing else is on either clock and nothing else is called, both minors go on the clock and the teams play 4-on-4. Otherwise equal minors are substituted. NCAA 19.1 pp. 36-37 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 19.1 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Major against minor late in the game | No special rule: a minor and a major at the same stoppage are both served. USAH 402-403 pp. 84-86 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
No special rule in NFHS Rule 4. NFHS Rule 4 pp. 22-26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
New in 2026-28: in the last 5:00 of regulation or any time in overtime, one player's minor against one player's major puts the 3:00 difference on the clock (1:00 for a double minor), served as a major whatever the strength. NCAA 19.3; Appendix G pp. 37-38, 138 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA; the ACHA additions repeat it. NCAA 19.3 ACHA additions p. 2 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Which goals end a minor | A power-play goal ends the minor with the least time left. A penalty-shot goal or an awarded goal does not. USAH 402(c) p. 84 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
A power-play goal ends the minor with the least time left. A penalty-shot goal or an awarded goal does not. NFHS 4-2-2; 4-2-4 p. 22 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
A power-play goal ends the minor with the least time left, and so does an awarded goal. A penalty-shot goal does not, and coincidental minors are never ended by a goal. NCAA 16.2 pp. 35-36 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 16.2 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Goal scored during a delayed minor | The first signalled minor is washed out (no time served) but is still recorded on the scoresheet. USAH 409(b) p. 93 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
The first signalled minor is not served but is recorded. If the offending team was already short by a minor, that minor ends and the signalled penalties are served. NFHS 4-10-2; 4-2-2 pp. 22, 26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Not yet verified for this code. |
Not yet verified for this code. |
| Who serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct | A teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul serves every goalkeeper penalty; the penalty is charged to the goalkeeper. USAH 407(a), (b) pp. 91-92 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
The goalkeeper serves his own major or misconduct and a substitute goalkeeper goes in. For a major, another player also goes to the box and comes out when the major ends. NFHS 4-3-2; 4-4-3; 4-8-2 pp. 23, 26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Changed in 2026-28: a teammate who was on the ice when play stopped serves a goalkeeper's major or misconduct. A goalkeeper's minor is served by a teammate on the ice when the offense happened. NCAA 28.1; 28.2 p. 45 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA; the ACHA additions repeat the change. NCAA 28.2 ACHA additions p. 2 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Who serves a bench minor | Any non-penalized skater (not the goalkeeper) who was on the ice when the foul happened. USAH 402(b) p. 84 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
Captain's choice: any skater on the ice at the whistle (never a goalkeeper) serves it. The penalty is not charged to that player. NFHS 2-2-6; 4-2-8 pp. 12, 23 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
Any player except a goalkeeper, chosen by the coach through the captain. NCAA 17.1 p. 36 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 17.1 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Penalty shot and the minor | The fouled team may take the minor instead of the shot. If the shot is taken, the offending team is not reduced in strength for the minor; a major still goes on the clock. USAH 406(a) p. 89 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
The fouled team may choose the minor instead. If the shot is taken, the penalty is charged on the scoresheet with no time served. NFHS 4-7-2; 4-7-8 pp. 24-25 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
The fouled team may take a minor instead when no major, disqualification or misconduct is involved. For a double-minor foul, the first minor is dropped and the second is always served. NCAA 25.1; 25.7 pp. 40-43 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 25.1; 25.7 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Delayed (stacked) penalties | At most two players' penalties run on the clock and a team never drops below three skaters. Later penalties wait; players return in order of expiry, and the captain chooses on a tie. USAH 408(a)-(d) p. 92 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
The same principle: never fewer than four players including the goalkeeper, two penalties on the clock at most, return in order of expiry. NFHS 4-9 p. 26 NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS) |
The same principle: two on the clock at most, three skaters minimum, return in order of expiry when entitled, captain chooses on a tie. NCAA 27.1-27.3 pp. 44-45 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Same as NCAA. NCAA 27.1-27.3 ACHA additions p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026) |
| Overtime | Overtime is a recommendation, not a requirement. A local governing body may play reduced-skater overtime, but never fewer than three skaters plus a goalkeeper; penalties carry over. USAH 638(a)-(b) and Note pp. 207-208 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey |
Not yet verified for this code. |
Regular season: 5:00 of 3-on-3 after a 2:00 intermission. Penalties carry over and strength maps to 4-on-3 or 5-on-3, never below three skaters. Postseason: 20:00 sudden-victory periods at full strength. NCAA 91.1-91.4; Appendix F pp. 110-111, 135-137 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28) |
Each division has its own overtime and shootout preset. Example: Men's Division 2 plays 5:00 of 3-on-3, and a cross-divisional game then ends in a tie with no shootout. ACHA overtime requirements pp. 1-4 ACHA 2026-28 Regular Season Overtime and Shootout Requirements (updated 8/27/2026) |
ACHA compared with NCAA
ACHA hockey uses the NCAA rule book. These are the places where the ACHA's own documents add to it.
- All six ACHA divisions, men's and women's, play the NCAA Men's Division I rules from the 2026-28 book. ACHA additions, introduction p. 1 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026)
- Overtime and shootouts are set per division, not by the NCAA regular-season default (see the overtime row above). ACHA overtime requirements pp. 1-4 ACHA 2026-28 Regular Season Overtime and Shootout Requirements (updated 8/27/2026)
- The ACHA overtime document restates NCAA 91.2 for its games (a shootout only by conference policy, and not in non-conference games), but its division rules override that: Men's Division 1 home games always use a shootout, Men's Division 2 games between two M2 teams always have one, Men's Division 3 teams may use one under local conference rules or against a non-D3 team, Women's Division 1 teams may elect one that does not count for rankings, and Women's Division 2 has no shootout. ACHA overtime requirements; NCAA 91.2 pp. 1-4 ACHA 2026-28 Regular Season Overtime and Shootout Requirements (updated 8/27/2026)
- Players serving a misconduct or assessed a game misconduct or disqualification are not eligible for a shootout, and neither is the player serving a goalkeeper's misconduct. ACHA overtime requirements; ACHA additions OT p. 3; additions p. 6 ACHA 2026-28 Regular Season Overtime and Shootout Requirements (updated 8/27/2026)
"Not yet verified" means our research could not confirm that cell in the current book, so we leave it blank rather than guess.