USA Hockey rule changes
| Rule | What changed | Applies from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAH 304(g) | Neck laceration protectors (HECC-certified) are required for all players and goalkeepers below Adult; BNQ-certified protectors also meet the rule through the 2026-27 season. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 304(g), p. 48 |
| USAH 303(b) | Goalkeepers in Youth, Girls and High School must wear a HECC-certified neck laceration protector (BNQ also accepted through 2026-27). | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 303(b), p. 44 |
| USAH 304(b) | Equipment-violation procedure clarified: team warning, removal of the player, then a misconduct for an equipment violation. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 304(b), p. 47 |
| USAH 307(c) | A measurement request that finds the equipment legal costs the requesting team a bench minor, now including mouthpiece challenges. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 307(c), p. 50 |
| USAH 308(a) | Cameras and microphones added to the devices a player may not wear in play; a violation is a misconduct. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 308(a), p. 50 |
| USAH 402(e) | A major or match penalty assessed with a minor to the same player is served first (match penalties now named). | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 402(e), p. 84 |
| USAH 407(a)-(b) | Clarifies that a goalkeeper's time penalties are served by a teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 407(a)-(b), p. 91 |
| USAH 501(c) | On-ice officials under 18 must wear neck laceration protection made for the purpose. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 501(c), p. 155 |
| USAH 601(c)-(d) | Obscene, profane or abusive language after the game is a game misconduct (players and team officials). | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 601(c)-(d), p. 176-177 |
| USAH 610(c) | The automatic minor for a goalkeeper who accidentally shoots the puck out of play is removed; only deliberate acts are penalized. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 610(c), p. 184 |
| USAH 612(c) | When the attacking team causes a stoppage in its own attacking zone, the face-off moves to the neutral zone unless another rule says otherwise. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 612(c), p. 186 |
| USAH 624(b)(1) | A shorthanded team may ice the puck at Youth 15-Only and above and Girls 16U and above (previously High School and Adult only). | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 624(b)(1), p. 196 |
| USAH 624(c) | Icing whistled in error: face-off at center ice. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 624(c), p. 197 |
| USAH 627(c) | A kick shot brings an immediate whistle; in the attacking zone the face-off moves to the neutral zone. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 627(c), p. 199 |
| USAH 628(a) | Kneeing carries a minor plus a misconduct. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 628(a), p. 200 |
| USAH 630(d) | Delayed (tag-up) offside applies at Youth 15-Only and above and Girls 16U and above. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 630(d), p. 202 |
| USAH 631(d) | A puck that leaves the playing area, or lands on top of the net, by accident from a shot or deflection brings a last-play face-off in the zone it came from. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 631(d), p. 203 |
| USAH 633(a) | A second warning is added before the game is suspended for a team's refusal to start play. | 2025-26 | USA Hockey 2025-29 Playing Rule Change Summary (Youth, Girls, High School & Adult), effective August 1, 2025: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/f098-3383272/2025-29_Rule_Change_Summary.pdf; USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey, Rule 633(a), p. 204 |
USA Hockey Rule of the Week cards explain many of these changes in more depth.