Head-butting is now a three-step scale
Rule numbers: NCAA 49.1 NCAA 49.2 NCAA 49.3 NCAA 49.4
Head-butting means deliberately driving the head or helmet into an opponent, or trying to. The 2026-28 book grades the penalty by what happened. An attempted head-butt, or contact without force, is a minor. Forcible contact is a major and game misconduct. Egregious contact is a major and disqualification. The book's change list describes this as allowing a minor for an attempted head-butt. The referee judges force and intent, not just whether helmets touched, so describe what you saw in the game report whenever a major is called.
A minor penalty shall be called for an attempted head-butt or for non-forceful contact.
- Clock
- Minor: 2:00. Forcible or egregious: 5:00 major with ejection.
- Scoresheet
- Head-butting with the tier assessed: a minor, or a major with a game misconduct, or a major with a disqualification.
Example
In a pile in front of the net, B11 snaps his head toward A4's face mask but does not connect: a head-butting minor. If he drives his helmet into A4's face, it is a major and game misconduct.
Common mistake: Skipping the minor because the rule used to start at a major, or calling a minor when there was real forcible contact.
Sources
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 49.1-49.4, p. 62 (PDF p. 65)
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Major Rules Changes (49), p. 7 (PDF p. 10)
Verified