Delayed off-side, tag-ups and disallowed goals
Rule numbers: NCAA 86.3 NCAA 86.4 NCAA 86.5 NCAA 86.6
When attacking players are ahead of the puck but the defending team can bring it out without delay or contact, the linesperson signals a delayed off-side. The arm comes down and play continues if every attacker tags up at the same moment (a skate touching the blue line counts) or the defenders move the puck out to the neutral zone. Play is stopped if an attacker touches the puck, tries to gain a loose puck, forces the carrier back or is about to make contact with him. If the shot that created the delayed off-side goes into the net, the goal is disallowed even if the zone was cleared first, unless the defending team puts it in its own net without any action by the attackers.
The attacking zone must be completely clear of attacking players before a delayed off-side can be nullified with the puck still in the attacking zone.
- On the ice
- Carried in: face-off outside the blue line. Shot in or pressured: least-advantage spot in the zone of origin. Intentional: offending team's end zone.
Example
A7 shoots from center while A14 is already in the zone. A14 tags up and the zone clears, but the original shot deflects off a Team B skate into the net. No goal.
Common mistake: Counting the goal because the attackers had cleared before it went in, or dropping the arm before every attacker has left the zone.
Sources
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 86.3, pp. 104-105 (PDF pp. 107-108)
- NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28), Rule 86.4-86.6, pp. 105-106 (PDF pp. 108-109)
Verified