Coincidental penalties in USA Hockey, NFHS, NCAA and ACHA rules
Coincidental penalties are equal penalties to both teams at the same stoppage. NCAA and ACHA play 4-on-4 in one common case; USA Hockey and NFHS substitute.
USA Hockey Coincidental penalties under USA Hockey rules
USA Hockey 2025-29 rules (2026-27 season)
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
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
Rule of the Week cards
- Coincidental minors: no 4-on-4 USAH 402(f)
NFHS Coincidental penalties under NFHS rules
NFHS 2026-27 (page cites from the 2024-25 book where noted)
Coincidental minors
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)
Major against minor late in the game
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)
Rule of the Week cards
- Coincident minors: substitute right away, release at the next stoppage NFHS 4-2-7
- Majors: five full minutes, and a second major means a game misconduct NFHS 4-3-1, NFHS 4-3-3, NFHS 4-3-4, NFHS 4-2-6
NCAA Coincidental penalties under NCAA rules
NCAA 2026-28 rules (IH28)
Coincidental minors
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)
Major against minor late in the game
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)
Rule of the Week cards
- Last five minutes and overtime: a major-versus-minor differential goes up at once NCAA 19.3, NCAA Appendix G
- Coincidental penalties: 4-on-4, or substitute and keep going? NCAA 19.1, NCAA 19.2, NCAA 19.4
ACHA Coincidental penalties under ACHA rules
ACHA 2026-27 (NCAA Men's D-I rules + ACHA additions)
Coincidental minors
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
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)
Rule of the Week cards
- Last five minutes: a major-versus-minor differential goes up at once NCAA 19.3, NCAA Appendix G, ACHA Additions Rule 19
Side by side
| Topic | USA Hockey | NFHS | NCAA | ACHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |