Offside in USA Hockey, NFHS, NCAA and ACHA rules
Attacking players may not enter the attacking zone ahead of the puck. The skates decide in every code; what differs is whether the play is delayed (tag-up) and at which levels.
USA Hockey Offside under USA Hockey rules
USA Hockey 2025-29 rules (2026-27 season)
- New in 2025-29: delayed (tag-up) offside applies at Youth 15-Only and older, Girls 16U and older, High School and Adult. At 14U and younger, and Girls 14U and younger, offside is still immediate. USAH 630(d) p. 202 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey
- During a delayed offside, attackers clear the zone by touching the blue line with a skate; they do not need to reach the neutral-zone ice. USAH 630(d); Casebook 630 Situations 35-36 pp. 202, 313 USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules and Casebook of Ice Hockey
NFHS Offside under NFHS rules
NFHS 2026-27 (page cites from the 2024-25 book where noted)
- An attacker is offside when both skates are fully beyond the outer edge of the blue line at the moment the whole puck crosses it. Only the skates count, and a player in control of the puck may cross ahead of it. NFHS 9-6 p. 48 (2024-25 book) NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS)
- A delayed offside is waved off when the defending team moves the puck out or every attacker in the zone touches the blue line. A puck that goes into the net during a delayed offside does not count as a goal. NFHS 9-6 pp. 48-49 (2024-25 book) NFHS Ice Hockey Rules Book 2024-25 (page cites; the 2026-27 book is sold by the NFHS)
Rule of the Week cards
- Offside and the delayed offside NFHS 9-6-1, NFHS 9-6-2, NFHS 9-6-3
NCAA Offside under NCAA rules
NCAA 2026-28 rules (IH28)
- Skates decide: an attacker is offside when both skates are fully beyond the leading edge of the blue line at the moment the whole puck crosses it. NCAA 86.1-86.2 pp. 103-104 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28)
- Changed in 2026-28: a player may cross ahead of the puck only if he had possession and control of it with his stick before both skates crossed. NCAA 86.1-86.2 pp. 103-104 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28)
- A goal scored from the shot that made the play offside is disallowed, even if every attacker cleared the zone before it went in, unless the defending team put it in its own net with no action by the attackers. NCAA 86.4 pp. 104-105 NCAA 2026-27 and 2027-28 Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations (IH28)
Rule of the Week cards
- Off-side: skates decide, and the carrier must control the puck with the stick NCAA 86.1, NCAA 86.2
- Delayed off-side, tag-ups and disallowed goals NCAA 86.3, NCAA 86.4, NCAA 86.5, NCAA 86.6
ACHA Offside under ACHA rules
ACHA 2026-27 (NCAA Men's D-I rules + ACHA additions)
- ACHA plays the NCAA offside rule, including the 2026-28 possession-and-control wording. NCAA 86.1 pp. 103-104; ACHA additions p. 5 ACHA: 2026 NCAA Major Ice Hockey Rule Changes and ACHA Additions (updated 8/27/2026)
Rule of the Week cards
- Off-side: control with the stick before both skates cross NCAA 86.1, ACHA Additions 86.1
See it on the rink
Delayed off-side: tag up and re-enter (NCAA rules): Two attackers are already in the zone when the puck is dumped in. The defending team can play the puck out, so the linesperson signals a delayed off-side. Once every attacker has touched the blue line, the arm comes down and Home can forecheck. ACHA uses the same NCAA Men's D-I rule.