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USA Hockey practice quiz

These are original practice questions written from our cited Rule of the Week cards. They are not questions from any governing body's exam.

Rule cycle USA Hockey 2025-29 rules (2026-27 season) Last verified

Open each question to check your answer.

  1. In a 2026-27 USA Hockey 16U game, a player's neck laceration protector is certified by BNQ but not HECC. Is it legal?

    • It does not matter, because neck guards are only recommended at 16U
    • Yes. BNQ-certified protectors meet the rule through the 2026-27 season
    • No. Only HECC-certified protectors are ever legal
    • Yes, but only for goalkeepers
    Show the answer to question 1

    Yes. BNQ-certified protectors meet the rule through the 2026-27 season

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Neck guards are required below Adult, and BNQ-only guards are legal only through this season’ (USAH 304(g); USAH 304(b)).

    USAH 304(g); USAH 304(b) · Rule of the Week: Neck guards are required below Adult, and BNQ-only guards are legal only through this season

  2. USA Hockey Girls 16U: a shorthanded Team A sends the puck from its own end all the way past the far goal line. Icing?

    • Yes, unless the penalty expired before the puck crossed the goal line
    • Only if the goalkeeper touches the puck
    • No. The shorthanded exception now applies at Girls 16U and above
    • Yes. The exception applies only to High School and Adult
    Show the answer to question 2

    No. The shorthanded exception now applies at Girls 16U and above

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Shorthanded icing now starts at Youth 15-Only and Girls 16U’ (USAH 624(b)(1)).

    USAH 624(b)(1) · Rule of the Week: Shorthanded icing now starts at Youth 15-Only and Girls 16U

  3. Under USA Hockey 2025-29, what is the minimum penalty for kneeing an opponent?

    • Major
    • Minor plus misconduct
    • Match penalty
    • Minor
    Show the answer to question 3

    Minor plus misconduct

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Kneeing now carries a minor plus a misconduct’ (USAH 628(a); USAH 404(a)).

    USAH 628(a); USAH 404(a) · Rule of the Week: Kneeing now carries a minor plus a misconduct

  4. A USA Hockey goalkeeper is assessed a minor. Who may serve it?

    • A teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul, named by the coach through the captain
    • The goalkeeper
    • Any player on the bench
    • The captain only
    Show the answer to question 4

    A teammate who was on the ice at the moment of the foul, named by the coach through the captain

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘The goalkeeper never serves time in the penalty box’ (USAH 407(a); USAH 407(b); USAH 407(c)).

    USAH 407(a); USAH 407(b); USAH 407(c) · Rule of the Week: The goalkeeper never serves time in the penalty box

  5. An attacker's shot is blocked by a defender and deflects over the glass. Where is the face-off under USA Hockey 2025-29?

    • In the attacking team's defending zone
    • At the nearest end-zone spot in the attacking team's attacking zone
    • At the nearest neutral-zone spot
    • At center ice
    Show the answer to question 5

    At the nearest end-zone spot in the attacking team's attacking zone

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Puck accidentally out of play: the face-off stays in that zone’ (USAH 631(d); USAH 612(c)).

    USAH 631(d); USAH 612(c) · Rule of the Week: Puck accidentally out of play: the face-off stays in that zone

  6. USA Hockey: one player gets a minor and a major at the same stoppage, and the other team gets nothing. Which is served first?

    • The minor
    • Both run at the same time
    • Whichever the captain chooses
    • The major
    Show the answer to question 6

    The major

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Major or match plus a minor: which is served first?’ (USAH 402(e); USAH 408(c)).

    USAH 402(e); USAH 408(c) · Rule of the Week: Major or match plus a minor: which is served first?

  7. Under USA Hockey 2025-29, must a 17-year-old official's neck guard be HECC-certified?

    • No. It must be designed for the purpose; HECC is strongly recommended
    • No neck guard is required for officials
    • Yes, HECC certification is required
    • Only if the official works games below 12U
    Show the answer to question 7

    No. It must be designed for the purpose; HECC is strongly recommended

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Officials under 18 must wear a neck laceration protector’ (USAH 501(c)).

    USAH 501(c) · Rule of the Week: Officials under 18 must wear a neck laceration protector

  8. USA Hockey: the officials whistle icing in error. Where is the face-off?

    • End-zone spot nearest the puck
    • Offending team's end zone
    • Neutral-zone spot nearest where play stopped
    • Center-ice face-off spot
    Show the answer to question 8

    Center-ice face-off spot

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Icing whistled in error? The face-off goes to center ice’ (USAH 624(c)).

    USAH 624(c) · Rule of the Week: Icing whistled in error? The face-off goes to center ice

  9. USA Hockey 2025-29: a goalkeeper's hurried clearing attempt accidentally goes over the glass. Ruling?

    • Automatic minor for delay of game
    • Face-off at center ice
    • Bench minor
    • No penalty; last-play face-off in the goalkeeper's defending zone
    Show the answer to question 9

    No penalty; last-play face-off in the goalkeeper's defending zone

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Goalkeeper's puck over the glass is no longer an automatic minor’ (USAH 610(c); USAH 631(d)).

    USAH 610(c); USAH 631(d) · Rule of the Week: Goalkeeper's puck over the glass is no longer an automatic minor

  10. USA Hockey: a player attempts a kick shot in the attacking zone. What happens?

    • Immediate whistle; face-off at a neutral-zone spot nearest the attacking blue line
    • Play continues unless a goal is scored
    • Minor penalty for the kicking player
    • Face-off at the nearest end-zone spot in the attacking zone
    Show the answer to question 10

    Immediate whistle; face-off at a neutral-zone spot nearest the attacking blue line

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Kick shots: stop play immediately’ (USAH 627(c)).

    USAH 627(c) · Rule of the Week: Kick shots: stop play immediately

  11. USA Hockey 2025-29: a coach asks for a check of an opponent's mouthpiece and it is legal. Result?

    • Minor to the checked player
    • No penalty, because mouthpieces are exempt
    • Bench minor for delay of game against the requesting team
    • Misconduct to the coach
    Show the answer to question 11

    Bench minor for delay of game against the requesting team

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Challenging a mouthpiece now carries a risk’ (USAH 307(a); USAH 307(c); USAH 304(f)).

    USAH 307(a); USAH 307(c); USAH 304(f) · Rule of the Week: Challenging a mouthpiece now carries a risk

  12. USA Hockey 2025-29: a skater wears a helmet camera during play. Penalty?

    • Warning only
    • Bench minor
    • Misconduct to the player
    • Minor to the player
    Show the answer to question 12

    Misconduct to the player

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Cameras and microphones on players mean a misconduct’ (USAH 308(a); USAH 308(b); USAH 308(c)).

    USAH 308(a); USAH 308(b); USAH 308(c) · Rule of the Week: Cameras and microphones on players mean a misconduct

  13. USA Hockey: a player's hateful language is reported to the officials, but they did not hear it. What must they do?

    • Notify only the accused team's coach
    • Notify both coaches and file an incident report within 24 hours
    • Assess a match penalty anyway
    • Nothing, since they did not hear it
    Show the answer to question 13

    Notify both coaches and file an incident report within 24 hours

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Hateful or discriminatory language: match penalty and a 24-hour report’ (USAH 601(e)(3)).

    USAH 601(e)(3) · Rule of the Week: Hateful or discriminatory language: match penalty and a 24-hour report

  14. USA Hockey: a player directs abusive language at an official after the game. Penalty?

    • Game misconduct
    • Misconduct
    • Minor
    • No penalty after the final horn
    Show the answer to question 14

    Game misconduct

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Obscene language after the game: a game misconduct’ (USAH 601(d)(10); USAH 601(c)(2)).

    USAH 601(d)(10); USAH 601(c)(2) · Rule of the Week: Obscene language after the game: a game misconduct

  15. USA Hockey 2025-29: a team on the ice refuses to play, gets the bench minor and still refuses. Next step?

    • A second bench minor
    • Award the game to the other team on the spot
    • A second warning; if it still refuses, the game is suspended and the team official responsible gets a match penalty
    • Suspend the game immediately
    Show the answer to question 15

    A second warning; if it still refuses, the game is suspended and the team official responsible gets a match penalty

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Refusing to start play: a second warning before suspending the game’ (USAH 633(a); USAH 633(b)).

    USAH 633(a); USAH 633(b) · Rule of the Week: Refusing to start play: a second warning before suspending the game

  16. USA Hockey: a team is shorthanded by two minors and gives up a goal on a penalty shot. Who is released?

    • No one
    • The minor with the least time left
    • The first minor being served
    • Both players
    Show the answer to question 16

    No one

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Power-play goal: which penalty ends?’ (USAH 402(c)).

    USAH 402(c) · Rule of the Week: Power-play goal: which penalty ends?

  17. USA Hockey: one player from each team gets a minor at the same stoppage, with nothing else on the clock. Strength?

    • The home team chooses
    • Full strength; both teams substitute immediately
    • 4-on-4 until the next stoppage
    • 4-on-4 for two minutes
    Show the answer to question 17

    Full strength; both teams substitute immediately

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Coincidental minors: no 4-on-4’ (USAH 402(f)).

    USAH 402(f) · Rule of the Week: Coincidental minors: no 4-on-4

  18. USA Hockey, teams at even strength: a delayed minor is signaled and the non-offending team scores. What happens to the minor?

    • It is not recorded at all
    • It is recorded on the scoresheet but deemed expired
    • It becomes a bench minor
    • It is served normally
    Show the answer to question 18

    It is recorded on the scoresheet but deemed expired

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘A goal during a delayed minor: recorded, but treated as served’ (USAH 409(a); USAH 409(b)).

    USAH 409(a); USAH 409(b) · Rule of the Week: A goal during a delayed minor: recorded, but treated as served

  19. USA Hockey 14U: a player gets a minor plus a misconduct, with no coincidental minors. How many of that team's players go to the box?

    • One: a substitute serves both
    • Two: the penalized player and an extra non-penalized player
    • Three
    • One: the penalized player serves both
    Show the answer to question 19

    Two: the penalized player and an extra non-penalized player

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Minor plus misconduct: two players go to the box’ (USAH 404(a); USAH 403(d)).

    USAH 404(a); USAH 403(d) · Rule of the Week: Minor plus misconduct: two players go to the box

  20. USA Hockey: two Team A players are serving minors and a third is penalized. When does the third penalty start?

    • At the next stoppage
    • When the first penalty expires
    • When both earlier penalties expire
    • Immediately
    Show the answer to question 20

    When the first penalty expires

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Third penalty: a delayed penalty, and when players may return’ (USAH 408(a); USAH 408(b)).

    USAH 408(a); USAH 408(b) · Rule of the Week: Third penalty: a delayed penalty, and when players may return

  21. USA Hockey: a penalty shot is awarded for a foul that is normally a minor, and the fouled team takes the shot. Does the offending team also serve the minor?

    • No
    • Only if the shot scores
    • Yes, always
    • Only if the shot misses
    Show the answer to question 21

    No

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Penalty shot or the minor? The fouled team chooses’ (USAH 406(a); USAH 406(b)).

    USAH 406(a); USAH 406(b) · Rule of the Week: Penalty shot or the minor? The fouled team chooses

  22. USA Hockey: during a delayed penalty on Team A, Team B ices the puck. Team A's penalty is assessed. Where is the face-off?

    • At center ice
    • At the neutral-zone location the icing calls for
    • In Team B's defending zone
    • In Team A's defending zone
    Show the answer to question 22

    At the neutral-zone location the icing calls for

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Delayed penalty, then a violation by the other team: neutral-zone face-off’ (USAH 612(b); USAH 409(a)).

    USAH 612(b); USAH 409(a) · Rule of the Week: Delayed penalty, then a violation by the other team: neutral-zone face-off

  23. USA Hockey: a player knocks the puck down with a stick above shoulder height in the neutral zone and a teammate gets it. Face-off?

    • No stoppage; play on
    • End-zone spot in the offending team's defending zone
    • Nearest neutral-zone spot
    • Center ice
    Show the answer to question 23

    End-zone spot in the offending team's defending zone

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘High stick on the puck: where is the face-off?’ (USAH 621(d); USAH 612(b)(4)).

    USAH 621(d); USAH 612(b)(4) · Rule of the Week: High stick on the puck: where is the face-off?

  24. USA Hockey: a hand pass starts and ends in the passing team's defending zone. Ruling?

    • Play continues
    • Minor penalty
    • Stoppage, last-play face-off
    • Stoppage, center-ice face-off
    Show the answer to question 24

    Play continues

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Hand passes are legal only in your defending zone’ (USAH 618(b)).

    USAH 618(b) · Rule of the Week: Hand passes are legal only in your defending zone

  25. USA Hockey Adult game: a skater's helmet comes off during play. Ruling?

    • Play continues because helmet rules differ for Adults
    • Stop play; the skater may stay on after fixing it
    • Minor penalty to the skater
    • Stop play; the skater leaves the ice until the face-off is completed
    Show the answer to question 25

    Stop play; the skater leaves the ice until the face-off is completed

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Helmet off during play: stop play, and the skater sits out the face-off’ (USAH 304(e)).

    USAH 304(e) · Rule of the Week: Helmet off during play: stop play, and the skater sits out the face-off

  26. USA Hockey: a player throws a punch that misses completely. Is it fighting?

    • Yes. An attempted punch is fighting whether or not it lands
    • Only if the opponent punches back
    • No. It is roughing because no contact was made
    • Only in Adult games
    Show the answer to question 26

    Yes. An attempted punch is fighting whether or not it lands

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘An attempted punch is fighting, even if it misses’ (USAH 615 (Note); USAH 615(a); USAH 615(d)).

    USAH 615 (Note); USAH 615(a); USAH 615(d) · Rule of the Week: An attempted punch is fighting, even if it misses

  27. USA Hockey: a defender shoves an attacker into the crease and the attacking team then scores legally. Ruling?

    • No goal; minor to the attacker
    • Goal counts; play was not to be stopped
    • Goal counts and the defender gets a minor automatically
    • No goal; face-off in the neutral zone
    Show the answer to question 27

    Goal counts; play was not to be stopped

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘The goal crease: when an attacker's position stops play’ (USAH 625(b)).

    USAH 625(b) · Rule of the Week: The goal crease: when an attacker's position stops play

  28. USA Hockey: how many time-outs does each team get in a game played on a time curfew?

    • None
    • One
    • One per period
    • Two
    Show the answer to question 28

    None

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘One 60-second time-out, and none in curfew games’ (USAH 636(f)).

    USAH 636(f) · Rule of the Week: One 60-second time-out, and none in curfew games

  29. USA Hockey: a 14U checking team plays a team from a Competitive Contact category. Is body checking allowed?

    • Yes, for both teams
    • Only for the checking team
    • Only in the defending zone
    • No, for both teams
    Show the answer to question 29

    No, for both teams

    See the Rule of the Week card ‘Competitive Contact: no body checking, but not 'no contact'’ (USAH 604(a); USAH 604(b); USAH 604(c)).

    USAH 604(a); USAH 604(b); USAH 604(c) · Rule of the Week: Competitive Contact: no body checking, but not 'no contact'