USA HOCKEY RULE CHANGE SUMMARY
For Youth, Girls’/Women’s and Adult Classifications
For the 2003-04 and 2004-05 Seasons

Rule # Rule Description of Change
  Philosophy of Hockey Adds the Zero Tolerance Policy, from page 66 of Annual Guide, to this Section of the Rule Book.
  Philosophy of Hockey Adds the USA Hockey Code of Conduct policies, from pages 59-61 of Annual Guide, for Administrators, Coaches, Officials, Players, Parents and Spectators to this section of the Rule Book.
  Points of Emphasis Establishes intimidation tactics and stickwork as the USA Hockey Points of Emphasis for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.  Intimidation tactics includes the late avoidable body check, high hits, stick infractions and contact after the whistle.
102(a) Dimensions of Rink Recommends the kickplate at the bottom of the boards be yellow in color.
103(a) Goal Posts and Nets Establishes the goal line to be placed thirteen feet from the ends boards.  If 13 feet is not used, then the distance shall be between 12 and 15 feet.
  Equipment Diagrams outlining the dimensions of sticks and goalkeepers equipment will be added to this section of the rule book.
301(b & c) Sticks Eliminated unnecessary verbiage by combining sections (b) and (c) of this rule.  Sections (d) thru (f) will be re-lettered.
303(a) Goalkeeper’s Equipment Officially adopts the maximum dimensions of the goalkeeper’s gloves as was written in Note 2 of the 2001-03 Official Playing Rules.
303(d) Goalkeeper’s Equipment Requires the measurement of goalkeeper’s equipment to be conducted immediately upon request.
304(a) Protective Equipment Requires a player whose helmet/facemask has come off to be removed from the ice until the completion of the ensuing face-off.
304(b) Protective Equipment Adds verbiage that identifies ear protection as a mandatory part of HECC approved helmets.
304(b)
502(b)		 Protective Equipment
Referee		 Moves the verbiage requiring an official to wear a black hockey helmet and the recommendation to wear a half-shield visor to rule 502(b) Referee.
304(c) Protective Equipment Calls for a team warning to be issued for a player who is not properly wearing a mouthpiece.  For a second violation of this rule by the same team, a misconduct penalty shall be assessed to the offending player.
305(b) Dangerous Equipment Changes the penalty from a minor to a misconduct for a glove with a cut or removed palm.
305(c) Dangerous Equipment Removes the requirement that jewelry must remain visible when taped to the body.
306(a) Puck Requires the use of the lightweight blue puck in the 10-or-under youth and 10-or-under girls’ age classifications and below.
307(b) Equipment Measurement Removes the possibility of an official from measuring a stick, at his/her discretion, when used for the first time in a game.
402(c)
409(d)		 Minor Penalties
Calling of Penalties		 Clarifies and cross-references the definition of being shorthanded.
403(b) Major Penalties Clarifies the verbiage used to determine the suspension(s) for a player receiving two major penalties in the same game.
404(c)
Glossary		 Misconduct Penalties
Game Suspension(s)		 Cross-references and clarifies the rule pertaining to the serving of game suspension(s).
506 (a) Official Scorer Specifies responsibility of the official scorer to include the necessary Coaching Education Program information, for each team official, on the official scoresheet prior to the start of the game.
601(i) Abuse of Officials and
Other Misconduct		 Adds a game misconduct penalty to be assessed to a team official for interfering in any physical manner with an on-ice or off-ice game official.
609(d) Delaying the Game Adds the possibility of assessing a bench minor penalty for players who fail to line up properly for a face-off.
611(a) Face-Offs Requires all players to properly line-up, within five seconds, for a face-off at the conclusion of the line change procedure.  Once the line change procedure has been completed, the official conducting the face-off will blow the whistle to indicate the players have five seconds to properly line up for the face-off before the puck may be dropped.
611(g-n) Face-Offs Eliminates unnecessary language pertaining to face-offs and deletes several sections of this rule, making the verbiage clearer and more precise.
612(c) Falling on Puck Cleans up language with no change to the rule.
616
616(a)
Glossary		 Head Checking Will now be referred to as Head Contact.  Eliminated double minor penalty option and added a major penalty option.
617(a) Note High Sticking Prohibits the use of the slap shot in the Girls’ 10-or-under age classification and below.  This rule is now consistent with the youth age categories.
619(a) Hooking Adds a major penalty option for hooking.
621(f)

639(c)

 Interference

Tripping

 Moves the reference point for a fouled from behind penalty shot infraction to include the entire neutral zone. 
626 Off-Sides Eliminates any reference to delayed off-sides in all youth and girls’ age classifications.  Any off-sides play now requires an immediate whistle.
635(c) Start of Game and Periods Requires each team to warm-up on their side of the center red line.
639(a) Tripping Adds the term poke-checking to Note 1 in reference to a non penalized action where a player is unquestionably hook-checking or poke-checking the puck and gains possession.  Adds a major penalty option and identifies the action of tripping an opponent from behind with an extended leg as a tripping infraction.
Official Signals Head Contact Establishes a signal for a head contact infraction by placing the non-whistle hand, palm inward, to the back of the helmet.
Glossary Team Official Re-defines the term Team Official and allows only USA Hockey registered coaches on the bench.  Also allows for a rostered player(s) not participating in the game, for reasons other than serving a suspension, to be on the bench provided they are wearing the team jersey and the proper head/face protective equipment.  This player is not to be considered a team official.