Coaches Corner

Rules 4 - Taking a Penalty Shot

This week’s edition of Coaches Corner will cover the ins and outs of taking Penalty Shots.

Instances where a Penalty Shot is Awarded

A Penalty Shot will be awarded if :

  1. a defending player, not the goalkeeper, deliberately falls on, holds or gathers in the puck when the puck is in his goal crease.
  2. a player, not the goalkeeper, picks up the puck with his hands when it is in the goal crease.
  3. a player illegally enters the game and inteferes with the puck carrier while on a breakaway.
  4. any player, goal keeper or official of the defending team throws their stick or any other object in the direction of the puck in their defending zone.
  5. the puck carrier is outside of his defensive zone. on a breakaway, is interfered with a stick or any object thrown or shot by any member of the defending team
  6. during the last 2 minutes of the game or in overtime, the defending team deliberately place too many men on the ice.
  7. If any member of the defending team deliberately displaces the goals from its normal position during the last 2 minutes of the game or in overtime.
  8. If a defending player or goal keeper deliberately displaces the goals when the puck carrier is on a breakaway and has a reasonable opportunity to score.
  9. the puck carrier is outside of his defending zone, is on a break away and is in control of the puck, and is tripped or hooked from behind thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity.

If the goal keeper is not present on the ice and situation 5, 8 or 9 occur then the referee can award a Goal to the attacking team.

A Breakaway is defined as a situation where a player is in full control of the puck and has no opposing player between himself and the opposing goalkeeper or goal, if the goalkeeper has been removed.

Control of the puck is the act of propelling the puck with the stick. If the puck is touched by another player or his equipment while it is being propelled, or hits the

How to Take a Penalty Shot

  • The Captain of the team taking the penalty shot selects and reports to the Referee the number of any player, not serving a penalty, who shall take the shot.
  • An announcement will be made informing all of the name and number of the player taking the penalty shot.
  • The players of both teams shall withdraw to the sides of the rink and behind the red line.
  • The Referee shall place the puck on the center dot.
  • Only a goalkeeper may defend against the Penalty Shot.
  • The goalkeeper must stay in his crease until the player has touched the puck.
  • The player will, on instruction of the Referee, play the puck and proceed towards his opponent’s goal line and attempt to score on the goalkeeper.
  • Once the puck is shot the play shall be considered complete, and no goal can be scored by a second shot of any kind.
  • If a goal is scored, the face-off will take place at center ice.
  • If no goal is scored, the face-off will take place at either of the end zone face-off spots in which the Penalty Shot has been attempted.
  • The time required for taking a Penalty Shot will not be recorded in the actual playing time in any period.
  • If the goalkeeper leaves his crease before the player has touched the puck, or committs any foul, the Referee shall raise his arm but allow the shot to be completed. If the shot fails, the penalty shooter will be permitted to take the Penalty Shot again.

    Fouls during the Penalty Shot

  • If the goalkeeper leaves the goal crease too early, the Referee shall:
    - issue a WARNING the first time and a new Penalty Shot,
    - issue a Misconduct penalty the second time and a new Penalty Shot,
    - award a Goal the third time,

  • The goalkeeper may attempt to block the shot in any manner, except by throwing his stick or any other object, in which case a goal shall be awarded.
  • When the Penalty Shot is taken, if any player of the opposing team interferes or distracts the player taking the shot, and because of such action the shot fails, the Referee shall allow a second Penalty Shot and assess a Misconduct penalty on the offending player.